London Gatwick parking
Two terminals and aggressive shuttle frequencies — the most competitive parking market in the UK.
About London Gatwick
The UK's second-busiest airport.
Gatwick is the UK's second-busiest airport and the world's busiest single-runway airport. It handles around 45 million passengers a year across two terminals — North and South — connected by a free inter-terminal transit shuttle that runs around the clock.
The South Terminal is the older of the two and hosts British Airways, easyJet's main short-haul operation, and most Oneworld and SkyTeam long-haul flights. The North Terminal (extensively rebuilt in the 2010s) is mainly Virgin Atlantic, TUI, Norse Atlantic and a long list of independent leisure carriers.
Gatwick's parking market is widely considered the most competitive in the UK. The airport sits in semi-rural West Sussex with plenty of room for off-airport compounds, and shuttle frequencies between independent lots and the terminals are aggressive — typically every 5–10 minutes during peak hours.
Getting to LGW
All the practical access info — by car, train, coach and otherwise.
M23 junction 9 leads directly into the airport. From London, the journey takes around 50 minutes off-peak; allow 90 minutes during the morning rush. The A23 provides an alternative when the M25/M23 is congested.
Gatwick is one of the best-connected UK airports by rail. The Gatwick Express to London Victoria takes 30 minutes, and Thameslink runs a 24-hour service to St Pancras and beyond. Southern services link to Brighton (32 minutes) and the south coast.
National Express coaches run from London Victoria, Reading, Bristol, Birmingham and the south coast. easyBus operates a low-cost coach service from Earl's Court.
Bicycle parking is available at both terminals. The airport publishes route maps for cycling from Crawley, Horley and Reigate.
How parking works at London Gatwick
On-airport at Gatwick splits into Short Stay (multi-storeys attached to each terminal — ideal for drop-offs and stays under 24 hours), Long Stay (large open-air sites a 5–10 minute shuttle from the terminal), and Premium meet-and-greet handled by the airport itself directly outside arrivals.
The off-airport ring is dense. Park-and-ride compounds in Lowfield Heath, Salfords, Charlwood and Crawley typically run shuttles every 7–12 minutes and undercut official long-stay by 30–60%. Several operators specialise in covered, valet-style storage for stays over a week.
Tips travellers wish they'd known
- Confirm your terminal at booking — North and South are connected by a 4-minute transit shuttle, but switching at the last minute can cost you 20 minutes.
- The early-morning rush (4–6am) hits drop-off forecourts hard — book a meet-and-greet to bypass the queue.
- Off-airport meet-and-greet operators in Lowfield Heath are often the cheapest for South Terminal departures.
- Returning at 11pm or later? Confirm shuttle frequency — some park-and-ride operators reduce service after 10pm.
- If you're flying with Norwegian, easyJet or TUI, prefer North Terminal-side compounds for the shortest journey home.
LGW questions, answered
The questions our 24/7 team gets asked most about flying from London Gatwick.
Is the inter-terminal shuttle free?+
Yes — the inter-terminal transit runs every few minutes, takes about 4 minutes between terminals, and is free for all passengers.
Which terminal does my airline use?+
British Airways, Vueling, easyJet (most flights) and Wizz Air operate from South. Virgin Atlantic, TUI, Norse Atlantic and Norwegian operate from North. Always check 24 hours before — terminal moves do happen.
How long are shuttle wait times from off-airport parking?+
Most operators run a 5–12 minute shuttle interval during peak hours; off-peak (overnight) intervals can be 15–25 minutes. Operator listings show typical times.
Can I cancel a parking booking?+
Most Gatwick operators allow free cancellation up to 24 hours before drop-off. Same-day cancellations may carry a fee.
Is parking at Gatwick cheaper than the train?+
For solo travellers from central London, the train is cheaper. For two or more travelling for 4+ days, parking usually wins on total cost.
Is meet-and-greet safe?+
Yes, when booked through licensed operators. Look for Park Mark accreditation and read recent reviews. All meet-and-greet listings on this site are verified.