London Heathrow parking
The UK's flagship hub. 80M+ passengers a year and the densest car-park supply in Europe.
About London Heathrow
The UK's largest airport and one of the busiest in Europe.
Heathrow is the UK's flagship international hub and the country's primary gateway for long-haul travel. Originally a small civilian airfield in the late 1940s, it has grown into one of Europe's largest airports, handling around 80 million passengers a year across four operational terminals.
Today's passenger operation runs out of Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5 — the older Terminal 1 closed in 2015 and has since been redeveloped. Terminal 5 is the dedicated home of British Airways' long-haul operation, while Terminal 2 (the Queen's Terminal) handles most Star Alliance carriers. Terminals 3 and 4 split duties between Oneworld, SkyTeam and a long list of unaffiliated international airlines.
Heathrow sits on a tightly packed site bordered by the M25, M4 and the Bath Road, which means parking — both on-airport and independent — is unusually competitive. The supply density is the highest of any UK airport, with multi-storeys steps from each terminal, official long-stay sites a short transit away, and a wide outer ring of independent meet-and-greet and park-and-ride operators.
Getting to LHR
All the practical access info — by car, train, coach and otherwise.
Heathrow is signposted from the M25 (junctions 14 and 15) and the M4 (junction 4 / 4b). Allow extra time at peak — the Heathrow approach roads are some of the busiest stretches of road in the UK.
The Heathrow Express runs to London Paddington in 15 minutes (T2/T3 and T5). The Elizabeth Line links the airport with central London and beyond, taking around 35 minutes to Paddington and continuing east to Canary Wharf and Abbey Wood.
National Express runs frequent coaches from across the UK to the Central Bus Station between T2 and T3. Local TfL bus services connect with Hatton Cross, Hayes and Hounslow.
The Piccadilly line is the cheapest route from central London — about 50–60 minutes from King's Cross, with stops at all four terminals.
How parking works at London Heathrow
Heathrow parking falls into three groups. Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL) operates the official short-stay multi-storeys attached directly to each terminal — these are designed for drop-offs, pick-ups and short business trips, and pricing reflects that. HAL also runs official long-stay car parks 5–10 minutes by transit/shuttle from each terminal — these are the entry-level option for stays of three days or more.
Beyond the official sites, an extensive outer ring of independent operators runs park-and-ride compounds and meet-and-greet services in Hatton Cross, Bedfont, Stanwell, Colnbrook and the Bath Road corridor. Direct independent rates are typically 30–55% cheaper than the equivalent on-airport long-stay, especially when you book at least 14 days ahead.
Tips travellers wish they'd known
- Book at least 14 days out to access the lowest park-and-ride pricing — Heathrow's on-the-day rates are some of the highest in the UK.
- If you're flying from T5, prefer operators based north of the airport (Stanwell, Bedfont) — shuttle times are shorter than from south-side compounds.
- Bath Road meet-and-greet operators tend to undercut on-airport short-stay by 40%+ for stays of 4 nights or more.
- Avoid 'kerbside drop-off' on the forecourt — Heathrow charges a £5 forecourt fee per arrival; the official short-stay car parks waive it for the first 10 minutes.
- EV drivers: T2 and T5 multi-storeys have the most reliable rapid-charging coverage; some independent operators offer guaranteed Type-2 spaces.
LHR questions, answered
The questions our 24/7 team gets asked most about flying from London Heathrow.
How early should I arrive at Heathrow?+
Three hours for long-haul flights, two hours for short-haul. Add 30 minutes if you're parking in a long-stay or independent lot — shuttle times to the terminal can vary.
Which terminal is which airline?+
T2 hosts most Star Alliance carriers (United, Lufthansa, Air Canada, Singapore, etc). T3 hosts most Oneworld (American, Cathay, Qantas, Qatar) plus Virgin Atlantic. T4 is mainly SkyTeam (Air France, KLM, Delta, Korean) plus several Middle Eastern carriers. T5 is British Airways and Iberia.
Is the Heathrow Express worth it from London?+
It's the fastest option (15 minutes to Paddington), but expensive. The Elizabeth Line costs a fraction and adds only 15–20 minutes.
Can I leave my car at Heathrow long-term?+
Yes — both official long-stay and independent operators take bookings of up to 12 months. Independents are usually cheapest beyond 7 days.
Is it cheaper to park at Heathrow or take a taxi?+
For 1–2 days, a taxi often wins on cost. From day 3 onwards, off-airport parking comfortably undercuts a return taxi from anywhere outside Greater London.
How do shuttles work at Heathrow?+
Independent operators run continuously every 5–15 minutes during the day, dropping at and collecting from designated stops at each terminal. Operators publish typical wait times on each listing.