- Mr Plane Guy
- 6 hours ago
- 7 min read
🅿️ Gatwick Airport Parking Guide 2026, Cheapest & Closest Options
By UK Travel Blogger Mr Plane Guy
Disclosure: This guide contains affiliate links which help keep this blog flying high (and occasionally fund my airport lounge G&Ts). There’s no extra cost to you.
If you’ve ever flown from London Gatwick, you’ll know the drill: early alarms, suitcase wheels on escalators, and thousands of holidaymakers all arriving at once.
With two busy terminals and millions of passengers flying with easyJet, British Airways, Emirates, Qatar Airways and TUI, Gatwick is one of the UK’s busiest airports.
The last thing you want before an early flight is circling car parks or paying sky-high drive-up parking prices.
That’s why booking airport parking in advance matters just as much as booking your flight.
Done right, it’s cheaper, faster, and far less stressful. I’ve flown from Gatwick dozens of times and used everything from official long stay to off-site park-and-ride options.
Turn up without booking and a week of parking can easily cost £200+.
To save time and money, I use a trusted comparison tool that lets you compare, book and save up to 70% on Gatwick Airport parking in seconds.
🚆 Landing at Gatwick and heading into London afterwards?
Here’s my guide on the fastest ways to get from Gatwick Airport to central London by train, bus or taxi.
Gatwick Airport Parking Guide 2026, Cheapest & Closest Options
Plane Honest: How This Guide Is Kept Accurate
I fly from Gatwick regularly, and this guide is updated for 2026 pricing, operators and parking changes.
All operators mentioned here are compared using live availability and verified customer reviews, so you’re not guessing you’re booking with confidence.
If it’s your first time flying from Gatwick, I’ve also written a guide to the best Gatwick Airport lounges, including Priority Pass options and whether Clubrooms Gatwick is worth the upgrade.
Gatwick Airport Parking, Compare, Book & Save Up to 70%
Finding the right car park at Gatwick can make or break your departure day.
🔹 Compare Parking Prices UK
A trusted UK airport parking comparison site that lets you search deals instantly and save up to 70% on Gatwick Airport parking.
The tool compares official Gatwick car parks and secure park-and-ride operators nearby, helping you find the best parking deal for your travel dates.
Is Gatwick Parking Worth Pre-Booking?
In short: yes, almost always.
Turning up at Gatwick without pre-booking parking can be surprisingly expensive. Drive-up prices at the airport are often far higher than advance online rates, especially during busy travel periods.
During school holidays, bank holiday weekends and peak summer travel, demand for parking spaces rises sharply. As availability drops, prices increase, sometimes doubling compared to booking a few weeks in advance.
Pre-booking also gives you far more choice. Instead of being stuck with whatever space is left on the day, you can compare short stay, long stay, park-and-ride and meet & greet options to find the best price for your trip.
In many cases, travellers who book ahead can save £40–£100 on a week of Gatwick parking compared with paying on arrival.
Plan Your Airport Parking
Booking your parking in advance can save time, stress and money, especially during busy holiday periods.
There are several convenient Gatwick parking options depending on your budget and travel style.
Short Stay Car Park
Distance: 2–5 minute walk to the terminal
Features:
Closest parking to departures
Ideal for quick trips or short breaks
24-hour CCTV and patrols
Typical price:
From £9 per day when pre-booked. Around £95–£120 per week
Long Stay Car Park
Distance: 10–15 minute shuttle transfer
Features:
Great value for week-long trips
Free shuttle buses running regularly
Secure monitored parking
Typical price:
From £6–£8 per day when booked early
Park & Ride
Distance: 10–20 minute transfer
Features:
Usually the cheapest Gatwick parking option
Secure off-site parking facilities
Shuttle transfer included
Savings can often reach 50–70% compared to official airport parking.
Meet & Greet Parking
Features:
Drop your car directly at the terminal
A professional driver parks your car securely
Perfect for families or travellers with lots of luggage
Typical price:
From £70–£110 per week
Plane Tip: Take a photo of your parking bay and row number before heading to departures. After a week away and a long flight home, every car park suddenly looks exactly the same. Trust me.
Gatwick Parking by Terminal
Choosing parking close to your departure terminal can make your journey much smoother.
Gatwick has two terminals: North and South, each serving different airlines.
Gatwick North Terminal Parking
Gatwick North Terminal is used by airlines including:
easyJet
Emirates
Qatar Airways
TUI
Parking options include:
North Terminal Short Stay
Long Stay with shuttle transfer
Meet & Greet parking
If you’re flying from North Terminal, you might also want to start your trip with a lounge.
I’ve reviewed several options including my Clubrooms Gatwick North review, one of the most stylish lounges at the airport.
It’s available with Priority Pass Gatwick access (with a small supplement) and offers a much calmer start than the busy departure gates.
Gatwick South Terminal Parking
Gatwick South Terminal is home to airlines including:
British Airways
Wizz Air
Vueling
Norse Atlantic Airways
Norwegian
Parking options include:
South Terminal Short Stay
Long Stay parking
Meet & Greet parking
If you’re flying from South Terminal, I’ve also written a guide to the best Gatwick lounges, including No1 Lounge and Aspire Lounge.
Many travellers use Priority Pass Gatwick to access airport lounges here, which can be a great way to start your trip with breakfast, drinks and a quieter place to relax before boarding. Find out everything about Priority Pass and how to get up to 30% off.
Check out my Gatwick Airport Lounge Reviews
Plane Tip: Compare Airport Parking Before You Commit
Airport parking works a bit like flight pricing.
The closer you get to departure day, the higher the price usually climbs.
Booking even two or three weeks in advance can sometimes save £40–£80 compared to paying on the day.
Websites like CompareParkingPrices.co.uk allow you to compare operators, read reviews and secure discounted advance rates in seconds.
✈️ Quick Way to Find Cheap Gatwick Parking
The easiest way to save money is to compare all Gatwick parking options in one place.
Using a comparison tool lets you:
✔ Compare official Gatwick car parks
✔ Find secure park-and-ride deals
✔ Save up to 70% vs paying on arrival
✔ See verified customer reviews
Final Boarding Call
Gatwick is one of the UK’s busiest airports, but parking there doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive.
With a bit of planning and a quick price comparison, you can often save a surprising amount of money before your trip even begins.
If you’re driving to the airport, checking parking prices ahead of time is one of the simplest travel hacks there is.
Gatwick Airport Parking FAQs
Where is the cheapest place to park at Gatwick Airport?
The cheapest Gatwick parking is usually off-site park & ride car parks located a few minutes from the terminals. These secure facilities offer shuttle transfers to the airport and can cost significantly less than official airport parking. When booked early, prices can start from around £6 per day.
How can I get cheaper Gatwick parking?
The easiest way to save money on Gatwick parking is to book in advance and compare prices online. Parking costs tend to rise closer to your departure date, especially during holidays and peak travel periods. Using a comparison tool lets you quickly see deals from both official Gatwick car parks and nearby secure operators.
👉 Compare Gatwick parking deals here
How much does it cost to park at Gatwick Airport?
Gatwick parking prices vary depending on the type of parking and how early you book. As a rough guide:
Short Stay: £9+ per day when pre-booked
Long Stay: around £6–£8 per day
Park & Ride: often the cheapest option
Meet & Greet: typically £70–£110 per week
Booking early usually results in the best prices.
Where can I park at Gatwick Airport for free?
There is no free long-term parking at Gatwick Airport. However, short drop-off areas allow quick stops for picking up or dropping off passengers the current price for this is £10! For longer stays, it’s usually much cheaper to pre-book parking online rather than paying drive-up rates at the airport.
Plane Tip: Picking someone up at Gatwick? Skip the £10 drop-off fee and use the Long Stay car park instead, it’s free for up to two hours with a shuttle to the terminal or a 5 minute walk. Perfect if you want to grab a coffee or pop into Marks & Spencer while you wait.
Plane Related Reads
Hello, I’m Paul a professional jet-setter and all-around plane travel pro. After 15 years working in and around planes, I became a flight delay expert at a London Airport and mastered plane travel hacks, a PLANE flight expert with BIG travel plans but small carry-on.
Now, I share PLANE travel news, tips, reviews, and deals with honesty, humour, and zero baggage! Thanks for reading
🅿️ Gatwick Airport Parking Guide 2026, Cheapest & Closest Options.
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