London travel guide
Best Parking at Heathrow Airport
How to choose between Heathrow's official long-stay lots, meet-and-greet valet, and off-site parking — and how much each actually costs.
Quick answer: For the lowest total cost on trips over a week, off-site parking with a free shuttle usually beats Heathrow's own Business Parking. For maximum convenience, meet-and-greet valet parking saves the shuttle transfer entirely, at a price premium.
In this guide
Parking options explained
Heathrow offers three broad tiers: official short-stay garages next to each terminal, official long-stay lots reached by shuttle, and a large market of independent off-site operators, some offering meet-and-greet valet service directly at the terminal.
Cost comparison
Short-stay parking is priced by the hour and becomes expensive quickly, making it suitable only for drop-offs and pickups. Long-stay and off-site options are priced by the day and drop significantly with advance booking.
Meet-and-greet valet
With meet-and-greet, a valet takes your car at the terminal drop-off point and returns it there on your arrival, skipping the shuttle bus entirely. It carries a price premium over self-park off-site options but saves real time, particularly with luggage or young children.
Booking tips
Heathrow parking rates rise sharply for walk-up bookings; pre-booking even a day ahead typically cuts the price substantially across every parking tier.
Frequently asked questions
Is off-site parking safe at Heathrow?
Established off-site operators near Heathrow are generally well-reviewed and secured, but checking recent reviews and confirming the shuttle frequency before booking is worthwhile.
What's the cheapest way to park at Heathrow for two weeks?
Pre-booked off-site long-stay parking is typically the lowest-cost option for stays of that length, well below the airport's own walk-up long-stay rate.
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A cross-airport roundup of hotels with reliable, frequent shuttle service — useful for early flights, late arrivals, and park-and-fly trips.
What to Do During a Long Layover at Heathrow
How to spend anywhere from 3 to 12 hours at Heathrow, from lounge access to a quick trip into Central London.