Long stay at Birmingham in brief
For a week or more, Birmingham's cheapest options are the off-airport park and ride sites and the airport's Car Parks 7 and 5.
Birmingham has one terminal, so there is no terminal to choose. The decision is how far out you park, whether you keep your keys, and whether the transfer runs through the night. Every option on this page is a short ride or walk from check-in; the difference between them is mostly price and keys.
Long stay prices compared
Eight products cover most long trips from Birmingham, from Green Oaks to Car Park 4.
| Car park | 8 days, full price | 8 days | Per day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Oaks Park & Ride | £64.00 | £44.80 | £5.60 |
| APL Park & Ride | £89.60 | £62.72 | £7.84 |
| Official Car Park 7 | £94.99 | £66.49 | £8.31 |
| Official Car Park 5 | £119.99 | £83.99 | £10.50 |
| APH Self Park | £120.99 | £84.69 | £10.59 |
| APH Drop & Go | £120.99 | £84.69 | £10.59 |
| Airparks Drop & Go | £120.99 | £84.69 | £10.59 |
| Official Car Park 4 | £129.99 | £91.00 | £11.37 |
Sample eight-day prices. The search at the top shows yours.
The airport's long stay car parks
Car Park 7 is the cheapest official option, Car Park 5 the cheapest where you keep your keys, and Car Park 4 the closest surface car park.
| Car park | Getting to the terminal | Keys | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official Car Park 7 | Courtesy bus, 10–15 min | Left at the office | Not stated |
| Official Car Park 5 | Walk 5–10 min or free bus | You keep them | No limit |
| Official Car Park 4 | Covered walk 3–5 min or shuttle | You keep them | None listed |
The airport says all its car parks hold Park Mark safer parking status, with CCTV and regular patrols. Car Park 7 sits across the runway and works as meet and greet for pre-booked customers, which is why it costs less.
Off-airport long stay
Green Oaks and APL are the cheapest, and the Airparks and APH sites at Garretts Green and Bickenhill follow.
Green Oaks operates from early morning to just before midnight; APL runs 24/7 about three miles out. At Mackadown Lane in Garretts Green, Airparks and APH run Drop & Go, where staff park the car, and APH runs Self Park, where you keep your keys. Buses from there take about 14 minutes. Our Birmingham park and ride guide has the detail.
Keeping your keys
On a long trip, the key question is literal: who holds them.
Car Parks 4 and 5, APH Self Park, APH Short Run, APH Express, Airparks Short Run.
Car Park 7, Green Oaks, APL, Airparks and APH Drop & Go.
Key-drop sites move cars to use space efficiently, which keeps prices down. Take house keys off the ring before you hand them over.
Transfers and how long to allow
Build the bus into your timings, not just the flight.
Allow around 15 minutes from parking to check-in at Car Park 5, 30 to 40 at Car Park 7 once the handover and bus are counted, and similar for the Garretts Green sites. Short Run and APH Express, near the NEC, are quicker, at around five and three minutes on the bus. Early summer mornings are the busiest, so add a margin.
Late landings and early starts
Check that the transfer runs when your flight lands.
The airport's buses from Car Parks 4 and 5 run 24 hours. APL, APH Short Run and APH Express run round the clock too. Green Oaks operates from 04:00 to 23:59, so a delayed flight landing after midnight needs a different plan.
Vans, roof boxes and larger cars
Car Park 5 has no height limit; most off-airport sites stop at about 2 to 2.1 metres.
The Airparks and APH sites accept cars under 2.1 metres that fit a 2m by 5m bay, with no minibuses, motorhomes or trailers. APL lists a 2-metre limit. For a campervan or a tall van, Car Park 5 is the straightforward choice.
Security while you are away
The airport says all its car parks hold Park Mark safer parking status, with CCTV and regular patrols.
Off-airport operators describe CCTV, fencing, patrols and barriers; we report those as their descriptions. Wherever you park, leave nothing of value in the car.
Car Park 5 or Car Park 7
The airport's two cheapest long stay car parks work very differently.
Car Park 5 lets you park yourself, keep your keys and walk to the terminal or take a free bus. Car Park 7 sits across the runway, at a different postcode, and asks pre-booked customers to leave their keys at the office before a courtesy bus. Car Park 7 costs less; Car Park 5 is simpler on the way home, because you walk to the car and drive off.
For a family or anyone who wants to be on the road quickly after a late landing, Car Park 5 is worth the extra. For a solo traveller on a budget, Car Park 7 is fine.
Where the off-airport sites are
The off-airport sites we sell are spread around the airport, not in one place.
Airparks and APH Drop & Go, APH Self Park. About 14 minutes by bus.
APH and Airparks Short Run. About five minutes by bus.
APH Express. About three minutes.
Green Oaks and APL; addresses in the confirmation.
Use the postcode in your confirmation, not the airport's. Several of these sites are close to the NEC and the M42, so allow for event traffic on busy days.
Where the value is
For a week or more, the middle of the table often gives the best balance.
The cheapest sites save the most money, but Car Park 5 and APH Self Park let you keep your keys for a moderate price, and APH Express and the Short Run products cut the bus to a few minutes. Decide what matters most on the return trip, when you are tired and want to get home, and book accordingly.
What to leave in the car
Prepare the car before you set off.
- Valuables out. Nothing on show.
- House keys off. For key-drop sites.
- Note the bay. Photo of the row sign.
- Check the fuel. Enough for the drive home.
Winter trips
Surface car parks are open to the weather, so plan for frost.
Leave a scraper and de-icer in the car, and keep a warm layer in your hand luggage for the wait at the bus stop. Car Park 4's covered walkway is the best official option for a dry walk in winter.
Booking tips
Book early and avoid the turn-up tariff.
The airport's turn-up rate at Car Park 5 is £67 a day, and it says pre-booking saves up to 70%. Our code takes up to 30% off selected products; the full list is on our Birmingham discount codes page. The cheapest sites sell out first in school holidays.
Long stay at Birmingham: questions answered
Green Oaks Park & Ride on our sample prices. Car Park 7 is the cheapest car park the airport runs.
Car Park 5 and Car Park 4. At Car Park 7, pre-booked customers leave their keys.
Every 15 minutes, 24 hours a day, per the airport.
Car Park 5, which has no height restriction. Most off-airport sites stop at about 2 to 2.1 metres.
Bookings made with us can be cancelled free within 24 hours of booking.
Ready to book? The search at the top compares every Birmingham car park we sell. Cancel free within 24 hours of booking. Booking in advance can save you up to 80% on drive-up prices.