About Official Long Stay
Official Long Stay is Gatwick Airport's own budget car park, with one site for the North Terminal and one for the South. You park, keep your keys and ride a free bus to the terminal.
Official Long Stay is run by Gatwick Airport itself. There are two sites, Long Stay North and Long Stay South, each with a free bus to its own terminal. Gatwick says buses run every 10 to 12 minutes, day and night, and the ride takes 10 to 12 minutes.
You drive in, the barrier reads your number plate, and you park in any free space. There is no reception and no key drop, so you lock up and walk to the bus stop. Gatwick describes the site as well lit, security fenced and patrolled by its own staff.
Long Stay is the cheapest official car park at Gatwick on our sample dates. Off-airport park and ride sites such as AVPS and Cophall cost a little less, but none of them is run by the airport, and all of them take your keys.
Location and getting there
Gatwick sits beside the M23, with a spur road from Junction 9 to both terminals. Follow the signs for your terminal first, then the Long Stay signs. For the South site, use RH6 0NY.
Allow time for the drive, parking up, the wait for the bus and the ride. On a busy morning, budget around 30 minutes from the barrier to the terminal door.
The main routes in from London, the south coast and the rest of the country.
Use the one in your confirmation, which may differ from the terminal's.
The M23 and M25 are busy at peak hours and bank holidays.
- Long Stay South
Gatwick Long Stay South, RH6 0NY - Long Stay North
Follow the airport signs or the map link in your confirmation. - London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
North and South Terminals, Horley, Gatwick RH6 0NP
What's included at Official Long Stay
Here is what Official Long Stay includes.
Gatwick Statement
Security at Official Long Stay
Gatwick states that this car park holds Park Mark Safer Parking approval, the police-backed award for car parks with proper lighting, surveillance and management. Its own security staff patrol the site. Take valuables with you and leave nothing on show.
- Park Mark Safer Parking Approval (Gatwick Statement)
- Patrolled by Gatwick Security Staff
- Number Plate Recognition at the Barrier
- Official Airport Car Park
- Well Lit and Security Fenced
Before you travel
A few minutes of preparation makes the day smoother at Long Stay. At Long Stay, the bus is the only transfer, so plan for it at both ends of the trip.
Keep your confirmation handy at the barrier.
Photograph the level or row sign when you park.
Nothing to hand over, so keep them safe on your trip.
North or South, on your boarding pass.
Check that the number plate on your booking matches your car, and confirm your terminal before you set off. Free cancellation runs for 24 hours after booking on bookings made with us, so check your dates before that window closes.
The Long Stay bus
Each site's bus serves its own terminal. Check that you have booked the Long Stay that matches your flight, because the North bus goes to North and the South bus goes to South. On the way home, catch the bus from the stop outside arrivals.
The two free hours
Long Stay is free for the first two hours at both sites. That makes it the cheapest way to collect someone from a flight. Park, take the bus to arrivals and bring your passengers back. After two hours, the drive-up tariff applies.
Vehicles and spaces
Long Stay has no height restriction, which suits vans, campervans and cars with roof boxes. Trailers are not permitted. Spaces measure 2.4 by 4.8 metres. There are no electric charging points at present.
Tall vehicles are welcome.
Leave the trailer at home.
Charge before you arrive.
Who Long Stay suits
The cheapest official option for a long trip.
No handover at any point.
No height limit at all.
With heavy bags or young children, compare meet and greet, which skips the bus. LG Parking and AMAG cost less than Long Stay on our sample dates.
Arriving at Official Long Stay
Follow the directions in your booking confirmation to reach Official Long Stay. The steps below show how the day works.
- Drive to your terminal's Long Stay site, using the postcode or map link in your confirmation.
- Enter on your number plate and park in any free space.
- Lock the car and keep your keys.
- Take the free bus to the terminal, a 10 to 12-minute ride.
Collecting your car on return
Keep your booking confirmation on your phone for the trip home. Coming back takes a few simple steps.
- Follow the signs from arrivals to the Long Stay bus stop.
- Ride back to the car park.
- Drive to the exit, where the barrier reads your plate.
Good to know before you book
Check these points about Official Long Stay before you book.
Book the Long Stay site that matches your terminal. There is no height limit, but trailers are not allowed and there are no chargers. Prices rise closer to your dates, so book early.
Free cancellation runs for 24 hours after booking on bookings made with us.
Booking ahead costs up to 80% less than the drive-up rate.
Long Stay price
Long Stay is the cheapest official car park at Gatwick on our sample dates.
| Car park | Standard, 8 days | Price with BCP30 | Per day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official Long Stay | £88.00 | £61.60 | £7.70 |
*Sample 8-day prices for 7–14 November 2026. Search above for live rates on your dates.
Gatwick's drive-up tariff for Long Stay is £38 for 2 to 24 hours and £32 for each extra day. Eight days at the gate comes to £262, so pre-booking saves you a large sum.
Compare live Official Long Stay prices. Search your dates above and reserve in seconds. Free cancellation runs for 24 hours after booking on bookings made with us.
Get Quote NowOfficial Long Stay FAQs
Yes. You park your own car, lock it and take the bus. Nothing is handed over.
RH6 0NY. Gatwick gives no exact postcode for Long Stay North and suggests its map link instead.
Gatwick lists 32 at the North Terminal car park and 95 at the South Terminal car park.
No. Trailers are not permitted, though there is no height limit for vehicles.
Gatwick says to press the intercom button if the barrier has not opened within 15 seconds.
More Gatwick Airport parking options
Compare the other car parks we bring you at Gatwick Airport below, with prices for the same sample dates.
Compare every option on our Gatwick Airport parking page. For a walk instead of a bus, see Official Mid Stay and Premium Mid Stay. For the lowest price, see AVPS Park & Ride.
| Operator | Car park | Type | Transfer | 8-day price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
AVPS Park & Ride Off-Airport · Lingfield |
Park & Ride | Shuttle, 10–15 min | £53.38 £6.67/day |
 |
LG Parking Meet & Greet Off-Airport · Off-airport storage |
Meet & Greet | Handover in Short Stay | £55.82 £6.98/day |
 |
Cophall Park & Ride Off-Airport · Copthorne |
Park & Ride | 24-hour shuttle, allow 30–45 min | £60.16 £7.52/day |
 |
AMAG Meet & Greet Off-Airport · Hookwood storage |
Meet & Greet | Handover at Passenger Drop Off | £60.72 £7.59/day |
 |
APH Park & Ride Off-Airport · Copthorne Road |
Park & Ride | Shuttle, 10–12 min | £65.05 £8.13/day |
 |
Sure Meet & Greet Off-Airport · Off-airport storage |
Meet & Greet | Handover in Short Stay | £65.09 £8.14/day |
 |
Purple Parking Meet & Greet Off-Airport · Storage up to 6 miles |
Meet & Greet | Handover 2–5 min from terminal | £66.45 £8.31/day |
 |
Airparks Gatwick Off-Airport · Copthorne Road |
Park & Ride | Shuttle, 10–12 min | £67.14 £8.39/day |
 |
Official Mid Stay On-Airport · Official |
Park & Walk | Walk, 6 min | £72.10 £9.01/day |
 |
I Love Meet & Greet Off-Airport · Forecourt handover |
Meet & Greet | Handover on the forecourt | £80.64 £10.08/day |
 |
Ace Meet & Greet Off-Airport · Off-airport storage |
Meet & Greet | Handover near the terminal | £81.38 £10.17/day |
 |
APH Meet & Greet Forecourt Off-Airport · Forecourt handover |
Meet & Greet | Handover on the forecourt | £81.70 £10.21/day |
 |
Official Valet Parking On-Airport · Official |
Valet | Handover in Short Stay, 2 min walk | £84.00 £10.50/day |
 |
I Love Valet (with car wash) Off-Airport · Forecourt handover |
Meet & Greet | Handover on the forecourt | £90.72 £11.34/day |
 |
APH Park & Ride with EV Charging Off-Airport · Copthorne Road |
Park & Ride | Shuttle, 10–12 min | £97.59 £12.20/day |
 |
APH Self Park Off-Airport · Copthorne Road |
Park & Ride | Shuttle, 10–12 min | £97.60 £12.20/day |
 |
Official Short Stay On-Airport · Official |
Park & Walk | Covered walk, 4 min | £115.50 £14.44/day |
|
Official Premium Mid Stay On-Airport · North only |
Park & Walk | Covered walk, 2 min | £217.70 £27.21/day |
|
Official Premium Short Stay On-Airport · Official |
Park & Walk | Same-level, 2 min walk | £248.50 £31.06/day |
 |
Maple Parking Meet & Greet Off-Airport · Approved Operator |
Meet & Greet | Handover in Short Stay | Live price Search your dates |
 |
Meteor Meet & Greet Off-Airport · Hookwood storage |
Meet & Greet | Handover near the terminal | Live price Search your dates |
 |
Tudor Rose Park & Chauffeur Off-Airport · Hookwood |
Park & Chauffeur | Chauffeured to the terminal, 4 min | Live price Search your dates |
 |
Bubble Meet & Greet Off-Airport · Off-airport storage |
Meet & Greet | Handover in Short Stay | Live price Search your dates |
*Sample 8-day prices, for 7–14 November 2026. Prices are subject to availability; search your dates above for live rates. Rows marked Live price have no sample price yet.