Does the Congestion Charge apply to London airports?
The London Congestion Charge applies to London City Airport, which sits inside the zone, but not to Heathrow, which is outside it. Heathrow is, however, inside the ULEZ, a separate charge that often causes confusion.
The Congestion Charge is a £15 daily fee for driving in central London, a different scheme from the ULEZ. Of the London airports, only London City sits inside the Congestion Charge zone. Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton are all outside it. The common confusion is that Heathrow is outside the Congestion Charge but inside the ULEZ, so a non-compliant car pays the £12.50 ULEZ but not the £15 Congestion Charge. The detail below clarifies each airport.
Is Heathrow inside the Congestion Charge zone?
No. Heathrow is outside the London Congestion Charge zone, so there is no £15 charge to drive there. However, Heathrow is inside the ULEZ, so non-compliant vehicles pay the separate £12.50 daily emissions charge instead.
Heathrow lies in west London, well outside the central Congestion Charge zone, so the £15 charge never applies for an airport trip. What does apply, for non-compliant vehicles, is the £12.50 ULEZ, since the August 2023 expansion brought Heathrow inside that zone. The two are easy to confuse but entirely separate: Heathrow travellers may pay ULEZ but never the Congestion Charge. See our Heathrow ULEZ parking guide for how to avoid the ULEZ by parking outside the zone.
Is London City Airport inside the zone?
London City Airport sits just inside or on the edge of the Congestion Charge zone and is inside the ULEZ. Driving there in a non-compliant vehicle can mean both the £15 Congestion Charge and the £12.50 ULEZ on the same day.
London City Airport, in the Docklands, is the one London airport affected by the Congestion Charge, sitting within or right at the edge of the zone, and inside the ULEZ. For a non-compliant vehicle that can mean two charges on a driving day: £15 Congestion Charge plus £12.50 ULEZ. This makes driving to London City in an older car expensive, and public transport or a compliant vehicle more attractive. Always check both charges for your vehicle and route before driving to London City.
How much is the Congestion Charge?
The London Congestion Charge is £15 per day for driving within the central zone during charging hours. It applies to most vehicles regardless of emissions, unlike the ULEZ which is based on how clean your vehicle is.
The Congestion Charge is £15 per day, applied for driving in the central London zone during its operating hours. Unlike the ULEZ, it is not based on emissions, most vehicles pay it, though electric vehicles currently have a cleaner-vehicle discount that is being phased out. For airport travellers, it only matters for London City. Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton are all outside the zone. Check the current rules on the TfL Congestion Charge page before driving in central London.
How can I avoid it when parking at the airport?
For Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton there is no Congestion Charge to avoid, as they are all outside the zone. For London City, park at an off-airport compound outside the zone or use public transport, then compare parking with us.
Avoiding the Congestion Charge is simple for most London airports because they are outside the zone, so parking on or off airport involves no charge. London City is the exception: to avoid the £15 charge, park outside the zone or travel in via public transport or a compliant vehicle. For all the London airports, off-airport Park & Ride is the value option, and we show which car parks suit your airport. Compare options below and apply BCP30 for up to 30% off.
What are the key takeaways on Congestion Charge and airports?
Only London City Airport is inside the Congestion Charge zone; Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton are outside. Heathrow is outside the Congestion Charge but inside the ULEZ, a separate £12.50 charge often confused with it.
To summarise the main points:
- The Congestion Charge is £15/day in central London, separate from the ULEZ.
- Heathrow is outside the Congestion Charge but inside the ULEZ.
- London City is inside both the Congestion Charge and the ULEZ.
- Gatwick, Stansted and Luton are outside both zones.
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More questions
No. Heathrow is outside the London Congestion Charge zone, so there is no £15 charge to drive there. Heathrow is, however, inside the ULEZ, so non-compliant vehicles pay the separate £12.50 daily emissions charge instead.
Yes, London City sits within or on the edge of the Congestion Charge zone and inside the ULEZ. A non-compliant vehicle can pay both the £15 Congestion Charge and the £12.50 ULEZ on the same driving day.
£15 per day for driving in the central zone during charging hours. Unlike the ULEZ, it is not based on emissions, so most vehicles pay it. For airports, only London City is affected; the others are outside the zone.
No. Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and Heathrow are all outside the Congestion Charge zone, so there is no £15 charge. Only London City Airport is inside the zone.
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