Short stay car parks at Heathrow
Heathrow's short stay car parks are now called Terminal Parking, at Terminals 2, 3 and 5. Priority Terminal Parking is the premium version, and Pod Parking is the fastest alternative at Terminal 5.
| Operator | Car park | Type | Transfer | 8-day price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Official Terminal Parking On-Airport · Official · T2, T3, T5 |
Park & Walk | Walk, about 2 min | £156.24 £19.53/day |
|
Official Priority Terminal Parking On-Airport · Official |
Park & Walk | Walk, closest spaces | £252.00 £31.50/day |
 |
Official Pod Parking On-Airport · Official · T5 only |
Pod | Driverless pod, 6 min | £145.32 £18.16/day |
 |
Official Priority Park & Ride On-Airport · Official · T5 only |
Park & Ride | Shuttle to the doors | £106.05 £13.26/day |
*Sample 8-day prices with our code, for 7–14 November 2026. Prices are subject to availability; search your dates above for live rates. Car parks without a link have no guide page yet.
Terminal Parking is the dearest way to park at Heathrow over a week. It earns its price on a trip of a day or two, or for a quick pick-up.
Terminal Parking, formerly Short Stay
Terminal Parking sits beside Terminals 2, 3 and 5, and you keep your keys. At Terminal 5, Heathrow describes a two-minute walk along covered walkways.
About two minutes at Terminal 5.
Self-park.
Heathrow does not allow pick-ups on the forecourt.
Height limit at the barriers.
No Terminal Parking at T4.
Round the clock, per Heathrow.
See the Official Terminal Parking guide for postcodes and arrival steps.
The drive-up tariff at Terminal 5
Terminal Parking at Terminal 5 starts at £8.00 for up to 29 minutes and reaches £98.00 for 12 to 24 hours. Each extra day adds the same again.
| Time | Drive-up rate |
|---|---|
| Up to 29 minutes | £8.00 |
| 30 to 44 minutes | £12.50 |
| 45 to 59 minutes | £15.50 |
| 1 to 2 hours | £20.00 |
| 4 to 5 hours | £35.00 |
| 9 to 12 hours | £78.00 |
| 12 to 24 hours | £98.00 |
Heathrow's Terminal 5 Terminal Parking tariff, checked 25 September 2026.
Over eight days, the drive-up rate would pass £780. Pre-booking with our code brings that down to £156.24.
Priority Terminal Parking
Priority Terminal Parking is the premium tier on our booking sheet, priced well above standard Terminal Parking.
Heathrow's Terminal 5 page does not describe it separately, so check what your booking includes at checkout. For most travellers, the standard Terminal Parking is already a short walk from the terminal.
Pod Parking at Terminal 5
Pod Parking puts you on a driverless electric pod to Terminal 5 in about six minutes. It costs less than Terminal Parking over a week.
How it works
You park, call a pod on a touch screen, and ride straight to the terminal with up to four passengers and luggage. Heathrow says the wait is under 30 seconds.
No height limit
Pod Parking is a surface car park, so vans and tall vehicles fit.
Read the Official Pod Parking guide for hours and planned closures.
Short stay at Terminal 4
There is no Terminal Parking at Terminal 4 since 23 June 2026. The Terminal 4 Park & Ride is free for up to two hours in Zone A.
Heathrow closed the Terminal 4 multi-storey on 23 June 2026. Terminal Parking and the official Meet & Greet no longer run at Terminal 4, and the Terminal 4 Park & Ride is now the only official car park there.
Terminal 4 also has a Priority Pick-Up area by the terminal, charged by the minute. Our Heathrow Terminal 4 parking guide has the details.
When short stay is worth the price
Short stay earns its price on a trip of a day or two. For a week away, the Park & Ride or an off-airport site costs far less.
A business day trip, a weekend away or a late return with heavy bags are the classic cases. For a fortnight, see Heathrow long stay options.
Short stay for pick-ups
Heathrow does not allow pick-ups on the terminal forecourts. At Terminals 2, 3 and 5, Terminal Parking is the closest place to meet arriving passengers.
The Park & Ride is free for the first 29 minutes, which suits drivers happy to wait further out. Our Heathrow drop-off and pick-up guide covers the charges and the rules.
Short stay for business trips
For a day trip or an overnight meeting, Terminal Parking saves time at both ends. Over one day, the gap to the Park & Ride is small next to the time saved.
A business trip often means an early departure and a late flight home. A two-minute walk to the car at night is worth more than the few pounds a bus car park saves over a single day. Book the exact hours you need, because the drive-up tariff jumps at each band.
Height limits for short stay
Terminal Parking takes vehicles up to 2.2m at the barriers. Taller vehicles should look at Pod Parking or the Park & Ride.
| Car park | Height limit (Heathrow) |
|---|---|
| Terminal Parking | 2.2m at the barriers |
| Park & Ride | 2.4m at the exit barriers |
| Pod Parking | No height restriction |
Roof boxes and bike racks add height. Measure the car as loaded before you book.
Short stay against meet and greet
For a week away, most meet and greet products cost less than Terminal Parking on our sample dates.
Meet and greet at Heathrow hands over in the same Terminal Parking car parks, so the walk to check-in is the same. Over eight days, operators such as Edward Lloyd Meet & Greet and Park Giant Meet & Greet cost far less than parking there yourself. See our guide to meet and greet at Heathrow.
Tips for a quick getaway
Note your level, keep your booking to hand and pay any extra time before you reach the barrier.
Photograph the level sign when you park.
You may need it at the exit.
Exits are busier when several flights land together.
Security in the short stay car parks
Heathrow describes round-the-clock patrols, automated barriers and bright lighting.
Heathrow describes round-the-clock patrols, automated barriers and bright lighting across its own car parks. We have not found a Park Mark statement for Heathrow's own car parks, so we do not claim one. The off-airport operators describe their own security, and we report what each says rather than claiming an award on their behalf.
Note your level and bay before you walk away, and keep your booking to hand for the exit barrier.
More questions about short stay at Heathrow
Heathrow renamed its Short Stay car parks as Terminal Parking. Road signs may still say Short Stay in places.
At Terminal 5, the drive-up rate is £8.00 for up to 29 minutes and £12.50 for 30 to 44 minutes.
No. Heathrow closed the Terminal 4 multi-storey on 23 June 2026. Use the Terminal 4 Park & Ride instead, which is free in Zone A for up to two hours.
Heathrow gives 2.2m at the Terminal Parking barriers. Taller vehicles should use Park & Ride, where the exit barriers take up to 2.4m.
At Terminal 5, Heathrow describes a two-minute walk along covered walkways.
Yes. Terminal Parking is self-park.
Ready to book short stay at Heathrow? Search your dates above to compare every option live. Our code is already in the form, and cancellation cover runs up to 72 hours before arrival.