Gatwick is the UK second-largest airport with two terminals (North and South) and one of the most competitive parking markets in Europe. No single product wins for every trip. This guide is the front door to every Gatwick parking option, the rules that move the price most, and links to our deeper guides on each topic.

The North vs South terminal split

Gatwick has two terminals separated by an inter-terminal shuttle that runs every 2 to 3 minutes and is free. Picking the wrong terminal for parking is recoverable but costs you 15 to 25 minutes on the return leg.

  • North Terminal: EasyJet, Norwegian, TUI, Wizz and most low-cost and leisure carriers.
  • South Terminal: British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, BA partner carriers, plus some EasyJet routes. Generally full-service long-haul plus BA short-haul.

Check your departure terminal on your booking and pick parking at the matching terminal. Long Stay car parks are terminal-specific at Gatwick.

The five real Gatwick parking products

  1. Premium Short Stay (close-in). Multi-storey on the same level as departures. From £12 per 30 minutes, £75 per day. Only sensible for under 24 hours.
  2. Short Stay. Hourly car park slightly further from the terminal. Useful for under 4 hour visits, punitive past 24 hours.
  3. Long Stay (on-airport). The cheapest official option. 5 to 10 minute shuttle from South, 10 to 20 minutes from North. First 2 hours free. Pre-book from £60 a week.
  4. Off-airport Park and Ride. Privately operated sites along the M23 / A23 corridor. From £45.95 a week. Largest off-airport market outside Heathrow.
  5. Off-airport Meet and Greet. Drive to the forecourt, hand keys to a uniformed driver, walk in. Zero shuttle. The dominant Gatwick product for short trips and families.

The £10 drop-off rule

The Gatwick forecourt drop-off zone is £10 for up to 10 minutes per visit, increased from £7 on 6 January 2026. Both terminals charge the same rate. After 20 minutes, an extra £1 per minute kicks in. ANPR enforced, payable online by midnight the day after your visit. See our Gatwick drop-off charges guide for the full rules and the free alternative.

The rules that move the price most

  1. Book 4 to 12 weeks ahead. Walk-up rates at the barrier are 200% to 400% higher than pre-booked. The £230 walk-up week becomes £60-£110 pre-booked.
  2. Pick the right terminal car park. Long Stay North is a different lot to Long Stay South. Booking the wrong one means a 15-25 minute inter-terminal transfer.
  3. Flexibility tier matters. Most operators have a Saver tier 20 to 30% cheaper than the fully-flexible rate. Pick it only if your dates are firm.
  4. Trip length flattens the rate. Per-night rates fall sharply between 3 and 7 nights.
  5. School holidays. Half-term, Easter, summer and Christmas all raise rates 15 to 30%.

Which product fits your trip

Day trip or 24-hour business

Premium Short Stay. The premium for 24 hours is small in absolute pounds, you skip both shuttles, and you arrive back at your car already at the terminal. Tax-deductible for most business travellers.

2 to 5 night break, family

Off-airport Meet and Greet usually wins on real-world cost. The 30 to 45 minute saving on a tired return leg with children is worth the £20 to £40 premium over Long Stay. Pick a Park Mark operator.

1 to 2 week holiday, couple

Long Stay at the terminal you fly from. The 5 to 10 minute shuttle (from South) or 10 to 20 minute (from North) is fine when rested, and the per-night rate beats every alternative.

Long stay 3 weeks plus

Long Stay or off-airport long-stay specialist with a flat weekly price. Per-night rates flatten significantly past 14 nights.

Late-night return (post 23:00)

Off-airport Meet and Greet. Long Stay shuttles run 24/7 but the wait queues build at night, particularly North Terminal. Meet and Greet skips the wait entirely.

Special-needs traveller

Premium Short Stay or Meet and Greet. Neither involves a shuttle bus, both leave you on the forecourt.

Common Gatwick parking mistakes

  1. Booking Short Stay for a week. The hourly rate is intentionally punitive past 24 hours. Pick Long Stay or Meet and Greet for anything multi-day.
  2. Booking the wrong terminal. Inter-terminal shuttle is free but adds 15 to 25 minutes each way.
  3. Ignoring the £10 drop-off. A friend dropping off bags costs £10 even for 60 seconds.
  4. Walking up without booking. 200%+ price gap to pre-booked. The single most expensive mistake at any UK airport.
  5. Not checking Park Mark on off-airport. Gatwick off-airport competition is fierce, not every operator is accredited. We flag this on every listing card.

The complete Gatwick parking hub

The honest one-line answer

For most Gatwick travellers, Long Stay at the matching terminal booked 4 to 8 weeks ahead is the right combination of price, convenience and security. Off-airport Meet and Greet wins for families on short trips. Premium Short Stay wins for 24-hour business. The £10 drop-off is the convenience option but adds up fast for regular visits.