Gatwick Long Stay parking starts around £60 a week pre-booked in 2026, with both North and South terminals having dedicated Long Stay lots. Off-airport Park and Ride can drop below £46 a week on promotional dates. Premium Short Stay sits at £75 per day for travellers who value proximity over price. Walk-up is brutal at £230 a week. Here is the 2026 picture.
The price brackets
| Product | Indicative weekly rate (pre-book) | Walk or shuttle |
|---|---|---|
| Off-airport Park and Ride | £46 to £85 | 5 to 15 min shuttle |
| Long Stay (on-airport, North or South) | £60 to £110 | 5 to 20 min shuttle |
| Off-airport Meet and Greet | £90 to £160 | 0 min, driver at forecourt |
| Short Stay | £150 to £225 | 5 min walk |
| Premium Short Stay (multi-storey) | £300 to £450 | 2 to 3 min walk, same level as departures |
| Walk-up at the barrier (Long Stay) | £230 | 5 to 20 min shuttle |
The walk-up to pre-book gap is the largest at any major UK airport. £170 difference for the same parking space over the same week. Pre-booking is the single biggest cost saver at Gatwick by some margin.
Cheapest official option: Long Stay
Long Stay is Gatwick own product, with separate lots for North and South Terminals. Pre-booked rates start around £60 a week, the first 2 hours of any visit are free, and a free shuttle runs every 10 to 12 minutes, taking 5 to 10 minutes from South or 10 to 20 minutes from North. Park Mark accredited.
The off-airport edge
Gatwick off-airport sites along the M23 and A23 corridor open at £46 a week pre-booked and run promotional discounts down to £35-£40 on quieter weekends. Quality varies, check Park Mark accreditation on the listing card before booking.
The Meet and Greet premium
Off-airport Meet and Greet sits at £90 to £160 a week. The Saver or Non-Flexible tier is typically 20 to 30% cheaper than the standard rate. The premium over Long Stay is real but the time saving on a tired return leg (30 to 45 minutes) is worth £20 to £40 to most family travellers.
The Short Stay trap
Short Stay at £150 to £225 a week is intentionally punitive. The hourly rate is sensible (£12 per 30 minutes), the weekly rate is not. Only book Short Stay for trips under 24 hours.
Premium Short Stay (when it is worth it)
£300 to £450 a week buys you a space on the same level as departures with a 2 to 3 minute walk to check-in. Justified only for tight-itinerary business trips of 1 to 2 nights where time saved on the return leg matters more than the headline price.
What moves the price most at Gatwick
- Pre-book vs walk-up. The single largest spread at any UK airport. Always pre-book.
- 4 to 12 weeks ahead. The cheapest window across every Gatwick product.
- Saver tiers. 20 to 30% cheaper, fine if your dates are firm.
- School holidays. Lift prices 15 to 30%. Book before the calendar peaks.
- Terminal-specific. Long Stay North vs South are priced separately, sometimes £5 to £15 apart for the same dates.
The honest one-line answer
For most Gatwick travellers in 2026, on-airport Long Stay at £60 to £110 a week pre-booked is the genuine cheapest sensible option. Off-airport Park and Ride beats it only on specific promotional dates. Meet and Greet wins for families on short trips. Premium Short Stay wins for 24-hour business. Whatever you do, book at least 4 weeks ahead, the walk-up rate is 200%+ more expensive.
See live prices and book
For real-time prices across every Gatwick car park including the separate North and South Long Stay lots and off-airport operators, see our Gatwick parking comparison page. For operational rules and product types in depth, see our Gatwick buyer guide.