London City Airport Parking 2026: From £29/day Onsite, Cheaper Alternatives & DLR Maths

London City Airport (LCY) has the most limited parking inventory of any major London airport. Sitting in the heart of Docklands with the DLR running directly through it, LCY was designed for business travellers arriving by train, not driving. Onsite spaces start from £29/day and are intended for short stays. Long stay parking, in the sense Heathrow or Gatwick mean it, doesn't really exist at LCY. Here is the honest 2026 picture, including when LCY parking makes sense and when you'd be better off heading west to Heathrow or south to Gatwick.

2026 LCY parking prices at a glance

Why LCY parking is expensive and limited

LCY occupies a tiny footprint — built on a former dock between two stretches of Thames-side housing in Newham. There's no room for the giant long-stay fields that surround LHR or LGW. The airport prioritises high-yield short-stay use over long-stay capacity, so prices stay high to manage demand.

If you're driving in for a day return, LCY parking is workable. If you're heading on holiday for 7 nights, the maths usually points elsewhere — even with the M25 traffic factored in.

When LCY parking still makes sense

• Day return business trips. Pre-book onsite Short Stay, park 2 minutes from check-in, you're done. The £29 is competitive against a London cab.
• Early-morning departures. First DLR is 5:30am from Bank, sometimes too late for early LCY flights. Driving and parking solves it.
• Multi-passenger with luggage. Four people with cases pay more on the DLR than splitting onsite parking.
• You live in Essex or Kent. The DLR is a London-centric solution. From Brentwood or Dartford, driving to LCY is often quicker than train-then-DLR.

When you should park elsewhere

For stays longer than 48 hours, Heathrow Long Stay parking starts around £6.50/day. A 7-night trip parked at LHR Long Stay is roughly £45, against £203 at LCY Short Stay — and LHR has more flight options for most destinations anyway.

Gatwick is similar — Long Stay from £6/day, 7 nights for about £42. The maths is clear for any leisure trip.

How LCY parking compares to other London airports

• LHR: Long Stay from £6.50/day, Meet & Greet from £7/day, off-airport from £5/day.
• LGW: Long Stay from £6/day, off-airport from £4.99/day.
• STN: Long Stay from £9/day, off-airport from £5.85/day.
• LTN: Long Stay from £4.99/day — cheapest London airport for parking.
• LCY: from £29/day onsite. £15/day at nearest off-airport.

The DLR alternative most LCY travellers miss

The DLR runs every 8-10 minutes from London City Airport station, which is in the terminal building. Journey times: Canning Town 4 min, Bank 22 min, Stratford 14 min. From most central London origins, DLR + Tube is door-to-door under an hour. Cost: £3-5 with contactless or Oyster.

For a single traveller arriving from Zones 1-3, the DLR will almost always beat driving and parking when you factor in time, fuel, congestion charge (£15 for most of the route) and the £29 parking fee.

Frequently asked

Can I drop someone off at LCY for free?

No. LCY has no free drop-off zone. The Express Set Down at the terminal costs £5 for 10 minutes. There is no equivalent of Heathrow's free long-stay drop-off.

Is there long stay parking at London City Airport?

Not in the way bigger airports mean it. Onsite parking is designed for short stays, with no dedicated long-stay car park. For trips over 4 nights, parking at LHR, LGW or LTN and connecting in is usually cheaper than parking at LCY.

What's the cheapest London City Airport parking?

NCP Newham at around £15/day is the cheapest nearby off-airport option. Onsite is £29/day. Pre-booking always saves vs walk-up.

Can I park overnight at LCY?

Yes — onsite parking allows overnight stays, billed at the standard daily rate. There's no separate overnight tariff.

Are there electric vehicle chargers at LCY?

Yes. LCY's onsite car park has multiple EV charging bays for both rapid and slow charging. Pay-as-you-go via the relevant operator's app.