3 Cheapest Parking Near Heathrow

Whether you're catching an early flight, heading off on a long holiday, or just dropping someone off, finding low-cost and reliable parking options near the UK's busiest airport can make all the difference.

With daily rates at official Heathrow car parks often topping £30, it's no surprise more drivers are turning to off-site alternatives.

This guide cuts through the clutter to help you park smart, save money, and travel stress-free.

Smart Picks: Cheapest Off-Airport Parking Lots Near Heathrow

Looking to cut parking costs without sacrificing convenience?

Several off-airport car parks near Heathrow offer rates that undercut on-site options by a wide margin.

Here’s where to start.

Top Budget-Friendly Off-Airport Car Parks

Purple Parking Heathrow Located around 3.5 miles from Terminals 2 and 3, Purple Parking operates one of the largest off-airport sites. With shuttle transfers taking roughly 12–15 minutes, this lot combines affordability with efficient access to terminals. Pre-booked rates often drop to as low as £6.50 per day when booked for a week or more. NCP Flightpath Positioned close to Terminal 3, this NCP-managed lot offers direct shuttle transfers every 20 minutes. Travel time ranges from 8 to 10 minutes, depending on traffic. Pricing averages £58 per week, undercutting Heathrow’s official long-stay lot by around 25%. AirParks Heathrow Operating about 4 miles from the main terminals, AirParks provides competitive prices with frequent shuttle transfers. The journey to the terminals takes approximately 15–20 minutes. Weekly rates typically hover between £55 and £62, depending on the season.

Who Offers the Best Value?

Two types of parking dominate Heathrow's landscape: official airport parking and private off-airport competitors. Heathrow's own offerings include Short Stay, Long Stay, and Meet & Greet across all terminals. These are located on airport grounds, managed by Heathrow Airport Limited.

In contrast, private providers such as Purple Parking, NCP, and AirParker operate facilities just outside the airport perimeter. These providers typically include free shuttle transfers to terminals, and they often undercut Heathrow's official prices, especially for stays longer than 24 hours.

Price Ranges by Duration

1 day: Heathrow’s official Long Stay parking charges are around £37 per day. Off-airport providers offer day rates starting at £6.95, particularly when pre-booked.
1 week: Expect Heathrow Long Stay to cost between £120 and £140. Private operators provide weekly rates from £44 to £65.
Monthly: While Heathrow does not offer a standard 30-day rate to the public, projecting from weekly prices would give an estimated £480–£520. Off-airport providers that cater to long-term parkers (e.g., AirParker) list 30-day packages from £155 to £210.

Always compare deals across multiple platforms. Parking aggregators like Holiday Extras and JustPark often include promotional packages and can display the lowest available prices side by side.

Service Comparison: Customer Support, Shuttle Service, and Reputation

Customer Support: Official Heathrow parking offers a 24/7 call centre and on-site staff at all lots. Among private operators, Purple Parking and NCP rank highest for support responsiveness, with staff availability at most hours. Smaller firms sometimes rely on remote support, which can delay issue resolution.
Shuttle Frequency and Reliability: Heathrow’s Long Stay parks dispatch shuttles every 10 minutes during peak hours, with average transfer times of 7 minutes. Private providers like AirParker and MBW Parking operate with frequencies between 15 and 20 minutes, though NCP’s Park & Ride service maintains a tighter schedule of 10-minute intervals.
Reputation and Ratings: On Trustpilot, Purple Parking holds an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 (from over 40,000 reviews), praised for value and efficiency. MBW Parking, offering valet-style Meet & Greet, scores 4.5. Heathrow’s own parking scores lower, around 3.2, with common complaints about pricing and signage rather than security or reliability.

What are the cheapest options?

Spot prices at Heathrow-adjacent car parks fluctuate fast. Booking months in advance can slash rates by more than half compared to drive-up pricing.

For instance, reserving a space at Purple Parking three months before departure can cost as little as £55 for 7 days.

Turn up without a reservation and the same week jumps to £120 or more. Price volatility is tied to flight seasons, local events, and daily car park occupancy, last-minute planners pay the premium.

HeathrowParking.com routinely promotes advance-only deals that are 40–60% lower than on-the-day prices. These offers disappear quickly as availability tightens, especially during school holidays and bank holiday weekends.

Advance vs. Same-Day Pricing: Real-World Examples

MBW Meet & Greet (T3): Booking two months prior shows rates at £74 for a week. Booking the same space a day before departure spikes to £132.
Good to Go Park & Ride (T5): Secured in advance: £62 for 7 days. Same-day walk-in: £117.
Heathrow NCP Long Stay: Early booking skips the gate price of £31.80/day and locks in £12/day rates instead.

These figures reflect actual quotes taken in Spring 2024 and confirm the cost efficiency of booking ahead, especially when parking for more than three days.

Where to Lock in the Lowest Prices Online

Price comparison and aggregator platforms serve as the gateway to cheap Heathrow parking, but not all sites are equal in inventory and user interface.

The three below consistently offer the broadest search results and best-value deals.

HeathrowParking.com: Directly affiliated with official airport car parks and popular off-site operators like Purple Parking and NCP. Real-time availability with transparent fee breakdowns.
HolidayExtras.co.uk: Features independent customer reviews and exclusive room-and-parking packages with nearby hotels. Regular flash sales are available.
ParkVia.com: Convenient filters for shuttle frequency, security features, and disabled access. Often includes international options for multi-leg trips.

Quick Look: Cheapest Parking Near Heathrow

Looking for solid value without sacrificing convenience? Here's a side-by-side breakdown of the most budget-friendly Heathrow parking options. This table features real prices, key features, travel times, and booking tips to help you pick the smartest deal.

Smart Strategies for Snagging the Cheapest Parking Near Heathrow

Parking prices vary widely between providers, and no single site offers the universally lowest rate. Use comparison websites like Airport Parking Shop, ParkVia, or Looking4Parking to scan dozens of car parks at once.

These platforms often show hidden discounts exclusive to online bookings. Don’t just check one site, each aggregator might display deals that others miss.

RELATED: Parking Fines Loopholes

Grab Discounts Through Newsletters and Loyalty Offers

Most parking providers offer significant early-bird or repeat-customer discounts through email newsletters. Signing up with companies such as Purple Parking, APH, or Holiday Extras routinely results in exclusive promo codes. Loyalty schemes, when available, stack ongoing savings, especially for frequent flyers or business travellers.

Look Beyond the Airport Zone

Prices tend to drop sharply outside the immediate Heathrow perimeter. Car parks in Hounslow, Hayes, Slough, and Southall often cost 30–50% less than on-airport options. Many of these lots include shuttle transfers, sometimes quicker than Heathrow's internal terminal transfers.

For those with flexible timing, this opens up cheaper, and sometimes more convenient, choices.

Rethink Where You Start Your Journey

If you're coming from outside Greater London, ask yourself: could you drive partway and switch to public transport? Parking near Zone 5 or 6 Underground stations, like West Ruislip, Uxbridge, or Hatton Cross, can cut daily parking costs dramatically.

Add an Oyster or contactless card ride, and you reach the terminals without Heathrow's parking fees.

Example: Parking at Hillingdon Station for a week can be under £40, and it’s a direct tube line to Terminals 1–5.
Bonus: Avoid traffic jams and terminal congestion altogether.

Start with this question: how far are you really willing to park from the terminal? Balancing price with convenience sharpens the search and likely leads to a better deal.

Answers to Your Most Asked Questions About the Cheapest Parking Near Heathrow

What are the cheapest parking options near Heathrow?

Independent off-airport parking providers consistently offer the lowest rates. Operators like Purple Parking, Maple Parking, and AirParks compete by keeping prices well below official Heathrow rates. Their daily rates often start from £5.50 when booked well in advance, far lower than on-site long-stay car parks that fluctuate between £12 and £30 per day, depending on the season.

Meet and Greet services can also be affordable when booked through price comparison platforms, especially for stays longer than five days. Travellers with flexible schedules get the best deals outside peak periods.

How can I get discounts on parking?

Booking remains the most effective way to lock in the lowest price. Most providers apply steep discounts, up to 60%, for early online reservations. Signing up for promotional emails from companies like Holiday Extras, Looking4Parking, or ParkVia adds access to limited-time codes and seasonal sales.

Comparison sites routinely offer exclusive deals unavailable on direct websites. Loyalty members also gain price reductions through frequent use or referrals.

Which parking options work best for taxi or private hire drivers?

Taxi and minicab drivers often prefer off-airport Park and Ride facilities due to their 24/7 access and wider vehicle bay sizes. Britannia Parking and Park Giant at Heathrow’s periphery provide competitive tariffs for commercial drivers, with secure per-day or per-hour packages.

Heathrow Business Parking: Especially suitable for licensed PHVs looking for proximity and flexibility.
NCP Heathrow Central: Offers hourly rates ideal for short passenger transfers.
Terminus Airport Parking: Tailored accounts for chauffeurs and fleet operators.

Some professional drivers also utilise hotel car parks offering day rates when collecting or dropping off VIP clients, particularly near Terminals 3 and 5.