If you're flying from Heathrow and need somewhere to leave your car, you have three main options: Park and Ride, Meet and Greet, and Terminal Parking. Each works differently, suits a different type of traveller, and comes with a very different price. Knowing which one to choose before you book can save you a significant amount of money and hassle on the day.

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This guide focuses specifically on leaving your car while you fly -  not drop-offs or pickups (we do have a blog on that already). We've kept it short and practical so you can make a decision quickly and get on with planning your trip.

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Option 1: Park and Ride - Cheapest for Most Travellers

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Park and Ride (previously called Long Stay parking) is Heathrow's most affordable official option for leaving your car while you fly. You drive to a secure car park slightly away from the terminal, park up, and catch a free shuttle bus to your departure hall. Transfers take around 10 to 15 minutes, buses run 24 hours a day, and the car parks are staffed with CCTV and regular security patrols. 

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Official Heathrow Park and Ride prices start from around £46.80 for a week at Terminal 5 when booked online in advance.

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Third-party off-airport Park and Ride providers - bookable through comparison sites like Holiday Extras, SkyParkSecure, or APH - often offer the same experience at lower prices, sometimes 40 to 60% cheaper than booking direct with Heathrow. These operators use Park Mark approved car parks and provide their own shuttle services. For a week-long holiday, the savings compared to other parking types can easily reach £50 or more.

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Park and Ride is the best choice for most leisure travellers who are happy with a short transfer in exchange for a noticeably lower price. The main things to factor in are the extra time needed for the shuttle (allow at least 30 minutes before you'd normally arrive at the terminal) and making sure you know your specific car park's instructions before you travel.

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Option 2: Meet and Greet - Most Convenient

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With Meet and Greet, you drive directly to a drop-off point near your terminal, hand your keys to a professional driver, and walk straight to check-in. 

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There is no shuttle, no navigating a multi-storey car park with luggage, and no long walk. When you land and collect your bags, you call or message the operator and your car is brought back to you at arrival. It is the smoothest way to leave your car at Heathrow, and it is particularly popular with families, passengers with a lot of luggage, or anyone who just wants as stress-free a start to their trip as possible.

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Official Heathrow Meet and Greet starts from £143.40 for a week at Terminal 5 - but third-party providers booked through comparison sites bring that figure down considerably, with eight-day packages often available from around £70 to £90 depending on dates and availability. When booking through a third party, look for operators using Park Mark approved sites and check recent customer reviews before confirming.

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 All official Heathrow Meet and Greet drop-off points at Terminals 2, 3, and 5 are equipped with 360-degree damage limitation cameras.

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For the right traveller, the price premium over Park and Ride is helpful, especially if you are travelling with children, heavy bags, or simply do not want to think about logistics at 4am. Book through a reputable comparison site rather than directly with Heathrow to get the best price, and always read the booking confirmation so you know exactly where to go and what to do on the day.

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Option 3: Terminal Parking - Closest to Departures

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Terminal Parking (previously Short Stay) puts your car as close to the terminal as possible - typically a two-minute walk via a covered walkway straight into departures or arrivals. It is the most convenient option in terms of walking distance, but also the most expensive for longer stays. Drive-up daily rates can reach £88 per 24 hours, making it impractical for a week-long holiday. Where it makes sense is for short business trips of one or two nights, or when convenience genuinely outweighs cost.

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For stays over nine hours, Terminal Parking can be pre-booked online at cheaper rates than turning up on the day - pre-booking is strongly recommended if you know your dates in advance. You keep your keys with you throughout, and the car parks have regular security patrols and CCTV. 

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One thing to note: there are currently no EV charging facilities in any Terminal Parking car park at Heathrow, so electric vehicle drivers should make sure they are fully charged before arriving.

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Which Option Should You Choose?

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For most people going on holiday and leaving their car for a week or more, Park and Ride is the sensible choice - it is the cheapest, secure, and the shuttle transfer is a minor inconvenience in exchange for real savings. If you are travelling with young children, have a lot of luggage, or your flight is very early in the morning, Meet and Greet is worth the upgrade: the convenience is genuine and the price difference from Park and Ride, when booked through a comparison site, is smaller than you might expect.

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Terminal Parking is best reserved for short trips where every minute counts = a one-night business trip, for example, where you need to get in and out of the airport as quickly as possible both ways. For anything longer, the daily cost makes it hard to justify compared to the other two options. If you are unsure, use a comparison site to see live prices for all three across your specific dates and terminal, that will usually make the decision obvious.

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How to Get the Best Price

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The earlier you book, the cheaper your parking will be. Prices at Heathrow rise as availability tightens closer to departure dates, in some cases, booking six months ahead versus one week ahead can save up to £10 per day. Always book online rather than turning up on the day, as drive-up rates are significantly higher than pre-booked online prices across all car park types.

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Using a comparison site (Holiday Extras, SkyParkSecure, APH, or Purple Parking) is usually the most effective way to find the cheapest option for your dates, as these aggregate both official Heathrow products and third-party off-airport providers in one place. If your plans might change, it is worth paying a small premium for a flexible, cancellable booking, most providers allow free cancellation up to a few hours before your arrival time.

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Leaving your car at Heathrow does not have to be expensive or stressful. For most holiday travellers, Park and Ride booked through a comparison site offers the best value, secure, straightforward, and significantly cheaper than Terminal Parking for stays of more than a few days. If convenience is your priority, Meet and Greet is the upgrade worth considering, especially when you factor in how much easier it makes departure day.

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Whatever you choose, book early, book online, and always double-check which terminal you're flying from before confirming your reservation. Prices and policies are based on March 2026 information, make sure you check current rates and availability at heathrow.com before booking.