At Heathrow Terminal 5, Terminal Parking (formerly Short Stay) costs from £8.00 for up to 29 minutes on the day, rising to £98 for 12-24 hours. Park & Ride (formerly Long Stay) is free for the first 29 minutes, then £9.40 up to 2 hours, with a first full day at £46.80. Terminal Parking is next to the building; Park & Ride is on the perimeter, a free shuttle ride away. Prices are Heathrow's own on-the-day rates, effective 6 January 2026. Checked 2026.
Terminal Parking and Park & Ride: the renamed products
Heathrow renamed its car park products in 2025: what used to be called Short Stay Parking is now Terminal Parking, and what used to be called Long Stay Parking is now Park & Ride. Road signs around the airport, and some older in-terminal signage, still say "Short Stay" and "Long Stay"; they lead to exactly the same car parks under the new names, so don't worry if a sign hasn't caught up yet.
Terminal 5 Terminal Parking (formerly Short Stay): on-the-day prices
| Duration | Price (effective 6 January 2026) |
|---|---|
| 0-29 minutes | £8.00 |
| 30-44 minutes | £12.50 |
| 45-59 minutes | £15.50 |
| 1-2 hours | £20.00 |
| 2-3 hours | £24.00 |
| 3-4 hours | £28.00 |
| 4-5 hours | £35.00 |
| 5-6 hours | £44.00 |
| 6-9 hours | £63.00 |
| 9-12 hours | £78.00 |
| 12-24 hours | £98.00 |
These are drive-up, pay-on-exit rates. For stays under 24 hours, including any drop-off or pick-up, you pay at the ticket machine or exit barrier rather than booking online. Terminal Parking sits right next to the Terminal 5 building, connected by covered walkways, with the departures hall on the top floor and arrivals on the ground floor.
Terminal 5 Park & Ride (formerly Long Stay): on-the-day prices
| Duration | Price |
|---|---|
| 0-29 minutes | Free |
| 30 minutes-1 hour 59 minutes | £9.40 |
| First day | £46.80 |
| Each additional 24-hour period | £37.40 |
Park & Ride is Heathrow's cheapest official product and the one to use for anything longer than a few hours. It sits on the Perimeter Road rather than next to the terminal, connected by a free shuttle bus running every 15 minutes; the transfer to Terminal 5 takes about 7 to 10 minutes, among the quickest of any terminal's Park & Ride service. Shuttles run daily between 04:00 and 23:30; outside those hours you call 020 8745 6261 to request a transfer.
Which should you use?
- Dropping off or picking up, under 30 minutes: either works, but Park & Ride is free for that window versus £8.00 at Terminal Parking, so it's the cheaper choice if you don't mind the short shuttle ride.
- Waiting for a delayed arrival, uncertain timing: Park & Ride's free first 29 minutes, followed by a flat £9.40 up to 2 hours, is far more forgiving than Terminal Parking's steadily climbing scale.
- A quick stay under an hour where being right next to the terminal matters, for example helping with heavy luggage or a wheelchair user: Terminal Parking's proximity, despite the higher price, saves the shuttle transfer time.
- Anything over a few hours, including most holiday trips: Park & Ride is dramatically cheaper. A 24-hour stay is £46.80 at Park & Ride against £98.00 at Terminal Parking, and the gap widens further for longer stays.
- Pre-booking in advance, for any stay over 24 hours: both products offer better rates booked ahead online than the on-the-day prices shown here; always check the live booking widget on heathrow.com before you travel, since advance prices vary by date and demand.
A note on booking in advance vs paying on the day
The prices above are Heathrow's drive-up, pay-on-exit rates, which apply automatically if you don't book ahead, including for any drop-off or pick-up. For a stay of 24 hours or more, Heathrow recommends booking online in advance for a better rate than the day rate shown here, and pre-booked stays can be amended or cancelled free up to two hours before your arrival time. If you already know your dates, it's almost always worth booking ahead rather than relying on the pay-on-exit tariff.
FAQs
What's the difference between Terminal Parking and Park & Ride at Heathrow Terminal 5?
Terminal Parking (formerly Short Stay) is next to the terminal building, reached on foot via covered walkways. Park & Ride (formerly Long Stay) is on the Perimeter Road, reached by a free shuttle bus taking about 7 to 10 minutes to Terminal 5.
Which is cheaper for a quick drop-off at Terminal 5, Terminal Parking or Park & Ride?
Park & Ride, since the first 29 minutes are free. Terminal Parking charges £8.00 from the first minute up to 29 minutes.
How much is a full day's parking at Heathrow Terminal 5?
Terminal Parking's 12-24 hour on-the-day rate is £98.00. Park & Ride's first full day is £46.80, roughly half the price, though both are cheaper again if booked online in advance.
Are Short Stay and Long Stay parking still the correct names at Heathrow Terminal 5?
They were the names until 2025. Heathrow has renamed them Terminal Parking and Park & Ride respectively, though road signage is still catching up, so "Short Stay" and "Long Stay" signs still lead to the right car parks.
Does Park & Ride at Terminal 5 take as long to reach the terminal as other terminals?
No, it's one of the quickest: about 7 to 10 minutes by shuttle to Terminal 5, compared with 10 to 20 minutes for Terminals 2 and 3.
Is it cheaper to book Heathrow Terminal 5 parking in advance?
Usually yes, for stays of 24 hours or more. Heathrow's advance online rates for both Terminal Parking and Park & Ride are generally better than the pay-on-exit prices shown here; check the live booking widget for your specific dates.