Free airport drop-off and pick-up

18 UK airports let you drop off or pick up for free, usually in a long-stay car park with a time limit and a shuttle bus. Here's each one.

Heathrow

Heathrow Park & Ride car parks (previously called Long Stay), with a free bus to the terminal. Drop-off is free in Heathrow's Park & Ride car parks, where passengers take a free bus transfer to the terminal. For pick-ups, Park & Ride is free for the first 29 minutes.

Gatwick

Long Stay car parks: free for 2 hours, with a free shuttle bus to the terminals. You can drop off, pick up and park free for up to two hours in Gatwick's Long Stay car parks, with a free shuttle bus to the terminals. After 2 hours the Long Stay roll-up rate is £38 for 2–24 hours.

Stansted

Mid Stay car park: first hour free, with a free shuttle bus to the terminal. Stansted's free drop-off area is at the Mid Stay car park, a short shuttle bus ride from the terminal. The first hour is free; the second hour is £5, then a day rate applies.

Luton

Long Stay car park: free for up to 2 hours, with a free 10-minute shuttle bus. Luton's Long Stay car park (postcode LU2 9NW) is free for up to 2 hours and £7 for 3 hours. Free shuttle buses run 24 hours a day, every 20 minutes, from Bus Bay B outside the terminal.

Manchester

Free Drop Off in JetParks 1 (M90 5AZ), with a free 24/7 shuttle bus. All passengers can use the free Drop Off area in JetParks 1 (postcode M90 5AZ). A free shuttle bus takes passengers to their terminal in around 6 minutes, 24/7, with marshals on hand. The shuttle runs one way only, from the car park to the terminal.

Birmingham

Drop Off car park: first 10 minutes free. Stays of up to 10 minutes in the Drop Off car park (postcode B26 3QJ) are free. It's a 5–10 minute walk to check-in on a covered footpath.

Bristol

Waiting Zone: up to 1 hour free, with a frequent shuttle bus. Bristol's Waiting Zone, near the Car Rental Centre, is free for up to 1 hour for drop-off and pick-up, with a shuttle bus to the Transport Interchange. From 19 October to 18 December 2026 the Waiting Zone moves temporarily during refurbishment.

East Midlands

Long Stay 2: free for up to 60 minutes, with a free shuttle bus. Long Stay 2 is free for up to 60 minutes for pick-up or drop-off; press for a token at the entry. After that it's £1 a minute, paid by card at the exit. It's a 15–20 minute walk or a short shuttle ride from the terminal; the free shuttle runs 24 hours a day, every 20 minutes.

Edinburgh

Long Stay car park: first 30 minutes free (about a 10-minute walk, no shuttle). Edinburgh's free drop-off and pick-up area is in the Long Stay car park: 30 minutes free, then £14 up to an hour. There's no shuttle bus between Long Stay and the terminal; allow about 10 minutes to walk.

Glasgow

Long Stay car park: free for up to 1 hour, with a free shuttle bus. You can leave your car free for up to 1 hour in Glasgow's Long Stay car park and wait there, or take the free shuttle bus to meet passengers at the terminal.

Newcastle

Airport Waiting Zone at Callerton Parkway: up to 90 minutes free, with a 24/7 shuttle. The Airport Waiting Zone at Callerton Parkway (postcode NE13 8DN), next to the Metro station, gives up to 90 minutes' free parking while you wait to pick someone up. A free shuttle runs 24/7: it leaves the Waiting Zone at 15 and 45 minutes past the hour, and the terminal on the hour and half past.

Leeds Bradford

One Hour Free car park (LS19 7UE), a 3–4 minute walk. Leeds Bradford's One Hour Free zone (postcode LS19 7UE) is free for up to an hour and a 3–4 minute walk (uphill) to the terminal through the Mid Stay car park. Follow the One Hour Free signs from Whitehouse Lane. Re-entering within an hour of leaving costs at least £68.

Belfast International

Long Stay car park: 15-minute grace period. Belfast International's Long Stay car park has a 15-minute grace period, so it can be used for pick-up and drop-off. After 15 minutes the normal gate rates apply.

Belfast City

Long Stay car park: 10 minutes free. Take a ticket in the Long Stay car park, five minutes from the terminal, and reinsert it at the exit within ten minutes to pay nothing. Up to an hour is £7. Leave and come back within 15 minutes and you're charged at least £8.

Aberdeen

Long Stay car park: free for up to 1 hour, with a free shuttle bus. Aberdeen's Long Stay car park is free for up to 1 hour. Wait there or take the free shuttle bus to meet passengers at the terminal.

Cardiff

Car Park 2: first 20 minutes free. There's also a drop-off and pick-up area in Car Park 2, where the first 20 minutes are free.

Exeter

Car Park P4: up to 30 minutes free. You can park for up to 30 minutes free in Car Park P4 to drop off or pick up.

Newquay

West Car Park: 10 minutes free. Cornwall Airport Newquay gives 10 minutes free drop-off and pick-up in its West Car Park.

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