Drivers dropping passengers at London's five main airports now face terminal forecourt charges of between £7 and £10, with Gatwick and Stansted the most expensive for a standard visit. Heathrow charges £7, Luton £9 and London City £8, while each airport applies different time limits, payment rules and Blue Badge arrangements.
The charges are back under scrutiny after the RAC called for the Competition and Markets Authority to examine airport drop-off pricing following another round of increases during 2026. No formal CMA market investigation into airport drop-off charges has yet been announced. The Department for Transport has previously said that setting these tariffs is a commercial matter for individual airport operators.
For passengers, the more immediate issue is practical: several airports still provide completely free alternatives away from the terminal forecourt, but using the wrong lane or forgetting to pay an Automatic Number Plate Recognition charge can turn a short drop-off into a much larger bill.
Editorial illustration of a London airport terminal drop-off area. Image: London Construction Magazine.
London airport drop-off charges compared
| Airport | Terminal charge | Time included | Free alternative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heathrow | £7 | 10 minutes | Long Stay car parks: up to 30 minutes free |
| Gatwick | £10 | 10 minutes | Long Stay car parks: up to 2 hours free |
| Stansted | £10 | 15 minutes | Mid Stay car park: up to 1 hour free |
| Luton | £9 | 12 minutes | Long Stay car park: up to 2 hours free |
| London City | £8 | 5 minutes | No equivalent free airport car-park drop-off |
The figures above are the airport operators' published tariffs checked on 10 October 2026. Charges apply to each vehicle entry, so drivers should check the airport's current information again immediately before travelling if the journey is later in the year.
Heathrow drop-off charge: £7
Heathrow charges £7 per vehicle to use the terminal drop-off zones at Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5. The forecourts allow a maximum stay of 10 minutes and are monitored using ANPR cameras. There are no payment machines at the forecourt. Drivers can pay online, by automated telephone or through a registered automatic-payment account, with payment required by midnight on the day after the visit.
Free alternative: Heathrow's Long Stay car parks allow up to 30 minutes free, with passengers able to continue to the terminals using the airport's free shuttle buses. Drivers should check the rules on repeat entry before using the same Long Stay car park again. Blue Badge holders can claim a 100% discount on the terminal drop-off charge, but the vehicle must be registered through Heathrow's exemption process. The forecourt should not be used to collect arriving passengers; collections are directed to the appropriate terminal parking facility.
Gatwick drop-off charge: £10
Gatwick charges £10 for up to 10 minutes at both the North and South Terminal drop-off zones. After the first 10 minutes, the charge increases by £1 for each additional minute under the published tariff, with a maximum stay of 30 minutes. The barrier-free zones use ANPR and payment is required by midnight on the following day. Drivers can pay online, through the airport's automated telephone system or by registering for AutoPay.
Free alternative: Gatwick's Long Stay car parks allow up to two hours free. Free shuttle buses connect the Long Stay areas with the terminals, making this considerably cheaper for drivers who are not in a hurry to reach the forecourt. Blue Badge holders can register for free terminal drop-off access for up to 30 minutes. The registration requirement matters because ANPR cameras do not identify a physical Blue Badge displayed inside a vehicle.
Stansted drop-off charge: £10
Stansted's Express Set Down zone costs £10 for up to 15 minutes. Staying between 15 and 30 minutes increases the published tariff to £28, and the standard maximum stay is 30 minutes. Payment is handled electronically through the airport's parking system and is due by midnight on the day after the visit. Drivers can pay online, by phone or through an automatic-payment account.
Free alternative: the Mid Stay car park provides up to one hour free and is connected to the terminal by a complimentary shuttle bus. This is the airport's main no-charge option for drivers who do not need to stop immediately outside the terminal. Unlike Heathrow and Gatwick, Stansted does not waive the standard Express Set Down charge for Blue Badge holders. Passengers who need additional assistance or extra time should follow the airport's accessibility procedure and speak to staff in the drop-off area.
Luton drop-off charge: £9
London Luton Airport charges £9 for the first 12 minutes in its Express Drop-Off zone. After 12 minutes the tariff increases by £1 per additional minute, with a maximum permitted stay of 30 minutes. The zone operates using ANPR and payment must be made by midnight on the following day. Luton differs from several other London airports because its Express Drop-Off area can be used for both dropping off and collecting passengers, provided the published time and parking rules are followed.
Free alternative: Luton's Long Stay car park provides up to two hours free, with a complimentary shuttle bus connecting it with the terminal. There is no Blue Badge discount in the main Express Drop-Off zone. Instead, eligible passengers can use Terminal Car Park 1, where Blue Badge holders receive the first 30 minutes free subject to the airport's validation procedure.
London City Airport drop-off charge: £8
London City Airport introduced a terminal forecourt charge during 2026. The current tariff is £8 for up to five minutes, followed by £1 for each additional minute, with a maximum stay of 10 minutes. The drop-off zone is ANPR-controlled and payment must be made electronically by midnight on the day following the visit. It cannot be used to collect arriving passengers. Pick-ups are directed to the Main Stay/Pick Up parking area, where separate parking charges apply.
Unlike Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton, London City does not provide an equivalent free airport car-park drop-off option with a shuttle transfer. The DLR serves the terminal directly and provides the principal way of avoiding an airport vehicle-access charge altogether. Registered Blue Badge holders can receive up to 10 minutes free in the drop-off area or use the airport's separate provision for up to one hour free in the Main Stay/Pick Up area.
Why airport drop-off charges are under scrutiny
The RAC has asked the Competition and Markets Authority to investigate airport drop-off charges following increases across the UK. Its research says 16 of the country's 20 busiest airports have increased their fees since summer 2025, with the average minimum charge rising to around £7. London City becoming a paid terminal drop-off airport during 2026 also removed one of the remaining free forecourt options among the UK's largest airports. Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted all increased their headline charges during the first quarter of 2026. The CMA has been asked to intervene, but that should not be confused with a formal investigation already being under way. As of 10 October, no airport drop-off market study or enforcement case has been announced by the regulator.
Avoiding airport drop-off penalties
The move to barrierless forecourts means drivers can enter, drop a passenger and leave without physically paying anything at the airport. That does not mean the visit was free. ANPR cameras record the registration number and the driver remains responsible for settling the charge within the payment window. At Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and London City, drivers should therefore check the charge immediately after visiting rather than waiting for a reminder. Missing the payment deadline can result in a Parking Charge Notice considerably higher than the original drop-off fee. Drivers should also avoid entering a terminal forecourt early and waiting for passengers. Drop-off areas are designed for short stops, and most airports direct arriving passengers to separate pick-up or parking facilities.
Cheapest option at each London airport
For Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton, the cheapest official option remains the airport's designated free car-park alternative combined with a shuttle transfer. Travellers should allow extra time because the free option is farther from the terminal. At London City, there is no comparable free airport car park for ordinary drop-offs, so public transport is the main way to avoid a vehicle charge. Anyone using a Blue Badge should check the airport-specific registration procedure before travelling rather than assuming the badge itself will trigger an automatic exemption.
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Founder & Author, London Construction Magazine | Construction Testing & Investigation Specialist