Heathrow is four airports in one. Terminals 2 and 3 share the central area, while Terminals 4 and 5 are separate sites with their own motorway junctions, a train ride apart. Turn up at the wrong one and it costs you half an hour you probably do not have. Getting the terminal right matters more here than anywhere else in the UK, and so does knowing about the £7 drop-off charge and the ULEZ before you set off. This guide covers what is worth knowing before you fly from Heathrow: your terminal and how to reach it, what drop-off costs and how to avoid it, the ULEZ, how early to arrive, and which parking suits your trip.
Find your terminal first
Your airline decides your terminal, and Heathrow airlines do move. British Airways flies mainly from Terminal 5, and Terminal 3 is Virgin Atlantic's hub, shared with more than 20 other airlines. For anyone else, check the terminal on your booking confirmation or the airline's website the week before you travel, not from memory of a previous trip. Our Heathrow terminal guide lists every airline by terminal.
Then use that terminal's postcode in the sat-nav, or the postcode in your parking confirmation if you are parking off the airport.
- Terminal 2: TW6 1EW. Exit the M4 at junction 4 or the M25 at junction 15 and follow signs for Terminals 2 and 3. See parking for Terminal 2.
- Terminal 3: TW6 1QG. The same approach as Terminal 2; the two share the central area. See parking for Terminal 3.
- Terminal 4: TW6 3XA. A separate site on the south side, reached from junction 14 of the M25 on the A3113. See parking for Terminal 4.
- Terminal 5: TW6 2GA. Also from junction 14 of the M25. Coming along the M4, leave at junction 4b and take the M25 south to junction 14. See parking for Terminal 5.
If you do end up at the wrong terminal, travel between them is free on the Heathrow Express, the Elizabeth line, the Piccadilly line and the H30 bus. It still takes time, so check the terminal before you leave home.
The £7 drop-off charge, and the free alternative
Every time a car enters a terminal drop-off area, it is charged £7. The charge applies 24 hours a day, every day of the year, and a second entry is a second charge. There is no machine to pay at: cameras read the number plate and you pay afterwards.
- Pay online or by phone by midnight the next day. You can pay for a single drop-off or pre-pay for several. Miss the deadline and an £80 parking charge follows, reduced to £40 if paid within 14 days.
- Blue Badge holders can apply for a 100% discount, even if they do not drive or own the car, using the registration of the car or taxi. Apply through a Heathrow online account at least 7 days before the trip.
- The free alternative is Heathrow's Park & Ride car parks, formerly called Long Stay. Dropping off there costs nothing, and a free bus takes passengers on to the terminal.
If you are parking rather than being dropped off, the charge does not apply to you: car parks and Meet & Greet handover points are away from the drop-off lanes, and your confirmation email says exactly where to go.
The ULEZ
Heathrow is inside London's Ultra Low Emission Zone. If your car does not meet the ULEZ standards, there is a daily charge of £12.50 for any day you drive within the zone, on top of the cost of parking.
- Check your registration first on TfL's vehicle checker. As a rough guide, petrol cars registered after 2005 and diesel cars registered new after September 2015 usually meet the standard, but the rule goes by emissions, not age, so check rather than assume. If you think the result is wrong, TfL has a process for correcting it.
- A parked car is not charged. You pay for the day you drive in and the day you drive out, not for the days the car sits in a car park.
- Meet & Greet is slightly different. The charge applies when the car arrives and leaves, and can also apply when the operator moves it between its storage site and the terminal. Ask the operator if your car is not compliant.
- Pay by midnight on the third day after the journey, through TfL, or a penalty charge follows.
How early to arrive
Heathrow's advice is to arrive two hours before a flight within the UK or Europe and three hours before a long-haul flight, with your airline's check-in deadline as the real cut-off. It also says there is little point arriving five or six hours early: some airlines will not have their check-in open yet.
Work backwards from your airline's deadline and add the time from car park to terminal:
- Park & Ride: allow 25 to 35 minutes from the car park barrier to check-in. Some Heathrow Park & Ride products serve one terminal only, so check yours matches your flight.
- Meet & Greet: be at the handover point 10 to 15 minutes before your booked time.
- On-airport parking: a 5 to 10 minute walk, longer with children or cases.
Which parking suits which trip
Before You Fly lists every Heathrow car park we sell in one table, cheapest first. There is a lot of choice, so it pays to read the details. Three types cover almost every trip:
- Meet & Greet for families, early flights and heavy luggage. You drive to the handover point at your terminal, a driver takes the car, and you walk in. At Heathrow, many Meet & Greet services cover only some terminals, and the product name says which, for example "T2, T3, T5 only" or "T4 only". Book one that serves your terminal, and photograph the car at handover.
- Park & Ride for a week or more away. You keep your keys, park in a secure car park near the airport and take the shuttle. It is usually the lowest daily rate for a fortnight.
- On-airport parking for short trips, when a short walk to the terminal is worth more than the saving.
Whichever you choose, book the flexible rate if your dates might move. It can be cancelled up to 72 hours before arrival for a full refund; see the cancellation FAQs.
Lounges and hotels
Every Heathrow terminal has lounges you can pre-book, so a long-haul departure or an early start can begin somewhere quieter than the gate. You can only use a lounge in your own departure terminal, so book the right one. Compare them on our Heathrow lounges page.
For a dawn flight, a hotel the night before can cost less than a pre-dawn taxi across London. Two hotels connect to a terminal by covered walkway: the Hilton at Terminal 4 and the Sofitel at Terminal 5. Many others sit along the Bath Road. Search Heathrow hotels.
Getting there without a car
Useful if you are being collected, or if someone else is dropping the car.
- Elizabeth line: the only line that serves all three Heathrow stations: Terminals 2 and 3, Terminal 4, and Terminal 5.
- Heathrow Express: non-stop from Paddington, stopping at Terminals 2 and 3 and Terminal 5. For Terminal 4, change at Terminals 2 and 3 for the free shuttle train.
- Piccadilly line: the cheapest route, with trains every few minutes to Terminals 2 and 3, alternate trains running via Terminal 4, and a branch to Terminal 5.
Travel between the terminals is free on all three, and on the H30 bus. You need an Oyster or contactless card to get through the ticket gates, or a free transfer ticket from the station machines.
Frequently asked questions
Which Heathrow terminal do I need?
The one on your booking confirmation. British Airways flies mainly from Terminal 5 and Virgin Atlantic from Terminal 3, but other airlines are spread across all four terminals and can move, so check with your airline the week before you travel.
How much is drop-off at Heathrow, and can I avoid it?
It is £7 each time a car enters a terminal drop-off area, paid online or by phone by midnight the next day. Drop-off is free at Heathrow's Park & Ride car parks, with a free bus to the terminal, and Blue Badge holders can apply for a full discount at least 7 days before travelling.
Is Heathrow in the ULEZ?
Yes. A car that does not meet the standards pays £12.50 for each day it is driven in the zone, including the days you arrive and leave. It is not charged while it is parked. Check your registration on TfL's vehicle checker before you go.
How early should I get to Heathrow?
Heathrow advises two hours before UK and European flights and three hours before long-haul flights. Add the time from your car park to the terminal: 25 to 35 minutes for Park & Ride, 10 to 15 minutes for Meet & Greet.
What is the cheapest way to park at Heathrow for a fortnight?
Park & Ride is usually the lowest daily rate for a week or more. Book as early as you can, choose the flexible rate if your dates might change, and compare Heathrow Park & Ride for your dates.
Sorted before you fly.
