Gatwick North parking at a glance
Choose a parking service for North Terminal, not merely for Gatwick. A South Terminal booking can add an inter-terminal journey, and a terminal postcode is not a substitute for the correct car park entrance.
| Option | Connection to North Terminal | Suits | Check first |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short Stay | Approximately four-minute covered walk | Short visits and travellers avoiding a shuttle | Car Parks 5 and 6 and vehicle height |
| Premium Short Stay | Terminal-near spaces with same-level access arrangements | Travellers prioritising a convenient pedestrian route | Exact premium level and booking terms |
| Mid Stay | Approximately six-minute covered walk | Short breaks where a slightly longer walk is acceptable | Pre-booking requirement and entrance instructions |
| Long Stay | Free shuttle | Longer trips and travellers comparing total cost | Correct North site and transfer allowance |
| Valet | Operator-specific handover | Travellers comfortable leaving the keys | Reception, storage and return procedure |
North Terminal Short Stay
Gatwick identifies Car Parks 5 and 6 as the North Terminal Short Stay facilities. The airport describes an approximately four-minute covered walk to the terminal. Allow extra time for parking, unloading and reaching the appropriate floor.
Short Stay can be a practical choice if you need to accompany someone into the terminal or collect them inside arrivals. It can also be booked for some trips, but a short-visit drive-up tariff and a pre-booked multi-day rate are different products.
Check vehicle height before choosing between the car parks. Gatwick’s published guide lists different height limits for Car Parks 5 and 6. A roof box, tall van or adapted vehicle may therefore affect which route you can use.
Premium parking: what is different?
Premium is a location/convenience choice, not permission to stop wherever you want. Gatwick describes same-level terminal access from its North premium area. Follow the level and entry instructions attached to the booking.
Compare what that convenience means for your party. Avoiding a lift or shortening a walk can matter with luggage or reduced mobility, but a premium booking does not automatically arrange airport special assistance or remove height restrictions.
North Terminal Mid Stay
The official Mid Stay product is described as an approximately six-minute covered walk to North Terminal. It is a distinct option rather than another name for Long Stay.
Gatwick describes Mid Stay as pre-booked, with number-plate recognition. Do not turn up expecting to use it as a pay-on-arrival short collection. Check the vehicle registration, entry times and product terms carefully.
The official directions caution that there is not a reliably accurate postcode for the Mid Stay North entrance. Use its official map or What3Words link and follow the named car park signs. Do not assume a general North Terminal address will route you correctly.
Long Stay for North departures
Long Stay uses a free shuttle rather than the Short Stay pedestrian connection. The time you need includes walking to a stop, waiting, boarding and the bus journey. Gatwick’s general parking and FAQ pages give differing transfer estimates for North, so use the current product instructions and leave a sensible margin.
For a week or more away, compare Long Stay against a pre-booked Short Stay or Mid Stay total. There is no rule that one product is always cheapest. Flexible and non-refundable rates are not equivalent, even if they use the same car park.
On return, check the North Terminal shuttle stop before boarding. A bus to a South facility is not a convenient substitute simply because both car parks are called Long Stay.
Valet and independent handover services
Read whether a quote is for Gatwick’s official Valet product or a separately operated service. Verify where you hand over the vehicle, whether you must call before arrival and where it is stored.
Leave enough time for check-in and a vehicle inspection. Keep the collection instructions available offline, including what to do after a delayed return. Do not assume an arrivals-forecourt collection is authorised merely because a service is advertised as meet and greet.
Directions and postcodes
The brief supplied with this guide used RH6 0PH as a North Terminal reference. That is not a universal car park entrance postcode. Gatwick’s current Short Stay directions label North RH6 0PJ, and its Mid Stay directions explicitly warn about postcode accuracy.
Use the destination on your current confirmation and follow Short Stay, Mid Stay, Long Stay or Valet signs as appropriate. From the M23, the airport approach is via Junction 9, but the final car park route differs.
| Destination | Routing check |
|---|---|
| North Short Stay | Car Parks 5/6; follow the official Short Stay directions |
| North Mid Stay | Use its official entrance map, not a generic terminal postcode |
| North Long Stay | Follow the North-specific confirmation and shuttle instructions |
| Valet | Use the specified reception and arrival procedure |
Picking up and dropping off
Use a suitable parking facility if you want to leave the car and meet someone inside. Drop-off arrangements and charges are separate from a parking booking.
Gatwick’s Long Stay page currently describes the first two hours as free for passenger collection. Recheck the current concession and re-entry conditions before relying on it, and include shuttle time in the passenger’s plan. Do not assume that a free visit applies to every car park.
Accessibility and Blue Badge parking
Gatwick lists Blue Badge spaces in its official parking facilities. Check the actual route, level and vehicle restrictions for the selected product. A covered walk may still be too long for some passengers.
If considering Long Stay, confirm the accessible transfer and assistance process in advance. Arrange airline or terminal assistance separately. If the Blue Badge will travel with the passenger, establish the airport’s procedure for demonstrating entitlement while the vehicle remains parked.
Which North Terminal option should you compare?
| Need | Start with | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Meet someone in arrivals | Short Stay | Waiting duration can increase the drive-up charge |
| Covered walk without the closest location | Mid Stay | Must be pre-booked; correct entrance matters |
| Longer stay with a transfer | Long Stay | Waiting and bus time |
| Less vehicle-to-terminal handling | Valet | Leaving keys and following the handover process |
| A particular access requirement | Confirm the exact accessible route | A “near terminal” description is not enough |
Practical North Terminal checks
Confirm the airline terminal on both flights. Save the car park name and map separately from the airport address. Enter your number plate accurately, compare cancellation terms and keep the delayed-return contact details. For Mid Stay, do not substitute a walk-up visit for a pre-booked reservation.
Gatwick North parking FAQs
Which car parks are North Terminal Short Stay?
Gatwick identifies Car Parks 5 and 6. Check the height limit and entrance for your selected facility.
Can I walk from North Long Stay?
Plan around the official shuttle service. Short Stay and Mid Stay are the products with described pedestrian connections.
Is Mid Stay the same as Long Stay?
No. The current Mid Stay product is a pre-booked walking option; Long Stay uses a shuttle.
Is RH6 0PH enough to find every North car park?
No. It is not a universal entrance address. Follow the exact product directions.
Can I collect a passenger free of charge?
Check Gatwick’s current Long Stay short-visit concession and conditions. Short Stay and drop-off facilities have their own charges.
Should I use North parking for a South Terminal flight?
Normally compare the correct terminal first. Otherwise you add an inter-terminal journey and may miss the intended convenience.
Compare parking for this journey
Compare Gatwick airport parking for your own dates, terminal and return time. Check the final total, cancellation terms and transfer arrangements before booking.
Sources and information checks
Prices, opening arrangements and operational notices can change. Check these official sources and your booking instructions before travelling. No price or availability is guaranteed by this guide.