Quick answer
Gatwick and Stansted are the most expensive UK airports to be dropped off at, both charging around £10, while Cardiff is among the cheapest at roughly £3 and Birmingham still offers a short free period at its standard drop-off car park. Almost every airport that charges also has a free or much cheaper alternative, usually a long stay or mid stay car park with a shuttle bus, and almost nobody uses it. If two people are dropping you off and collecting you, you are paying the charge four times, at which point a short parking booking is often the cheaper answer.
What every UK airport charges in 2026
Figures below were correct in August 2026 and are shown most expensive first. Charges change frequently, so treat this as a guide and check the airport's own website before you travel.
| Airport | Drop-off charge | Time allowed | Free or cheaper alternative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gatwick | £10 | 10 minutes, then charged by the minute | Long stay, about 2 hours free |
| Stansted | £10 | 15 minutes | Mid stay, about 60 minutes free |
| Bristol | £8.50 | 10 minutes | Silver Zone, about 60 minutes free |
| Edinburgh | £8.50 | 10 minutes | Long stay, about 30 minutes free |
| London City | £8 | Short window, then by the minute | No free option, the DLR is the alternative |
| Southend | £8 | 10 minutes | Long stay, short free period |
| Heathrow | £7 | Per terminal entry, no waiting | Long stay, about 30 minutes free |
| Luton | £7 | 10 minutes, then by the minute | Long stay, about 2 hours free |
| Leeds Bradford | £7 | 10 minutes | Free drop-off zone, about 60 minutes |
| Southampton | £7 | 10 to 20 minutes | Long stay, check current terms |
| Glasgow | About £6 | 15 minutes | Long stay, about 60 minutes free |
| Liverpool | £6 | 10 minutes | Second drop-off car park, about 20 minutes |
| Aberdeen | £5.50 | 15 minutes | Long stay, about 60 minutes free |
| Newcastle | £5 | 10 minutes | Callerton Parkway, about 90 minutes free |
| Manchester | From £5 | 5 minutes, rising steeply after | JetParks 1, free drop-off period with shuttle |
| East Midlands | £5 | 15 minutes | Long stay 2, about 60 minutes free |
| Cardiff | £3 | 10 minutes | Car park 2, about 20 minutes free |
| Birmingham | Free, then charged | About 10 minutes free | The standard drop-off zone is the free option |
FALLBACK, use only if the table above does not paste: Gatwick and Stansted charge about £10. Bristol and Edinburgh charge about £8.50. London City and Southend charge about £8. Heathrow, Luton, Leeds Bradford and Southampton charge about £7. Glasgow and Liverpool charge about £6. Aberdeen charges about £5.50. Newcastle, Manchester and East Midlands charge about £5. Cardiff charges about £3. Birmingham still offers roughly ten free minutes at its standard drop-off car park. Almost all of these airports offer a free alternative in a long stay or mid stay car park with a shuttle, typically giving you between 20 minutes and two hours.
How the charges actually work
Nearly every charging airport uses automatic number plate recognition rather than barriers. A camera reads your plate on entry and exit, works out how long you stayed, and expects payment online or at a kiosk. Three details catch people out:
- There is usually a payment deadline. Most airports require payment by midnight the day after your visit. Miss it and the charge escalates into a penalty notice that can run to three figures.
- The charge often applies to entering the zone, not to how long you stay. At some airports you pay the same for thirty seconds as for the full allowance, so there is no reward for rushing.
- Overstaying is punished steeply. Several airports jump from single figures to £25 or more the moment you pass the included window.
If you were dropped off weeks ago and have forgotten, check. Airports pass unpaid charges to enforcement companies, and the letter usually arrives long after the trip.
Why the charges keep rising
Airports present drop-off charges as a way of easing forecourt congestion and encouraging public transport, and there is something in that: kerbside space outside a terminal is genuinely scarce. They are also a straightforward revenue stream, and fees have climbed well ahead of inflation, with Gatwick's increase to £10 representing a jump of more than 40 per cent on its previous rate. The direction of travel across the UK is consistently upwards, so it is reasonable to assume the figure you paid last year is no longer the figure you will pay this year.
The free alternative nobody uses
This is the practical takeaway. At almost every airport in the table above, there is a long stay, mid stay or dedicated free drop-off car park a short distance from the terminal, with a free shuttle bus, offering anywhere from twenty minutes to two hours at no charge.
It costs you the shuttle ride, typically five to fifteen minutes each way. In exchange you get a free stop, more time to say goodbye without watching the clock, and somewhere sensible to wait if you are collecting someone whose flight is delayed. For a pick-up in particular it is very often the better choice, because a delayed arrival can push you well past a paid window.
The catch is signage. Airports signpost the paid forecourt clearly and the free option far less so, and it is usually a separate entrance you need to know about in advance. Look it up on the airport's website before you set off rather than trying to find it on the approach road.
When parking is cheaper than being dropped off
Run the numbers on the full trip rather than the single moment. A drop-off and a collection is two charges. If a partner drives you out and comes back for you, and the same happens on your return, that is four. At Gatwick or Stansted rates, that is around £40 before anyone has paid for fuel or their own time.
Against that, a pre-booked short stay or off-site park and ride space for the length of your trip can compare surprisingly well, and it removes two round trips from someone else's diary. Three situations where parking usually wins:
- Short trips of a few days, where the total parking cost is low and the drop-off charges are fixed regardless.
- Anyone doing the drive twice, because the charge applies to each entry.
- Late night or delayed arrivals, where a paid drop-off window is a real risk and waiting in a car park is not.
Compare pre-booked options on our cheap airport parking page, or read our guide on when to book airport parking, since booking ahead is where the largest savings sit.
Blue Badge holders and accessibility
Many UK airports operate exemptions or concessions on drop-off charges for Blue Badge holders and passengers with reduced mobility, but the arrangements differ from airport to airport and most require you to register your vehicle in advance rather than claiming afterwards. Check the accessibility section of your airport's website before you travel, and allow time to register.
Frequently asked questions
Which UK airport has the most expensive drop-off charge?
Gatwick and Stansted, both at around £10, are the most expensive as of August 2026.
Is drop-off free at any UK airport?
Birmingham still offers a short free period at its standard drop-off car park, and a handful of smaller airports remain free. Almost all the others provide a free alternative in a long stay or mid stay car park with a shuttle.
How long do I have to pay a drop-off charge?
Usually by midnight on the day after your visit. Late payment typically escalates to a penalty notice, so pay promptly.
What happens if I do not pay?
The charge is passed to an enforcement company and increases substantially. Because the system reads your number plate, the notice follows the registered keeper.
Is it cheaper to park than to be dropped off?
Often, yes, especially for short trips or when someone would drive to the airport more than once. Price a pre-booked space against the total of all the drop-off charges involved.
Do drop-off charges apply to taxis?
Taxis and private hire vehicles use separate arrangements at most airports, and any charge is normally built into the fare you pay.
Compare parking instead
If the drop-off charge at your airport has made you reconsider, comparing a pre-booked space takes a couple of minutes. Look at cheap airport parking for the lowest rates, park and ride for the best balance of cost and convenience, or long stay airport parking if you are away for a fortnight or more.
Drop-off charges, free periods and alternative car parks change frequently and without much notice. All figures here were correct in August 2026 and are indicative only. Always check the official website for your airport before travelling.