Short Stay Parking

Three-minute walk from Gatwick’s doors, no shuttle, no drama

Short Stay Parking at London Gatwick sits right next to both North and South terminals, with covered walkways and roughly a 3-minute walk into check-in. It’s the default choice for 1–3 day trips, quick drop-offs, or meeting an arrival when you want to park, lock, and walk straight in without waiting for a bus.

At North Terminal, one FlyerTalk regular parked over a busy Jubilee weekend, found a space on the first floor, and reported “no problems” with entry or exit. At South Terminal, the car parks work the same way: barrier in, grab the ticket or use number plate recognition, then follow the colour-coded levels to remember where you left the car.

Premium bays sit on specific Short Stay levels: one block has premium on level 2, which lines up with the main terminal entrance and Sofitel hotel access, while another block puts premium on the ground floor by the arrivals level. If close-in spaces matter more than price, these premium sections cut the walk and avoid hunting for a slot higher up.

Pricing can vary a lot by terminal: one comparison showed about £65 for 4 days at South Short Stay versus around £175 at North Short Stay for the same dates, close to a 3x jump. That gap is the main complaint, especially for North, which prices more like long-weekend business parking than a cheap family option.

Regulars driving to North aim for the second or third Short Stay block and then use the level 2 crossover, which drops you straight into the terminal and premium area, skipping extra lifts and stairs. One practical tip: check both North and South Short Stay prices for your dates before locking in, then book the cheaper one that matches your actual departure terminal.