Quick Summary
At London Gatwick Airport (LGW) you collect passengers from the car parks, not the forecourt. The Short Stay car parks at both terminals cost £8 for up to 30 minutes and include express pick-up areas — North Terminal Car Park 6, Level 4 and South Terminal Car Park 3, Ground Floor — where you wait with your car. The Long Stay car parks are free for up to 2 hours, with a free shuttle bus. The forecourt zones are for drop-offs, at £10 for 10 minutes.
Gatwick is the easiest London airport to get wrong when you are collecting someone. It has two terminals two and a half miles apart, the forecourts are drop-off zones rather than pick-up points, and arrivals are often delayed by immigration queues or a late flight. This guide explains where to pick someone up at Gatwick North and South Terminals, what each option costs in 2026, and how to avoid paying more than you need to.
Gatwick Pick-Up Options and Charges 2026
Gatwick’s own pick-up advice sends drivers to the car parks. All prices are Gatwick’s published roll-up tariffs and are the same at both terminals:
| Where | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Express pick-up area (Short Stay) | £8 up to 30 minutes | Waiting in the car while your passenger walks over |
| Short Stay car park | £8 30 min, £14 1 hour, £18 2 hours | Meeting someone inside arrivals |
| Long Stay car park | Free for up to 2 hours | Delayed flights; waiting without paying |
After two hours the Long Stay roll-up rate is £38 for up to 24 hours, so watch the clock on a badly delayed flight. Longer Short Stay bands are £21.50 for up to 3 hours and £26 for up to 4 hours.
North Terminal and South Terminal: Which Car Park?
Check which terminal the flight arrives at before you set off — the terminals are a shuttle ride apart, and each has its own car parks.
| Terminal | Express pick-up area | Free option |
|---|---|---|
| North Terminal | Car Park 6, Level 4 | Long Stay North (2 hours free) |
| South Terminal | Car Park 3, Ground Floor | Long Stay South (2 hours free) |
The South Terminal is the one connected to Gatwick railway station. If your passenger lands at the other terminal from the one you are parked at, the free inter-terminal shuttle links the two in a few minutes.
Express Pick-Up Areas: Wait in Your Car
The express pick-up areas are part of the Short Stay car parks and are charged at the normal Short Stay rate — £8 for up to 30 minutes. Park there, stay with the vehicle, and ask your passenger to walk over once they have their bags.
- Stay with the car. Gatwick warns that unattended vehicles in the express pick-up areas may receive a parking charge notice.
- Pay as you leave at the car park, like any Short Stay visit.
- Time it. Thirty minutes is enough if the passenger is already through baggage reclaim; on a late flight, wait in Long Stay first.
Free Pick-Up: The Long Stay Car Parks
The cheapest way to collect someone at Gatwick is a Long Stay car park, free for up to 2 hours. A free shuttle bus runs between the Long Stay car parks and the terminals every 10–12 minutes and takes about 5 minutes each way.
Either meet your passenger off the shuttle, or wait in Long Stay until they message that they have their bags and then drive to the Short Stay express pick-up area. It is the best choice whenever an arrival time is uncertain.
Can You Pick Up From the Gatwick Forecourt?
The forecourt zones outside both terminals are signed and charged as drop-off zones, and Gatwick’s pick-up guidance points drivers to the car parks instead. Any vehicle entering a forecourt zone is charged:
- £10 for up to 10 minutes, then £1 per extra minute, to a maximum stay of 30 minutes.
- Pay online, on 0330 174 4503 or by AutoPay by midnight the following day.
- Miss the deadline and a £100 Parking Charge Notice follows, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days.
- Blue Badge holders are exempt from the forecourt charge, but must register the vehicle in advance or by midnight the following day.
For collections, £8 for 30 minutes in Short Stay is both cheaper and longer than the forecourt. The full forecourt rules are in our Gatwick drop off charge guide.
Which Gatwick Pick-Up Option Is Cheapest?
| Your situation | Best option | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Passenger already has their bags | Express pick-up area | £8 |
| Flight delayed or arrival time uncertain | Wait free in Long Stay | Free (up to 2 hours) |
| You want to meet them inside arrivals | Short Stay car park | £8–£14 |
| Nobody can drive, or it is an early arrival | Pre-booked taxi pick-up | From £71 (Richmond), £77 (central London) |
Tips for Collecting Someone at Gatwick
- Confirm the terminal. North or South decides which car park and which express pick-up area you use.
- Track the flight, not the timetable. Leave home based on the live arrival time.
- Agree a signal. Ask your passenger to message when they have their bags, then move from Long Stay to the express pick-up area.
- Avoid the forecourt for collections. It is a drop-off zone, and the charge rises by £1 a minute after 10 minutes.
- Blue Badge? Register the vehicle for the forecourt exemption before you travel.
Or Book a Pick-Up Instead
A pre-booked LondonAirport-Taxi.com driver tracks the flight and meets your passenger inside arrivals with a name board — at the Information Desk at the foot of the escalators in the North Terminal, or at Costa Coffee opposite the main exit in the South Terminal — with 60 minutes of free waiting timed from when the flight actually lands. All Gatwick charges are inside the fixed fare. See our Gatwick taxi pickup guide for the meeting points in detail.
| From Gatwick to | Saloon (up to 3) | MPV (up to 5) |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond | £71 | £93 |
| Central London | £77 | £99 |
| Brighton | £82 | £120 |
| Heathrow Airport | £85 | £107 |
| Windsor | £88 | £110 |
All-in fixed fares at the time of writing; the exact fare for your postcode is shown before you book. See every route on our Gatwick taxi prices page, or read how the service works on our Gatwick airport taxi page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to pick someone up at Gatwick?
£8 for up to 30 minutes in the Short Stay car park, or free for up to 2 hours in Long Stay.
Short Stay rises to £14 for up to an hour and £18 for up to two hours, at both terminals. The express pick-up areas inside Short Stay are charged at the same rates. The forecourt zones are for drop-offs and cost £10 for 10 minutes.
Where is the pick-up area at Gatwick South Terminal?
The express pick-up area is in Car Park 3, on the Ground Floor.
It is part of the South Terminal Short Stay car park, charged at £8 for up to 30 minutes. Stay with your vehicle and ask your passenger to walk over once they have their bags.
Where is the pick-up area at Gatwick North Terminal?
The express pick-up area is in Car Park 6, on Level 4.
It is part of the North Terminal Short Stay car park and costs the same as the South Terminal: £8 for up to 30 minutes. Unattended cars may receive a parking charge notice, so wait with the vehicle.
Is there free pick-up at Gatwick?
Yes — the Long Stay car parks are free for up to 2 hours.
A free shuttle bus links Long Stay with both terminals every 10–12 minutes, taking about 5 minutes each way. After two hours the roll-up rate is £38 for up to 24 hours.
Can I pick someone up from the Gatwick forecourt?
The forecourts are drop-off zones; Gatwick directs pick-ups to the car parks.
Any vehicle entering a forecourt zone pays £10 for up to 10 minutes, then £1 a minute, by midnight the following day. A Short Stay express pick-up area is cheaper at £8 and gives you 30 minutes.
How do I pay the Gatwick forecourt charge?
Online, by phone on 0330 174 4503, or with AutoPay, by midnight the day after your visit.
Miss the deadline and a £100 Parking Charge Notice is issued, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days. Blue Badge holders are exempt once the vehicle is registered.
How much is a taxi pick-up from Gatwick Airport?
From £71 to Richmond and £77 to central London for a saloon, all charges included.
A LondonAirport-Taxi.com driver meets your passenger inside arrivals with a name board, tracks the flight and waits 60 minutes free from landing. There is nothing extra to pay at the airport.
How much is it to park at Gatwick South Terminal?
Short Stay is £8 for up to 30 minutes, £14 for up to an hour and £18 for 1–2 hours, rising to £70 for 24 hours.
These are Gatwick’s drive-up prices for the Short Stay car parks at both terminals, a few minutes’ walk from the terminal. For longer stays, Long Stay costs £38 for the first day and £32 for each extra day, and booking online in advance is usually cheaper.
Can you park for free at Gatwick South Terminal?
Yes, for up to two hours in the Long Stay car park.
Long Stay is a 10–12 minute shuttle ride from South Terminal. It is free to drop off, pick up and park there for up to two hours; after that it costs £38 for the first day.
How long can you stay in Short Stay at Gatwick South Terminal?
You pay by the length of your stay, up to £70 for each 24 hours.
Short Stay suits pick-ups and short visits. If you are parking for more than a few hours, Long Stay (£38 for the first day) is far cheaper.
Does Gatwick South Terminal have a long stay car park?
Yes. Long Stay serves South Terminal, with a shuttle bus taking about 10–12 minutes.
Drive-up prices are £38 for up to 24 hours and £32 for each extra day. The first two hours are free, which makes it the cheapest place to wait for an arriving passenger.
Related Gatwick Guides
- Gatwick meet and greet — valet parking vs a taxi
- Gatwick drop off charge 2026 — the forecourt fee in full
- Gatwick taxi pickup guide — where your driver waits
- Gatwick flight tracker — live arrivals
- How much is a taxi from Gatwick to Heathrow?
- UK airport drop-off charges compared
Final Thoughts
To pick someone up at Gatwick, skip the forecourt. Wait free for up to two hours in Long Stay, then collect from the Short Stay express pick-up area — Car Park 6 Level 4 at North, Car Park 3 Ground Floor at South — for £8. If you want to meet them inside, Short Stay is £8 for 30 minutes. And if nobody can drive, get a fixed-price quote and a driver will be waiting in arrivals instead.
