How to find cheap airport car parking Heathrow Which car park you use will normally depend on whether you are flying from Terminal 1, 3 (2 is currently closed) 4 or 5. But the official rates for all the long-stay car parks are virtually identical. Some car parks offer transfers to all the terminals, but journey times will vary. Terminal 1 & 3 On the day £120.40. Airport website £64.90 (baa.com). Specialist website £53.95 at Purple Parking Business car park (transfer five to eight minutes) through aph.com. Including hotel £75 at the four-star Sheraton Skyline (1.9 miles from the terminals), with parking at Terminals 1 & 3 long-stay park (transfers included in price), through holidayextras.co.uk. Terminal 4 Airport website £66.50 (baa.com). Specialist website As for Terminals 1 & 3. Including hotel £101 at the four-star Sheraton Heathrow (1.7 miles from the terminal), with parking at hotel, transfers £7 return per person, through holidayextras.co.uk. Terminal 5 Airport website £66 (baa.com). Specialist website As for Terminals 1 & 3 Including hotel £87 at the Premier Inn (one mile from the terminal), with parking at Purple Parking Business car park through aph.com. Gatwick On the day £91 for both North and South terminals. Airport website £42.40 (gatwickairport.com). Specialist website Same rates and car parks as airport website. Including hotel £106 at the airport Premier Inn, with parking at airport long-stay car park, through holidayextras.co.uk. Stansted On the day £87.50. Airport website £44.75 (baa.com). Specialist website £49.50 (valid at both the long stay and the much nearer mid-stay car parks). Including hotel £74 at the four-star Hilton (three miles from airport), with parking at hotel. Transfer bus £2 each way. Through holidayextras.co.uk and aph.com. Luton On the day £100.80. Airport website £40.99 at the on-airport. long-stay car park (london-luton.co.uk). Specialist website £24.99 at the Airparks long-stay (off-airport) park, through holidayextras.co.uk Including hotel £102.50 at the airport Holiday Inn Express, with parking at Airparks, through holidayextras.co.uk. Manchester Airport website £35.99-£39.99, depending on which terminal and long-stay car park (manchesterairport.co.uk). Specialist website Same rates as airport site. Including hotel £77 at the four-star Crowne Plaza (on airport), with parking at a "secure site," through aph.com. Birmingham On the day £69.50. Airport website £44.54 (birminghamairport.co.uk). Specialist website Same as airport site. Including hotel £79 at the four-star Hilton (2.5 miles from hotel), transfers included, with parking at hotel, through holidayextras.co.uk. Edinburgh On the day £69.30. Airport website £29.70 (baa.com). Specialist website same as airport site. Including hotel There are few hotels convenient to the airport offered by agents. The cheapest was the three-star Quality Hotel (0.5 miles from airport) -£150, with free transfers and parking at the hotel, through holidayextras.co.uk. Glasgow On the day £63.60. Airport website £31.50 (baa.com). Including hotel £71 at the Premier Inn (0.8 miles from airport), including parking at Airparks Glasgow, through holidayextras.co.uk. Tips for cheaper, safer parking Always book. Rates can be less than half the price you would pay on the day. "Official" airport car parks, run or sanctioned by the airport, are often called "on-airport" car parks - though they may be some distance from the terminal. If you find a cheaper option through an agency, make sure you are dealing with a legitimate company. Make sure your car will be in a secure compound with patrols and 24-hour security cameras. You might also want to check the insurance situation, especially if you have to hand over the keys of your car for it to be parked by someone else. If you are suspicious, don't book. Double-check the times and frequency of transfers to and from the airport from the car park and whether there is any charge for them. If you do have to leave car keys, the company should make a note of the mileage reading and write it down on the receipt. If not, make one yourself so that you will be able to tell later if your car has been driven: it's not unknown for parking companies to put miles on the clock while a car is in their care. Check the car park cancellation policy: your money may be non-refundable after booking. Some companies will make a refund if you cancel with more than 24 hours" notice but may charge a cancellation fee. Valet parking - where you leave your car at an official reception centre - and spaces in short-term car parks, both of which are normally very expensive for longer stays, are often heavily discounted for late bookers. Look out for offers if you are booking within a few days of departure.