UK airport drop-off charges: Where taxi drivers and motorists pay most and least
- Perry Richardson
- 7 hours ago
- 2 min read
UK airport drop-off charges now range from free at a handful of regional airports to as much as £30 for a short stay at major hubs, with London Gatwick currently the most expensive location for drivers exceeding 20 minutes kerbside.
The latest pricing data shows a clear divide between London and large regional airports and smaller or island airports where charges remain minimal or non-existent.
At the top end, London Gatwick levies £10 for the first 10 minutes, rising to £15 at 15 minutes, £20 at 20 minutes and £30 for a 30-minute stay. Edinburgh follows closely, charging £26 for 30 minutes, while London Luton reaches £27 at the same duration.
Manchester Airport also imposes £25 once a vehicle remains beyond 15 minutes, a steep escalation compared with its £5 charge for a five-minute stay.
London Gatwick and Manchester top the list as airport drop-off fees widen the cost gap for taxi and private hire drivers.
Other high-cost airports include Liverpool, where a 30-minute drop-off costs £25, and London Stansted, which jumps from £7 for 15 minutes to £25 at 20 minutes. Birmingham and Glasgow both exceed £20 at the 30-minute mark, reflecting a wider trend among larger airports to discourage dwell time and manage congestion through sharp pricing steps.
Mid-range pricing dominates much of the regional network. Bristol charges £13 for 30 minutes, Leeds Bradford £12.50, Newcastle £10 and East Midlands £20. Heathrow and London City remain structured around shorter stays, with Heathrow charging £7 for up to 10 minutes and London City £13 for 10 minutes, with longer durations not offered in the drop-off zone.
At the lower end, several airports continue to operate minimal or flat pricing models. Bournemouth charges a fixed £6 regardless of stay length up to 30 minutes, while Norwich and Inverness both hold steady at around £6 and £3.80 respectively. Teesside remains among the cheapest on the mainland, topping out at £5 for 30 minutes.
A small group of airports still offer free drop-off for short stays. City of Derry, Guernsey, Sumburgh and Jersey retain free or nominal charges, with Jersey only introducing a £1 fee at 30 minutes. Cornwall Newquay and Humberside provide free drop-off up to 15 minutes before modest charges apply.
With airport operators continuing to rely on drop-off fees as a revenue stream, the data suggests cost pressures are unlikely to ease, particularly at London and high-volume regional airports.
