Car parking is plentiful at Gatwick airport, and there are indeed a vast number of car parks to choose from. These range from short stay to long stay, and regular parking to more ‘luxurious’ valet parking. If you decided to park in the long stay then you will have 4 choices for parking. If you have decided to travel via the north terminal then you are limited to one parking area and this is Gatwick NCP Flightpath, located just north of the North Terminal. However for those travelling via the South Terminal, there is a choice between Long Stay South Terminal, Long Stay Plus Gatwick and Summer Special Parking Gatwick. Whilst all the car parks are the same in terms of security, Long Stay South Terminal is the regular, and thus most popular choice, for those wishing to park long stay near the South Terminal. Long Stay Plus has a valet service which is described as being family friendly as it allows you to leave your car to be parked by airport staff whilst you get on with your holiday. Finally Summer Stay, despite its name, is a long stay car park designed for those going on holiday for a week or perhaps even more. The car park is very large and is located quite a distance away from the South Terminal; a free coach service picks up from the car park every 20 minutes and takes 10 minutes to reach the buildings. Short stay is a much less complicated affair with only regular car parks for each terminal, with the optional extra of valet parking.

However you decide to park, be sure to check out Gatwick Airport’s website for their excellent parking tool. This will allow you to book spaces in advance and can save you a real fortune on your parking bill.

There are many flights that go out of the South Terminal every day. Even in these recent weeks where the ash cloud has played havoc with so many flights, there have still been hundreds of planes flying out from the terminal every week, flying people to a whole assortment of destinations. Of course, with each flight carrying upwards of 150 people you soon begin to realise that the main issue involved in the flight is ensuring that people are able to park close to the airport. It is all very well and good telling people to use public transport but this makes everything much more difficult and merely serves to increase the hassle that you feel when you are trying to catch your flight. The last thing you want is to be stood on a platform that is miles away from the airport with only a few hours left before your flight; it will increase stress levels dramatically which is the last thing you want when you are flying out on holiday to escape all the stresses of everyday life!

Because of this, Gatwick airport has one of the most modern car park systems in the country. No more messing around in queues trying to get the right change for the machine; it can all be sorted on line way before your trip leaving you with the reassuring fact that you have a car parking space paid for and reserved for when you arrive – a much better way to start your holiday!