Getting away on holiday can be stressful, with huge amounts of effort often needed in terms of planning, saving, spending and finally herding the family into the car with everything you need packed.
We can’t guarantee your children will remember to bring their shoes with them, but we can help you find some of the best cheap parking around the UK’s major airports.
Parking your car for holidays can cost a fortune, especially if you leave it until the last minute - but savvy shopping can help you keep the costs down.
One thing to note is that parking can often be more expensive than getting public transport to the airport, so make sure you check out all your options before you book.
It’s also crucial to remember that the cost of airport parking can vary from day to day, and so the prices and providers may have changed since this article was written.
To test the best options, the Mirror used the comparison site Travel Supermarket to look at the cost of airport parking at each of the UK’s seven busiest airports. What we report below is the parking option that was cheapest for this day, March 29, for a space in exactly two months' time for one week's parking. This means this data is accurate for May 29 to June 5 but is liable to change.
All parking runs from 1pm to 1pm, meaning that if you are not looking at this time even on the same days it could be different. However, we hope this gives you an idea of the cheapest options at each airport.
It is also worth remembering that this research looks at the price of parking for a week, and does not necessarily take into account details and small print - including everything from late fees to cancellations and distance from the airport.
We’ve also included the rating data from Travel Supermarket to help give you a feel about customer experience. This data was not gathered by the Mirror.
Heathrow
The nation’s biggest airport, Heathrow, has a wealth of parking options, although it isn’t the cheapest out there according to our research.
The cheapest three options are all provided by Purple Parking and all three claim to be the closest off-airport parking. The three different options each serve a dedicated terminal, with T2, T3 and T5 each with their own option for £115.95.
T2: 77% of 583 customers would book again. T3: 87% of 522 customers would book again. T5: 86% of 1,308 customers would book again.
Transfers take between 10 and 12 minutes and run every 20 minutes.
The second cheapest company is Q-Park Self Park. It also serves T2, T3 and T5 for £135.95 and transfers run every 20 minutes. 87% of 41 customers would book again.
Gatwick
For the best-priced parking at Gatwick airport, you’ll want to hit up Cophall Parking at £72.92 for a week. It serve all terminals and runs free transfers to the airport every 15 minutes. 95% of 25 customers would book again.
In a close second is I Love Park and Deliver at £80.00 - while a little dearer, their transfers take five minutes as opposed to Cophall’s 15. Both offer free cancellation. 96% of 96 customers would book again.
Manchester
It seems the cheap parking options are pretty sewn up in Manchester, with MAG Manchester Airport dominating the cheap parking options. Well, unless you fancy ditching your vehicle on a stranger's driveway for free.
Different services to each terminal or with various features have slight price differences.
For the cheapest option, select DROP & GO for £74.99. Buses to T1 and T2 take between two and five minutes, and T3 is a five-minute walk. You drop off your car and it will be parked for you. 90% of 1,792 customers would book again.
The second cheapest option is JETPARKS 3, which promises security and you get to keep your car keys. This comes in at one pound more at £75.99 to all terminals. Transfers run every 15 minutes and are included in the price. They take between six and eight minutes so it is a little further out than the DROP & GO. 91% of 231 customers would book again.
Stanstead
Like Manchester, Stanstead is rather sewn up by the MAGS Stanstead Airport options.
This time though the cheapest option is Jet Parks, which offers a week's parking for £67.99 with transfers included and running every 20 minutes, taking 15 minutes to get to Departures. 93% of 14 customers would book again.
In a close second is the MAGS Long Stay option, with claims to be the most booked in Stanstead, costing £73.99. Transfers run every 15 minutes and take the same time to get there. 91% of 1,121 customers would book again.
Birmingham
Birmingham has a wealth of cheap parking options with two firms offering the cheapest fair for our dates at £60.99.
The Air Parks Selfpark offer included 14-minute transfers that run every 25 minutes. It has contact-free check-in. 88% of 1,458 customers would book again.
Meanwhile, APH runs a shuttle bus every 25 minutes, taking 15 minutes in transit. 88% of 287 customers would book again.
An honourable mention is the NCP partnered with Birmingham Airport Parking, Car Park two and three. It costs £61.79, is secured and is joined to the terminal so you won't need a transfer. 60% of 188 customers would book again.
Edinburgh
Of the UK’s biggest airports, Edinburgh is the place to be for cheap parking. Its best option is Low Cost from Flying Scott, which provides parking for as little as £29.99. Transfers take six minutes, run every 20 and are included. 88% of 429 customers would book again.
In a very honourable second place is PremiAir Main Carpark 1 for just 32.99. Transfers run “continuously” and take just three minutes. 90% of 272 customers would book again
Luton
In Luton, the cheapest option is the official Luton Airport Long Stay Car Park. It costs £63.99 for the week with transfers every 20 to 15 minutes and takes 10 to 12 minutes. 92% of 48 customers would book again.
In second is Air Parks Selfpark with a £68.99 offering a service that claims to run “regularly”, although we aren’t quite sure what that means. Transfers take 14 minutes. 88% of 2388 customers would book again.
For the latest parking prices, head over to Travel Supermarket for up-to-date costs for each airport.
