With approximately 1.4 million motorbikes on the UK’s roads, how are riders served when it comes to airport parking? We reveal what’s on offer at all major UK airports.
Go straight to parking information for your airport
Scroll down to read our at-a-glance guide to parking your bike at airports, or use the following shortcuts to head straight to the location you’re departing from for full details.
| Aberdeen Birmingham Bournemouth Bristol Cardiff Doncaster Durham Tees | East Midlands Edinburgh Exeter Gatwick Glasgow Heathrow Leeds Bradford | Luton Manchester Newcastle Prestwick Southampton Southend Stansted |
Find out if you can park your motorbike at UK airports – and how much it’ll cost: Thinkstock/FooTToo
Heading on holiday is not just reserved for those with four wheels, but in many cases motorbike riders feel they’re forced to leave their machines at home and brave public transport as they head to the airport.
Delve a little deeper though and bikers will find that most of our major airports offer varying levels of provision for parking their machines while away. Here’s our full guide to airport car parking for motorbikes.
Can you park a motorbike at your departure airport – check out our at-a-glance guide
Find out if you can book a space for your bike and how much it could cost. Please note: Scroll down the page for full airport-by-airport details.
| Airport | Can you pre-book | Charge |
| Aberdeen | No | Free in bike areas |
| Birmingham | Yes | Free in Car Park 2 |
| Bournemouth | Yes | 50% of car price |
| Bristol | No | Free in bike areas |
| Cardiff | No | Free in bike areas |
| Doncaster | Yes | Free in bike areas |
| Durham Tees | Yes | Car price |
| East Midlands | Yes | 50% of car price |
| Edinburgh | Yes | Standard prices |
| Exeter | No | Free in bike areas |
| Gatwick | Yes | Free in bike areas |
| Glasgow | Yes | Standard prices |
| Heathrow | No | Free in bike areas |
| Leeds Bradford | Yes | Car price |
| Luton | No | Free up to 21 days |
| Liverpool | No | Free |
| Manchester | Yes | 50% of car price |
| Newcastle | Yes | Car price |
| Prestwick | No | Do not accept motorbikes |
| Southampton | No | Free in bike areas |
| Southend | No | Free in Long Stay 3 |
| Stansted | Yes | 50% of car price |
Free motorbike parking in the short stay car parks at Gatwick Airport’s North Terminal
Perhaps it’s not practical for transporting luggage for a two-week stay in Alicante, but travelling light on a city break or business trip can mean just a single bag as hand luggage. Jumping on a bike and cutting through the rush-hour jams makes perfect sense.
In many cases, off-airport car parks – such as APH – make the transfer process fast and simple by valet parking cars while passengers jump straight on the airport bus. However, riding a bike – even in the confines of a car park – is a specialist job and not practical for most locations.
The best option for those heading to the airport by bike is to choose one of the on-airport multi-storey car parks. These will allow the rider to park their own bike.
Some airports offer free motorbike parking, while others will charge the same as a car. Use the table above to find out what’s on offer at your airport.
From our research, it seems some airports offer parking for bikes in locations that won’t necessarily be covered by standard car park security.
AIRPORT-BY-AIRPORT GUIDE TO AIRPORT PARKING FOR MOTORBIKES
Gatwick Airport
South Terminal
What they say: Parking for motorcyclists is free at Gatwick Airport South Terminal if you park in one of the short stay car parks. These have dedicated motorcycle bays, which are marked by yellow hatches and located on one side of each floor. Parking in other bays could result in being charged full price. No anchor points are available and bikes not parked in the bays might be removed.
Can you book dedicated bike space in advance: No
How much to park: Parking is free in the dedicated bays/areas.
North Terminal
Parking for motorcyclists is free at Gatwick Airport North Terminal if you park in one of the short stay car parks. Yellow hatches located on one side of each floor of the car park provide a dedicated area for motorbikes. Make sure you don’t park in any normal car parking spaces or you could end up paying. No anchor points are available and bikes not parked in the bays might be removed.
Can you book dedicated bike space in advance: No
How much to park: Parking is free in the dedicated bays/areas.
Heathrow Airport
What they say: Motorbikes can be parked in dedicated bays. Riders should not use car bays, or they could be charged full gate rate prices. Parking bays can be found at the following locations:
Terminal 2: On Cressna Road. Next to the new Hilton Garden Inn
Terminal 3: At the rear of Short Stay Car Park 1A/5, to the right of the exit. Enter via Chester Road.
Terminal 4: Find spaces opposite the arrivals forecourt.
Terminal 5: An area for motorbikes is located next to the short stay car park.
Can you book dedicated bike space in advance: No
How much: Parking is free in the dedicated bays/areas.
Aberdeen Airport
What they say: Motorbikes can be parked in designated areas within the short-stay car park.
Can you book dedicated bike space in advance: No, but there are around 20 spaces available on a first-come-first-served basis.
How much: Parking is free in the dedicated bays/areas.
Birmingham Airport
What they say: Birmingham Airport tells us there is a dedicated area for parking motorbikes within Car Park 2.
Can you book dedicated bike space in advance: Yes.
How much: It is currently free to park in Car Park 2, but if you park elsewhere, you will be charged at the full rate for a car.
Bournemouth Airport
What they say: Motorbike spaces are available in the on-airport car park.
Can you book dedicated bike space in advance: Yes.
How much: Bikers will be charged for spaces, but they will receive a 50 per cent discount compared with car prices.
Bristol Airport
What they say: Parking for motorbikes is available in dedicated motorbike bays. The bays can be found opposite the main administration building.
Can you book dedicated bike space in advance: No.
How much: Parking is free in the dedicated bays/areas.
Cardiff Airport
What they say: Parking for motorbikes is available near the exit from Short Stay and Long Stay 2 car parks at the Cardiff airport.
Can you book dedicated bike space in advance: No. Just turn up and park in the bays if available.
How much: Parking is free in the dedicated bays/areas.
Doncaster Airport
What they say: There is free motorcycle parking spaces in the Long Stay and Short Stay car parks.
Can you book dedicated bike space in advance: You can just turn up and park your motorbike. The airport says you should park in the floodlight bays where possible.
How much: Free.
Durham Tees Valley Airport
What they say: No dedicated bike spaces at Durham Tees Valley Airport.
Can you book dedicated bike space in advance: You can book a car space, but this will be charged at the normal full rate.
How much: Standard car rate.
East Midlands Airport
What they say: Motorbike spaces are available in the car park at East Midlands Airport.
Can you book dedicated bike space in advance: Yes.
How much: Bikers will be charged 50 per cent of the standard car tariff.
Edinburgh Airport
What they say: Motorbike spaces are available at the airport’s Terminal Surface car park at Edinburgh Airport. This is next to the terminal.
Can you book dedicated bike space in advance: Yes– Motorbikes require purchase of parking in all our public car parks, either by pre-booking online or subject to the Drive up & park rates.
How much: Standard rate.
Exeter Airport
What they say: Motorbikes can be parked at the airport, but you should call the Airport Car Park Customer Service office ahead of your arrival.
Can you book dedicated bike space in advance: No – but the ‘airport’ tells us there are usually plenty of spaces available. Look for the hatched area near the advertising hoarding as you enter Car Park 1. You can call 01392 365225 and ask to be put through to the helpful local team to enquire about current availability.
How much: Free parking in the dedicated areas.
Glasgow Airport
What they say: Motorcycle parking is available in Car Park 2.
Can you book dedicated bike space in advance: Yes.
How much: Parking is charged at the same rate as cars.
Leeds Bradford Airport
What they say: Motorcycles are allowed to take up car spaces in all car parks.
Can you book dedicated bike space in advance: Not a bike space, but you can reserve a standard car space.
How much: Parking is charged at full car rate.
Liverpool Airport
What they say: There’s free parking for motorcycles in the Express Drop Off Zone, but there is limited bays.
Can you book dedicated bike space in advance: No.
How much: These are not dedicated parking bays, so there is no charge.
Luton Airport
What they say: There’s free parking for motorcycles in the Mid Term Car Park’s designated bays. These can be occupied for a maximum of 21 days. Parking is at owner’s risk.
Can you book dedicated bike space in advance: No.
How much: Parking in bike bays is free for 21 days, after which owners will be charged at the standard daily charge applied to cars.
Manchester Airport
What they say: Bikes can be parked in all of the airport’s multi-storey car parks. This applies across all of the terminals.
Can you book dedicated bike space in advance: Yes. Motorbike owners should call 08000420213 between 08:00-20:00 to book their space.
How much: Parking your motorcycle will be charged at 50 per cent of the car rate.
Newcastle Airport
What they say: Bikes can be parked in regular spaces in the Long-Stay car parks.
Can you book dedicated bike space in advance: Yes – but bike owners will have to book a full car space.
How much: Your space will be charged at full car rates.
Prestwick Airport
What they say: Due to the use of ANPR, motorbikes cannot be accepted.
Can you book dedicated bike space in advance: No.
How much: N/A.
Southampton Airport
What they say: There is a motorcycle area in the Short Stay car park ground floor. When it comes to leaving the car park, we’re told you should head to the ‘undercover’ exit barrier as it’s shorter than the others and leaves room for bikers to leave the car park.
Can you book dedicated bike space in advance: No.
How much: Parking for bikes in the dedicated area is free of charge.
Southend Airport
What they say: There is free motorbiking spaces available in Long Stay car park 3.
Can you book dedicated bike space in advance: No.
How much: Free of charge.
Stansted Airport
What they say: Motorcycles can be parked in the Orange Zone of the Short Stay car park and in Q zone of Long Stay car park.
Can you book dedicated bike space in advance: Yes.
How much: Bikers get a 50 per cent discount on car parking rates.