How to find the shuttle bus stop for your airport car park (with real examples)

Heading to the airport with a pre-booked car park? Great — the last thing you want is to circle the forecourt searching for the shuttle. Most UK airports run free (or included) shuttle buses between long-stay / park & ride car parks and the terminal forecourts. Below we walk you through how to find the correct shuttle stop, what the forecourts look like, and give clear examples from Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Manchester and Birmingham so you can pull up, park and be on your way with minimal stress.

Quick rules that work everywhere

1. Follow the car park signage from the motorway, park where the booking tells you and note the car-park name/number — shuttle crews use those names.
2. After parking, look for the “transfer”, “bus”, “shuttle” or “park & ride” signs in the car park reception — they will direct you to the nearest shuttle stop.
3. At the terminal forecourt, shuttle stops are usually grouped with coaches, hotel shuttles and car hire buses — look for numbered bus bays and the words “Long Stay / Park & Ride”.
4. If in doubt, ask the car park attendant or use the help point on the forecourt — staff will point you to the right bus bay.

These simple steps save time — and help avoid paying drop-off forecourt fees if you’re redirected to a long-stay pick-up point.

Heathrow — look for the long-stay / Park & Ride bays on the arrivals forecourt

Heathrow’s Park & Ride and long-stay car parks operate shuttle buses that collect and drop off at designated bus stops on the terminals’ forecourts. If you’re coming from a long-stay car park you will usually be directed to the arrivals forecourt bus bay area (bus stop numbers differ by terminal), where shuttle buses wait in clearly marked bays next to coach and hotel bus stops. If you’re at Terminal 4, for example, follow signs to Bus Stop 3 on the forecourt for the shuttle back to the car park. Always check the terminal map/your car park instructions for the exact bus stop number.

Gatwick — short ride, clear forecourt pickup points

Gatwick’s long-stay and park & ride operators normally have a handover point right outside the terminals. After you park, the car park will instruct you which nearby bus stop to use; at the terminal, the shuttle stop is usually on the arrivals forecourt or in the dedicated bus area a short walk from the main doors. Gatwick publishes maps and forecourt access guidance — the shuttle often runs every 10–12 minutes and signage to “transfer buses” or “car park shuttle” is prominent on the forecourt. If you can’t see it, the car park’s reception will tell you the exact bay to wait at.

Stansted — free shuttle stops just off the terminal forecourt

Stansted offers free shuttle transfers from its official long-stay and mid-stay car parks. The bus stops for these shuttles are positioned close to or just off the terminal forecourt — there’s a short, well signed walk from the terminal doors to the shuttle bays. If you’re dropped at the free Drop Off area (a little further away), the airport runs a shuttle which departs from the designated stop and brings you to the terminal in just a few minutes. Always check the specific car park instructions — operators list the terminal pick-up bay and timetable when you arrive.

Manchester — look near arrivals (T1/T2/T3 differences)

Manchester’s long-stay and off-airport parking uses frequent shuttle services that pick up outside the arrivals areas. For example, pick-up points are often described in relation to nearby landmarks (e.g., “directly outside the T3 arrivals area, opposite the Spar”). The airport also runs a free drop-off option with a shuttle from a designated free drop-off location if you want to avoid the on-forecourt drop fees; in that case you’ll catch the transfer at the bus stop signed for “pick up & drop off” or the shuttle stop marked at Thorley Lane/near JetParks. Look for shuttle shelters and bus stop signage on the forecourt — they’re easy to spot.

Birmingham — bus stops are labelled (D, 2, 6, 7 etc.)

Birmingham’s official car parks (for example Car Park 7 or Car Park 5) use airport courtesy buses that collect from named bus stops on the forecourt. Some car parks say explicitly which stop they use (Car Park 7 buses, for instance, collect from Bus Stop D outside the terminal). Other larger car parks list multiple nearby stops (Car Park 5 uses bus stops 2, 6 and 7). When you arrive, the car park office or signage will confirm the designated stop to wait at on the terminal forecourt.

Practical on-the-day checklist (two minutes)

• Keep your booking confirmation visible — many car parks print the terminal pick-up bay on the ticket.
  • Photograph the car park name/number on entry — it’s the keyword shuttle drivers will use.
  • If you arrive at the terminal forecourt and don’t see your shuttle, ask the nearest staff or use the help point — forecourt staff will direct you to the right numbered bay.
  • Allow extra time during peak periods — shuttles can be busy and some services run every 10–25 minutes depending on the operator.

By Stephen Forster at 7 Oct 2025