Does Heathrow Airport have Congestion Charge?

Yes, there are. Depending on the type of vehicle you are driving and where in London you are driving to, you may need to pay the Congestion Charge, Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and/or the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) charges.



No, Heathrow Airport itself is not within the London Congestion Charge Zone.

The Congestion Charge Zone covers a small, central area of London. Heathrow is located in the London Borough of Hillingdon, about 15 miles (24 km) west of central London, well outside the zone.

However, there are two important charges to be aware of when driving to Heathrow:

  1. Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ): This is much more relevant. The ULEZ has been expanded and now covers all of Greater London, which includes Heathrow Airport.

    • If your vehicle does not meet strict emission standards (generally pre-2006 petrol or pre-2015 diesel vehicles), you will need to pay a £12.50 daily charge to drive within the ULEZ, including on the roads around and leading to the airport terminals.
    • You can check your vehicle and pay on the official Transport for London (TfL) website: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/check-your-vehicle/

  2. Heathrow Drop-Off Charge: Since 2021, there is a mandatory charge for dropping off passengers directly at the terminal forecourts.

    • The charge is £5 per drop-off.
    • You must pay online in advance or by midnight the day after you drop off.
    • The charge applies to all vehicles (including electric vehicles), with only a few exemptions (e.g., blue badge holders in certain circumstances).
    • Official information and payment portal

People Also Ask

You need to pay a daily charge if you drive within the Congestion Charge zone 07:00-18:00 Mon-Fri, 12:00-18:00 Sat-Sun and bank holidays. No charge between Christmas Day and New Year's Day bank holiday (inclusive).

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So... is Heathrow in the ULEZ Zone? The short answer is yes - Heathrow Airport will be a part of the Ultra Low Emission Zone, so you will need to make some considerations for your journey.

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Heathrow Airport is in Zone 6 of London's zoned transport system. To understand the zone system which is the basis for all fares on the London Underground, read our using the London Underground page.

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Free drop-off options are available at Heathrow's Long Stay car park, where passengers can take a free bus transfer to the terminal. We strongly recommend that taxi drivers (black cab), private-hire vehicle drivers and operators register for a business account.

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There are no barriers; you incur a charge when you enter the drop-off zone. Non-payment will result in an £80 Parking Charge Notice (PCN), reduced to £40 if paid within 14 days. Pay a PCN online.

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How long can you wait at Heathrow Drop Off? Unlike some airports, there isn't a time limit in place at the Heathrow Terminal Drop Off zone. Please keep in mind, however, that you cannot leave your car unattended and must pay the charge every time you re-enter the Drop Off areas.

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The ULEZ operates across all London boroughs, and the M25 is not in the zone. The charges only need to be paid if you drive your vehicle within the zone. Parked vehicles are not subject to any charges. As well as ULEZ and LEZ charges, you may also need to pay the Congestion Charge.

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Drive a lower emission car if possible. Electric cars are exempt from the London Congestion Charge. If you're only visiting for the day, consider parking outside the zone and using public transport for the rest of your journey.

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Picking-up at Heathrow If you are picking-up a passenger from Heathrow, it is prohibited to wait on the terminal forecourt. Please park in one of our Short Stay car parks, and pay at a pay-on-foot machine, or one of our Long Stay car parks for 30 minutes for free.

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Payments should be made at the car park pay-on-foot machines, not booked online.

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Heathrow Long Stay FREE Parking Heathrow offers FREE parking for up to 29 minutes at the Long Stay car parks, perfect if you're dropping off or picking up passengers. ?? Passengers will need to catch the FREE shuttle bus to and from the terminals - transfers run every 10-15 minutes and take 5 minutes.

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In most cases, there's no need to pay anything when saying goodbye to family and friends, as almost all airports have a free area for drop-offs – as long as you're willing to take a short walk or shuttle ride to the terminal, Townsend explains.

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The Elizabeth Line uses the same zone-based charges as Tube services, except when it comes to Heathrow Airport, which attracts a £7.20 surcharge for use of the airport's rail tunnels and infrastructure.

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Ticket and fares Travel on the Elizabeth line costs £12.80 at all times of the day, for a journey to or from Heathrow airport, where that journey starts, ends or goes through Zone 1. Single journey tickets and Zones 1-6 Travelcards can be purchased from airport station ticket machines.

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