As the summer travel rush approaches, British holidaymakers are facing steep parking fees at airports, with costs at some locations rivaling the price of international flights. New research from Spin Casino, which analyzed data from 300 popular airports globally, has identified the UK airports with the most expensive weekly parking rates, leading to a significant burden on travelers’ budgets.
Gatwick Airport tops the list, with a weekly parking fee of £257, amounting to 34.75% of the average weekly salary in the UK. This fee exceeds the cost of flights to several European destinations, including Barcelona, Tenerife, and Rome, which are priced at £136, £154, and £78, respectively. This staggering cost puts significant financial pressure on residents planning their summer getaways.
Following Gatwick, London City Airport charges £171 for a week of parking, costing residents 23.12% of their weekly income. Belfast City ranks third, with a weekly rate of £170. The list also includes Bristol and Heathrow airports, both of which feature among the top 10 priciest for parking in the UK.
The study highlights a sharp increase in parking fees, which have surged by up to 260% recently, exacerbating the cost of summer travel. With such high rates, the cost of just parking at some UK airports could surpass the expense of the holiday itself.
The full ranking of the ten most expensive UK airport car parks further illustrates the costly dilemma faced by travelers:
- Gatwick Airport – £257
- London City Airport – £171
- Belfast City Airport – £170
- Bristol Airport – £149
- Heathrow Airport – £123.70
- Luton Airport – £121.99
- Birmingham Airport – £119.99
- Leeds Bradford Airport – £112
- Stansted Airport – £111
- Manchester Airport – £92
As British travelers gear up for their holiday plans, they are urged to consider these costs when budgeting for trips, potentially looking at alternative transportation options to the airport or choosing airports with more reasonable parking rates to keep overall travel costs manageable.
