Gatwick Airport car parks where you can keep your keys

When you’re flying out of Gatwick Airport, one key decision is where to park your car. Gatwick offers a variety of parking options, and importantly, some allow you to keep your car keys while others require you to hand them over. Choosing a “keep your keys” Gatwick parking option can be especially convenient if you’re travelling with children, have a lot of luggage, or simply want peace of mind knowing your car will stay exactly where you parked it. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the Gatwick parking options where you keep your keys, how they compare, and how to pick the best one for your trip.

Why Choose a “Keep Your Keys” Parking Option at Gatwick?

Opting for Gatwick Airport parking where you keep your keys means you park your own car and retain your keys for the duration of your trip. Here are a few benefits of this approach:

• Peace of Mind: You know your car won’t be moved while you’re away. It stays exactly where you left it. This is reassuring for those who prefer keep-your-keys Gatwick parking to avoid any unexpected mileage or relocation of their vehicle.
• Quick Departure: With your keys in your pocket, you can head straight home from the car park upon return. There’s no need to queue at a desk or wait for staff to retrieve your keys, simply load your luggage and go.
• Personal Convenience: If travelling with kids, elderly passengers, or lots of bags, it can be easier to park in a spot you choose and not worry about unloading in a drop-off lane. You can take your time arranging your vehicle and securing belongings, since you’ll keep your keys and lock up yourself.

Of course, all official Gatwick parking is designed to be secure, but choosing a self-park (keep your keys) option is about having more control over the parking process. Now, let’s compare the various Gatwick car parks and see which ones let you hang onto your keys.

Gatwick Parking Comparison: Keep Your Keys or Hand Them Over?

Use our comparison table below to see at a glance which Gatwick Airport car parks allow you to keep your keys. We’ve also included the type of parking (off-airport and on-airport, meet & greet, etc.). This way, you can quickly scan and compare options to find the right Gatwick parking (keep keys or not) solution for your needs:

Car Park	Keep Your Keys?	Type of Parking
APH Self Park Gatwick	Yes ✅	Off-airport (Park & Ride, Self-Park)
Gatwick Meteor Meet & Greet	No ❌	Meet & Greet (Valet)
Airparks Gatwick Self Park	Yes ✅	Off-airport (Park & Ride, Self-Park)
Gatwick Airport Meet & Greet (Official Valet)	No ❌	Meet & Greet (Valet)
Gatwick APH Parking (Park & Ride)	No ❌	Off-airport (Park & Ride)
Gatwick APH Meet & Greet	No ❌	Meet & Greet (Valet)
Gatwick APH Meet & Greet Forecourt (North Terminal)	No ❌	Meet & Greet (Valet)
Gatwick I Love Meet & Greet	No ❌	Meet & Greet (Valet)
Gatwick Long Stay North Terminal	Yes ✅	On-airport (Long Stay)
Gatwick Long Stay South Terminal	Yes ✅	On-airport (Long Stay)
Airparks Gatwick Park & Ride	No ❌	Off-airport (Park & Ride)
Gatwick Purple Parking	No ❌	Off-airport (Park & Ride)
Gatwick Summer Special (Official)	No ❌	On-airport (Mid Stay)
Cophall Parking (Off-airport)	No ❌	Off-airport (Park & Ride)

Table Notes: “Keep Your Keys, Yes” means you park the car yourself and retain your keys. “No” means you’ll leave your keys with the parking operator (they will park or move your car as needed).

As you can see, only a handful of Gatwick parking options let you keep your keys, notably APH Self Park, Airparks Self Park, and the official Long Stay car parks for North and South Terminals. We’ll detail each of these below. If keeping your keys is a priority, focus on those options. If you don’t mind leaving your keys, you have a wider selection of Park & Ride and Meet & Greet services available (more on those later).

Gatwick Car Parks Where You Keep Your Keys – Detailed Overview

Let’s take a closer look at the Gatwick parking options that allow you to keep your keys. These options are great for travellers who want a self-parking experience and extra peace of mind. Here’s what you need to know about each:

APH Self Park Gatwick (Off-Airport, Self-Park with Keys)

APH Self Park is our flagship off-airport self-parking option at Gatwick. It’s a Park & Ride service with a twist: you park your own car in a designated bay and take your keys with you.

• Location: Just off the M23 (Junction 10), about a 10-12 minute free shuttle ride to both North and South Terminals.
• Keep Your Keys: Yes, park in your allocated space, lock up, and retain your keys. Your car stays put for the duration of your trip.
• Security: With 24/7 security patrols, CCTV, gated entry/exit, and barrier control. The car park is well-lit and secure, giving you full peace of mind.
• Why Choose APH Self Park? Enjoy a hassle-free experience with friendly staff and frequent shuttles. It’s ideal if you want control over where your car is parked and a quick getaway on your return. APH Self Park combines the cost-effectiveness of off-airport parking with the convenience of keeping your keys; no wonder it’s a popular choice for travel-savvy customers.

Airparks Gatwick Self Park (Off-Airport, Self-Park with Keys)

Airparks Self Park Gatwick offers a similar keep-your-keys experience and is actually operated in partnership with APH. It’s another off-airport Park & Ride service where you do the parking yourself.

• Location: Same vicinity near the M23 (it operates from the APH parking), with a roughly 10-minute shuttle to both terminals. Buses run regularly, day and night, free of charge.
• Keep Your Keys: Yes, you won’t need to hand over your keys. Simply park in the designated area and take the shuttle, knowing your car will remain in that spot.
• Security: This car park also boasts top-notch security features (CCTV, perimeter fencing, 24-hour staff). You get the benefit of APH’s secure facilities under the Airparks brand.
• Why Choose Airparks Self Park? It’s perfect for travellers seeking cheap Gatwick parking where you keep your keys without sacrificing security. You’ll get a very similar service to APH Self Park, often at competitive rates, backed by the experience of the Airparks and APH teams.

Gatwick Long Stay North Terminal (On-Airport, Self-Park with Keys)

If you’re flying from the North Terminal, the official Gatwick Long Stay North car park is a convenient on-airport option that lets you keep your keys. This is an official Gatwick-operated car park within the airport perimeter.

• Location: A short drive within the airport compound, just a few minutes from North Terminal. After parking, a shuttle bus will take you to the terminal entrance in about 7-10 minutes.
• Keep Your Keys: Yes, this is a self-park facility. You find a space, park your vehicle, and you keep your keys. Remember to take your parking ticket with you (you’ll need it to exit, payment is typically made at a machine if you haven’t pre-booked).
• Security: Being official, it has high security standards: regular patrols, CCTV, secure fencing and lighting. The car park is well-maintained by Gatwick Airport.
• Why Choose Long Stay North? It’s great for travellers who prefer to be on airport grounds for a faster transfer and want to keep their keys. There’s no need to worry about your car being moved; it stays in the long-stay lot. This option is especially handy for longer trips from North Terminal, and you can often pre-book Gatwick Long Stay for better rates (though drive-up on the day is also possible).

Gatwick Long Stay South Terminal (On-Airport, Self-Park with Keys)

For those flying out of South Terminal, Gatwick’s official Long Stay South car park offers the same convenience and key-keeping policy, but tailored to the South side of the airport.

• Location: Located just within the South Terminal area of Gatwick Airport. After you park, complimentary shuttle buses run 24/7, taking about 7-12 minutes to get you to the South Terminal departures area.
• Keep Your Keys: Yes, like its North Terminal counterpart, this is self-parking. You choose a parking bay, lock your car, and take your keys with you. Hold onto the parking ticket for your return.
• Security: Operated by Gatwick Airport with robust security measures (fenced, well-lit, CCTV, frequent patrols). It’s designed for long-term parking security and customer safety.
• Why Choose Long Stay South? It’s the most straightforward option when you want to park on-site at South Terminal and keep your keys. You get the reassurance of an official airport car park and avoid any third-party handling of your vehicle. For holidaymakers or business travellers going from South Terminal, Long Stay South provides a secure, keep-your-keys Gatwick parking experience with the convenience of quick terminal access.

What About Other Gatwick Parking Options (Where You Leave Your Keys)?

The focus of this guide is on car parks where you can keep your keys, but it’s worth mentioning the other popular Gatwick parking services, in these you hand over your keys to the operator. These include most Meet & Greet and some Park & Ride services:

• Meet & Greet (Valet Parking): If you opt for meet and greet at Gatwick, you’ll drive your car to a drop-off point (usually right by the terminal) and hand your keys to a uniformed driver. They will take your car to a secure compound nearby. For example, APH Meet & Greet Forecourt service allows you to drop off on the terminal forecourt for maximum convenience. You leave your keys with the APH agent (or partner chauffeur), and they handle the parking for you. When you return, your car is brought back to the terminal for a swift departure. The Meet & Greet is ideal if you value ultimate convenience and minimal transfer time, perfect for families, travellers with disabilities, or anyone with a lot of luggage. (If interested in this option, check out APH Meet & Greet at Gatwick, which is part of Gatwick’s Approved Operator Scheme for your peace of mind.)
• Park & Ride (Where Keys Are Left): Many off-airport parking providers use a system where you drop your car at reception and leave your keys so staff can park it for you (and move it within the car park if necessary). APH Park & Ride (the standard APH Gatwick car park) and services like Purple Parking, Summer Special, or Cophall fall into this category. They are still very secure and convenient, shuttle buses take you to the terminals and back, and your car is kept in a secure lot. The only difference is you won’t park the car yourself. These options can sometimes pack more cars into the facility (since staff can reposition vehicles), which often allows them to offer slightly lower prices or valet-style service. If you don’t mind leaving your keys, you might find some great deals with these Gatwick parking providers.

In summary, Gatwick Airport offers parking options for every preference, whether you want to keep your keys and maintain control, or you prefer to drop off your car and let someone else handle the parking. It comes down to what makes you most comfortable for your journey.

Choosing the Best Gatwick Parking Option for You

To wrap up, consider these tips when choosing your Gatwick parking:

• Decide on Key Handling: If keeping your keys is non-negotiable for you, stick with one of the Gatwick parking keep your keys options we outlined (APH Self Park, Airparks Self Park, or the official Long Stay car parks). You’ll enjoy a self-parking experience and peace of mind. If you’re okay handing over the keys, you can also explore meet & greet or other park & rides for potentially even more convenience.
• Compare Prices and Features: Use the comparison table above and our APH Gatwick parking search to get quotes. Sometimes an off-airport self-park will be cheaper than an on-airport long stay, or a meet & greet deal might come close in price to park & ride, so weigh your options.
• Consider Travel Needs: Travelling with a large family or heavy bags? A meet & greet (keys handed over) might save you hassle by dropping right at departures. On a budget and travelling light? A self-park with keys or standard park & ride could be the best value. Also, pick the option closest to your terminal for shorter transfers (Long Stay North vs. South, etc.).

No matter which option you choose, pre-booking is highly recommended to secure your space and get a better rate. At APH, we’re proud to offer a full range of Gatwick parking services, from self-park (keep your keys) to valet meet & greets, all with award-winning customer service and security.

Ready to book? Head over to our Gatwick Airport parking page to find the latest deals on Gatwick parking (keep keys or valet) that suit your travel plans. With the right parking sorted, you can jet off on your trip knowing your car is safe and exactly where you left it. Happy travels!

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