Robotic Parking Is Coming to Gatwick This August
London Gatwick is preparing to introduce the UK’s first robotic airport parking service in partnership with Stanley Robotics. Instead of circling a car park for a space, customers will leave their vehicle inside a private cabin and keep the keys. An autonomous robot will then lift the car by its tyres and move it to a secure, access-restricted area near the South Terminal.
How Gatwick’s Robotic Parking Will Work
- Airport: London Gatwick
- Location: South Terminal Long Stay
- First bookings: August 2026
- Technology provider: Stanley Robotics
- Reservation: Must be completed online before travelling; customers cannot arrive and pay on the day
- Initial operating times: Vehicle drop-off and collection on weekdays between 09:00 and 17:00; weekends excluded
- Minimum stay: Five days
- Terminal access: A few minutes’ walk or a free shuttle bus
- Vehicle limits: Maximum wheelbase of 3.3 metres, height of 2.3 metres, wheel diameter of 21 inches and weight of 2.6 tonnes
- Price: Quoted online after entry and exit dates are entered
Customers will follow signs to an available garage, drive inside and complete check-in using the screen outside. The robot then collects the vehicle and parks it without anyone driving it. Before travelling, customers must provide their return flight information. After landing, they scan the QR code included with their booking, follow the instructions on screen and collect the car once it has been returned to a cabin.
Removing the search for a parking bay should make Gatwick easier to use for families, groups carrying several bags and drivers leaving their car during longer holidays. The South Terminal is within walking distance, while the free shuttle offers an alternative in bad weather or with heavier luggage. Customers can head straight towards check-in after drop-off instead of allowing extra time to find a space and remember where the car was left.
"This is a real game-changer for our passengers. It’s quick, easy and completely hassle-free – and you even get to keep your keys, giving extra peace of mind while you’re enjoying your holiday."
The initial restrictions make robotic parking better suited to weekday departures on longer trips than weekend breaks or last-minute airport runs. Vehicle size also needs checking before booking: the maximum wheelbase is 3.3 metres, height 2.3 metres, wheel diameter 21 inches and weight 2.6 tonnes. Accurate return-flight details are equally important, as the system relies on them to prepare the car for collection.
