Maple Parking is a family run airport parking business that started its meet and greet service at Gatwick more than 30 years ago and now calls itself the largest independent meet and greet parking provider in the UK. At Heathrow it offers two quite different products: meet and greet at the terminals, and a newer Express Park and Ride for Terminal 5.
The choice between them is not only about price. Heathrow sits inside London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone, so whether your car is ULEZ compliant can decide which option is better value. This guide uses information published on the Maple Parking website as of 2 November 2026.
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In this guide
Meet and Greet vs Park and Ride at Heathrow
| Meet and greet | T5 Express Park and Ride | |
|---|---|---|
| Where you leave the car | At your terminal, with a Maple driver | At Maple’s car park off the M25 at Junction 14 |
| Terminals | Terminals 2 to 5 | Terminal 5 |
| Getting to the terminal | Walk straight in | Express bus, under 5 minutes |
| ULEZ | Charges may apply if your car is not compliant | Car park sits outside the charging zone |
| Best for | Families, lots of luggage, tight schedules | Non compliant cars, longer trips, cost conscious travellers |
How ULEZ Affects Meet and Greet
London’s ULEZ was expanded to include Heathrow Airport from 29 August 2023. Maple Parking explains that if your car is not compliant and you book meet and greet at Heathrow, you are responsible for paying the ULEZ charge to Transport for London on specific days:
- The day you drop off your car.
- The day you are due to collect it, because Maple moves the car that day ready for your return.
- Your actual return day too, if you are delayed.
You do not pay for the days in between, unless you come back earlier or later than booked and the car has to be driven on extra days. Maple does not collect ULEZ payments itself; you pay TfL through its website or app. Check your number plate on the TfL vehicle checker before you book.
The ULEZ Free T5 Park and Ride
For drivers with non compliant vehicles, Maple opened its Express Park and Ride service for Terminal 5. The car park is just off Junction 14 of the M25 and, according to Maple, sits outside the ULEZ charging zone. Express buses run every 10 to 15 minutes and take less than five minutes to reach T5.
Maple describes park and ride in general as its most cost effective way to park at the airport, especially when booked ahead. Its staff help with luggage at the car park and at the terminal, and the transfer buses have free Wi-Fi. On your return you call a dedicated line and the bus is sent to collect you.
How Meet and Greet Works at Heathrow
If your car is compliant, or you simply value the time saved, meet and greet is Maple’s flagship service. You drive to your terminal, where a fully insured, uniformed and DBS checked driver checks the car, takes photographs and drives it to a secure car park three to six miles away. Maple says its Heathrow meeting point is in the short stay car park next to the terminal building, and your confirmation email gives exact instructions.
On the way back, Maple’s flight tracking monitors your arrival so your car can be dispatched as you land, and it says its T5 meeting area is always staffed. Its car parks are fenced, CCTV monitored, patrolled and independently assessed, with disabled facilities and parking spaces.
What You Need Before You Go
- A roadworthy car with valid road tax and a valid MOT. Maple says it cannot drive a car that is not legal or safe, and no refund is given in that case.
- Enough time at drop off for the vehicle check.
- Your terminal postcode for the sat nav: T2 TW6 1EW, T3 TW6 1QG, T4 TW6 3XA, T5 TW6 2GA.
- Maple’s booking line, 03 333 222 333, which it says is answered from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Sunday.
Saving Money: Loyalty, Price Match and Extras
Maple runs a loyalty scheme for customers who book directly rather than through agents. You are asked whether to join during booking, and joining gives 10 percent off your first booking. Further direct bookings unlock higher tiers: Silver, then Gold after five or more direct bookings, and Diamond after at least 20. Maple shows the tier discounts on its site, so check the current rates when you book.
Maple also advertises a Price Match Promise against competitors, and says booking directly guarantees its best prices. If you want to come home to a clean car, valeting can be added at selected airports, from £19.99 for an external Premium Wash to £42.99 for a Platinum Valet. Prices for parking depend on your dates, so use the Maple Parking quote tool to compare both Heathrow options.
How It Compares With Heathrow’s Own Car Parks
Heathrow has its own parking, which Maple’s Heathrow page lists as Short Stay, Long Stay, Business Parking closer to the terminals, and Pod Parking for Terminal 5. Maple’s argument is that even Business Parking still means finding a space and getting to the terminal, while meet and greet removes both steps. Which suits you depends on your budget, how much luggage you have and how long you will be away, so it is worth pricing more than one option for your dates.
Which Option Should You Choose?
If your car is ULEZ compliant and you are travelling with children, plenty of bags or a tight connection, meet and greet removes the car park search and the bus ride entirely. If your car is not compliant, the T5 Park and Ride avoids the ULEZ charge days altogether and is the option Maple positions as the cheapest. Either way, booking directly earns loyalty discounts on later trips. You can enter your dates on the Maple Parking booking page to see both prices side by side.
Compare Heathrow Parking Options
Information was taken from Maple Parking’s website on 2 November 2026 and may change. ULEZ rules are set by Transport for London. This article contains affiliate links, and we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
