<p>Each Heathrow terminal has an official meeting point in the arrivals area: opposite the international arrivals exit at Terminal 2, the ground-floor seating area at Terminal 3, next to WHSmith at Terminal 4, and either the north point opposite Travelex or the south point near Costa Coffee at Terminal 5. If you are collecting someone by car, Park & Ride gives you 29 minutes free, while parking on the terminal forecourt itself is prohibited. Checked 2026.</p>
<h2 id="meeting-points-by-terminal">Meeting points by terminal</h2>
<div class="table-wrap"><table>
<thead><tr><th>Terminal</th><th>Official meeting point</th></tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr><td>Terminal 2</td><td>Opposite the international arrivals exit</td></tr>
<tr><td>Terminal 3</td><td>Seating area on the ground floor of Arrivals</td></tr>
<tr><td>Terminal 4</td><td>Next to WHSmith, ground floor of Arrivals</td></tr>
<tr><td>Terminal 5</td><td>North point opposite Travelex, or south point near Costa Coffee</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table></div>
<p>These are Heathrow's own designated meeting points, set up specifically to make it easier for friends, family or fellow travellers to find each other after someone lands. They are inside the arrivals hall, past security and passport control, so if you are not flying yourself you will need to check with the person you are meeting about how they plan to reach this point, since access for non-passengers varies by terminal and time of day.</p>
<h2 id="picking-someone-up-by-car">Picking someone up by car</h2>
<p>You cannot park or wait on any Heathrow terminal forecourt. Heathrow is explicit that cars left unattended on the forecourts will be removed by the police, and this applies at all five terminals. Passenger pick-up is only permitted from Terminal Parking and Park & Ride car parks.</p>
<div class="table-wrap"><table>
<thead><tr><th>Car park</th><th>First 29 minutes</th><th>30 to 44 minutes</th><th>45 minutes to 2 hours</th></tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr><td>Park & Ride</td><td>Free</td><td>£9.40 (30 min to 1hr 59min band)</td><td>£9.40 continues until 2 hours</td></tr>
<tr><td>Terminal Parking</td><td>£8.00</td><td>£12.50</td><td>£15.50 to £20.00</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table></div>
<p>If you only need a few minutes to collect someone, Park & Ride is free for the first 29 minutes, with a free shuttle bus running every 15 minutes from the terminal doors to the car park. Terminal Parking is more convenient if you want to walk in and meet the passenger yourself, but it charges £8 the moment you take a ticket, even if you are only there for five minutes. Blue Badge holders get 2 hours free at Park & Ride, shown by pressing the intercom and displaying the badge on exit.</p>
<h2 id="terminal-4-is-different-from-june-2026">Terminal 4 is different from June 2026</h2>
<p>From 23 June 2026, Terminal 4's multi-storey car park, which previously covered both Terminal Parking and Meet & Greet, closed as part of a redevelopment of the terminal's forecourt and car park. Terminal 4 pick-ups now use one of two options instead.</p>
<div class="table-wrap"><table>
<thead><tr><th>Option</th><th>Price</th><th>Notes</th></tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr><td>Priority Pick-Up Area</td><td>From £7.00 for up to 10 minutes</td><td>Right outside the terminal; vehicles cannot be left unattended</td></tr>
<tr><td>Park & Ride Zone A</td><td>Free for the first 2 hours</td><td>Heathrow's recommended option for meeting someone inside the terminal</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table></div>
<p>Terminal 4's Park & Ride Zone A giving 2 hours free, rather than the usual 29 minutes elsewhere, makes it the better option if you are going into the terminal to meet someone rather than doing a quick roadside pick-up. The Priority Pick-Up Area suits a fast, no-parking collection, but costs rise quickly: £14 for up to 29 minutes and £25 per hour after that, capped at £200 a day.</p>
<h2 id="if-you-are-arriving-and-being-met">If you are arriving and being met</h2>
<p>Tell whoever is meeting you which terminal you are landing at and confirm the meeting point in advance, since Terminal 5's two points, in particular, are at opposite ends of the arrivals hall. If your party includes someone who cannot easily navigate a long walk, the Terminal 3 seating area and the Terminal 4 WHSmith point are both close to the main arrivals doors, whereas Terminal 5's north and south points involve more walking depending on where you land relative to the building.</p>
<h2 id="taxi-and-black-cab-pickup-is-separate">Taxi and black cab pickup is separate</h2>
<p>None of the above applies if you are being collected by a licensed taxi, black cab or pre-booked private hire; those have their own dedicated ranks and pickup points at each terminal, separate from the Park & Ride and Terminal Parking pickup rules covered here. See our <a href="/articles/heathrow-taxi-pickup-points-by-terminal-t2-t3-t4-t5">taxi pickup points by terminal</a> guide if that is what you need.</p>
<h2 id="frequently-asked-questions">Frequently asked questions</h2>
<p><strong>Where is the meeting point at Heathrow Terminal 5?</strong> There are two: the north point opposite Travelex, and the south point near Costa Coffee, both in the arrivals area.</p>
<p><strong>Can I wait on the forecourt at Heathrow to pick someone up?</strong> No. Heathrow prohibits waiting on terminal forecourts, and unattended vehicles are removed by police. Use Park & Ride or Terminal Parking instead.</p>
<p><strong>Is it free to pick someone up at Heathrow?</strong> Park & Ride is free for the first 29 minutes at every terminal except Terminal 4, where Zone A gives 2 hours free. Terminal Parking charges from the moment you take a ticket.</p>
<p><strong>What changed at Terminal 4 in 2026?</strong> The multi-storey car park used for Terminal and Meet & Greet Parking closed on 23 June 2026 for a redevelopment. Pick-ups now use either the paid Priority Pick-Up Area or the free-for-2-hours Park & Ride Zone A.</p>
<p><strong>Do Blue Badge holders get free pick-up parking at Heathrow?</strong> Yes, 2 hours free at Park & Ride car parks, shown via the intercom and Blue Badge on exit.</p>
<p><strong>Is the meeting point the same as the taxi pickup point?</strong> No. Meeting points are inside the arrivals hall for people without a car. Taxi and private hire pickups happen at separate, dedicated points outside.</p>