London Gatwick Airport is a lively and crowded airport that can be difficult to get around. That’s why we are providing this guide to Gatwick Airport.
We realise that every time travellers book a flight, we instinctively look online for details about the airport. At Airport Transfers UK we felt that it would be helpful to create some Airport Guides to share our personal experiences, offer tips, and provide insights on the types of restaurants, cafes, bars, and shops you can find there. What better place to begin than with a guide to London Gatwick Airport?
Where is Gatwick Airport?
Situated 30 minutes from London, Gatwick Airport serves as a centre for international flights worldwide. While it primarily caters to European destinations, Gatwick has expanded its services to include more flights to America and Asia in recent years, often providing a more affordable option compared to Heathrow.
Gatwick is perhaps the most convenient and fastest option for reaching London, as a direct train journey takes between 30 to 45 minutes. Although London Heathrow is another option, it takes about an hour or more to reach central London by train, so I would suggest Gatwick.
Getting to Gatwick Airport
Reaching Gatwick is quite easy from various locations in London and southern England. The airport offers direct train services to London Victoria, Farringdon Station, St Pancras International, and Luton Airport. It also provides direct train services to coastal locations such as Brighton and Eastbourne, along with well-known tourist attractions like Chichester and Portsmouth. If you’re in London, you can take a train to London Victoria and then use the underground to reach the station closest to your hotel. I utilize the Transport for London website to find the quickest and most affordable directions between locations. Easy Bus provides coach services to and from London, with prices starting at just £2.00 GBP.
If you’re traveling to Edinburgh, consider taking the Caledonian Sleeper train for a memorable experience!
Layout of Gatwick Airport
Gatwick consists of two terminals (North and South), and airlines operate from both, which can be somewhat confusing! Fortunately, there is a brief overground train connection that can transport you between the terminals in just a few minutes, but be sure to verify your terminal on your ticket.
Parking at Gatwick Airport
Gatwick airport offers several parking choices for travellers. There is a short stay car park adjacent to the airport for individuals picking up relatives and friends, while a long stay car park is situated farther away for those who wish to leave their vehicle in close proximity. At the long stay car park at Gatwick, there are shuttle buses offered, but they may take a while, so it’s advisable to arrive ahead of time.
You might want to avoid the inconvenience of packing and taking the bus to the terminal by opting for a meet and greet service. Premier Parking Gatwick lets you drive to the nearest terminal point, unload your bags, and then a staff member will park your car at a secure nearby lot for the duration of your journey.
Staying near Gatwick Airport
You can find Yotel Air within the South Terminal, a distinctive hotel featuring cabins equipped with private bathrooms, workstations, Monsoon showers, complimentary Wi-Fi, and free tea and coffee available around the clock. Whether you need a stay for a night or just a few hours, it’s an ideal choice for a layover!
Located just a brief stroll from the North Terminal is the Hampton By Hilton hotel, where I often attended meetings and social events during my time with Swissport. The hotel features more spacious and upscale accommodations.
For only £59.00 GBP per night, the BLOC hotel is situated in the South Terminal and provides runway views. It’s the perfect option for those with early flights and boasts advanced technology features such as adjustable lighting, remote-controlled blinds, and automated check-in/check-out kiosks. You can also cut costs at the airport’s bars and restaurants by taking advantage of the BLOC guest deals.
In just a 10-minute drive, you’ll discover a Travelodge, Premier Inn, Ibis (which is another of my previous employers), and Holiday Inn, all of which offer taxi services to the airport for less than £10. This option is more suitable for families traveling together.
Airlines and Terminals at Gatwick
Gatwick Airport hosts a large number of airlines, but here are the primary ones along with their respective terminals. For confirmation, you can visit the airport’s website and refer to the “which terminal?” page.
- Air Transat – Southern Terminal
- British Airways – North Terminal
- EasyJet primarily operates from the North Terminal, with a few flights departing from the South Terminal.
- Emirates North Terminal
- Ryanair – North Terminal
- Virgin Atlantic – South Terminal
Check in and Security
When you reach each terminal, you’ll see check-in areas marked with letters and clearly displayed signs throughout the terminal. Check the screens for your flight information, which will indicate the check-in area you should go to. In general, large companies prominently display their logos, so if you’re uncertain, simply look for the name of the airline you’re traveling with.
When to arrive
- For long-haul flights, check-in begins four hours prior to your departure.
- European flights: Check-in begins 3 hours prior to your departure.
- Flights to and from the UK and Ireland: Check-in starts 2 hours prior to your departure.
- Certain airlines allow you to check in online the day before your flight or utilise self-service check-in kiosks.
Shopping at Gatwick
What I enjoy most about airports is casually exploring the shops. Both terminals feature a variety of different stores, including spacious duty-free sections. These are merely a few stores that I enjoy visiting before I travel.
Located in both terminals:
Accessorize, Dixons Travel, Cath Kidston, Boots, Fat Face, JD Sports, Sunglass Hut, Ray-Ban, Marks & Spencer, WH Smith.
Restaurants in London Gatwick Airport
Many airport restaurants start serving at approximately 5am, which is perfect for early morning flights. I really dislike getting to the airport around 6am and discovering that everything is closed! That said, here are my favourite recommendations:
Wetherspoons – This is definitely one of our top picks; we can’t imagine a holiday without stopping by Wetherspoons before boarding a flight, regardless of the hour. Wetherspoons is a pub chain located in the UK, and there are three bars across the two terminals. They offer a wide variety of food and beverages at affordable prices.
Both terminals feature well-known chain cafes, including Costa, Caffe Nero, EAT, Starbucks, and Pret.
Garfunkel’s is an American-style eatery that features a diverse selection of international dishes at reasonable prices. It’s a great option for families, with a menu that includes a wide range of meals and some delightful dessert options.
Nando’s is in the South Terminal of Gatwick Airport. We apologise if you’re not from the UK, but Nando’s is a well-known chain specialising in Peri-Peri chicken, serving up options like chicken wraps, burgers, salads, or simply chicken on a plate.
Yo! Sushi, located in the South Terminal, provides a Japanese dining experience where you can choose your meals directly from a conveyor belt. Plates may be expensive, but they offer discounts for students. Additionally, they have a Yo! option available. You can choose from the Go range if you’d like to grab food for your flight.
Wagamama, situated in both terminals, provides a variety of Asian cuisine for dining in or to-go.
Armadillo offers Santa Fe-inspired cuisine, featuring fresh and flavourful Quesadillas and Burgers. While it is pricier than Garfunkel’s and Wetherspoons, it boasts superior ingredients and a more creative menu.
Gatwick Airport Tips
- The train station is situated in the South Terminal, so if you arrive at the North Terminal, take the tram over to the South Terminal.
- Traveling with children? – Gatwick prides itself on being the first Family Friendly accredited airport and lives up to the name with kids zones, dedicated family security lanes, children menus across several restaurants, complimentary amenities such as buggies and pushchairs as well as a pre-order option for baby milk so you can feed once through security.
- Online check-in is now provided by most airlines, allowing you to avoid long queues, particularly for morning flights. By checking in online, you can use the quick bag drop line and proceed directly to security. During my time at Gatwick, it became a regular occurrence for the computer systems to fail during the morning shift, resulting in extremely long queues!
- Traffic: The M25 and M23 can get congested with vehicles swiftly during the summer season. Utilize an app like RAC Traffic to monitor traffic reports and modify your route as needed. Having lived right by the M23, I can say that any of the exits for Crawley will get you to Gatwick in only a few additional minutes, and they’re worth using when traffic is congested.
- Boarding at UK airports typically starts approximately 45 minutes prior to your flight’s scheduled departure.
- Security: There are obvious indications regarding what items are permitted in your hand luggage. While regulations may vary, typically, liquids with a volume of 100ml or less are allowed in hand luggage. Any liquids exceeding 100ml, as well as sharp objects, must be placed in your checked baggage.
- Gatwick Airport provides 45 minutes of complimentary WiFi, with the option to buy more time afterwards.
- There were numerous individuals who missed their flights because they either said inappropriate things or consumed too much alcohol at the bar. London Gatwick, similar to other major city airports, prohibits individuals from flying if there is any potential risk, no matter how minor.
- Affordable Dining – If you’re trying to save money, visit Marks and Spencer (located in both terminals). While the sandwiches are pricier than what you’d find at a regular UK supermarket, they remain the most economical choice for dining at the airport, and the food quality is excellent.
- Lounges are Located in both terminals, the No.1 Lounge provides complimentary hot and cold meals, unlimited free WiFi, guest computers, a library space, and a wide selection of drinks, all for £28.00 GBP per adult. In the North terminal, there is also My Lounge, which is a more casual, loft-style area available for £20 per adult and features a games room as well as a self-service bar. For around £40 per adult, you can access the Clubrooms located in both terminals, which provide complimentary champagne, personalised table service, and the same facilities as the No.1 Lounge, but in a more up market atmosphere.
- Staying overnight? If you have a lengthy layover or decide to arrive at Gatwick the night before an early flight but can’t afford a hotel, you’re in luck! Go to the South Terminal and take the escalator or elevator to the second level (look for the security signs). There, you’ll discover a cosy lounge area featuring some reclining seats and more comfortable chairs compared to the North Terminal. The South Terminal features various cafes and stores that stay open all night, ensuring you won’t go hungry and have numerous choices available.
- Planning to backpack in London? Exploring the city on a budget can be tough, so be sure to check out this comprehensive guide to backpacking in London. It covers accommodations, activities, and dining options that will help you save money while enjoying your trip.
- The train station can be found in the South Terminal, so if you arrive at the North Terminal, take the tram to get to the South Terminal.
- Online check-in is now available with most airlines, making it a better option than waiting in long lines, particularly for morning flights. By checking in online, you can enjoy a quicker bag drop process and proceed directly to security. During my time at Gatwick, it became common for the computer systems to fail in the middle of the morning shift each week, resulting in excessively long lines!
- Traffic: The M25 and M23 can become congested with vehicles rapidly in the summer. Utilize an app like RAC Traffic to monitor traffic conditions and modify your route as needed. Having lived right by the M23, I can attest that any of the Crawley exits will get you to Gatwick in only a few more minutes, especially if there is heavy traffic.
- Boarding typically starts approximately 45 minutes prior to your flight at most airports in the UK.
- Security: There are evident guidelines regarding what items are permitted and prohibited in your hand luggage. While the regulations may vary, typically, liquids that are 100ml or less are allowed in your hand carry. Liquids exceeding 100ml and any sharp objects must be placed in your checked baggage.
- Gatwick Airport provides 45 minutes of complimentary WiFi, with the option to buy more time if needed.
Photo by holakarlos on Unsplash