Gatwick Airport information
Gatwick, also known as London Gatwick Airport, in is in the south-east of England, approx. 30 miles south of Central London and around 3 miles north of the town of Crawley.
Opening as an aerodrome in the late 1920s, it has been used by commercial travellers since 1933 and has two terminals. By the number of passengers it is currently the second-busiest UK airport and the eight-busiest in Europe. In 2016, 43.1 million passengers passed through the airport.
The airport has been owned and operated by Gatwick Airport Limited since 2009. The airline with the most flights from Gatwick is currently EasyJet, but there are many others, the larger ones include including Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, Norwegian Air Shuttle and Thompson Airways.
How to Get to Gatwick
Gatwick Airport is linked directly to the M23 at Junction 9 and to the A23 London-Brighton road and is just a ten-minute drive from the M25
If you use a sat nav the postcodes are
RH6 0NP for the South Terminal
RH6 0PJ for the North Terminal
To get between the terminals, you just need to take the shuttle service. It runs 24 hours a day, every day, running between the two terminals every few minutes and with a journey time of just two minutes its very quick.
Car Parking Options at Gatwick
There are many options for parking services at Gatwick, both on-airport and off-airport as well as meet and greet parking.
On-Airport Parking at Gatwick Airport
There are several on-airport parking options to choose from the Short Stay Multi-storeys to one of the three Long-stay car parks run by Gatwick and they all have the Park Mark accreditation for safer parking and they all run a free transfer coach from the car park into the terminal.
Long Stay Gatwick Parking
There is Long Stay South car park, not to be confused with Long Stay North car park. Both these car parks are served by a free shuttle bus and are self-park where you keep your keys. There is also The Summer Special Car Park, which currently transfers only to the North Terminal, but you will need to leave your keys at this one.
Short Stay Car Parks Gatwick Airport
There are six Short Stay Multi-storey car parks, but they are at a premium price and are likely to be used for shorter stays.
Off-Airport Parking near Gatwick
Gatwick is well served with approved off-airport park and ride car parks including APH, Purple Parking Gatwick and Cophall Parking. These car parks will require you to leave your car keys. Simply drop your car off and hop on the transfer bus for a quick journey to Gatwick taking approx. 10 minutes.
Meet and Greet at Gatwick Airport
Again, there are quite a few options here. For Meet and Greet parking operators who have been approved not only by the airport, but by trading standards too, you can choose from companies like I Love Meet and Greet and Bubble Meet & Greet who will meet you outside your departure terminal, or ACE Meet and Greet who meet in the adjacent short-term car parks. .
This type of parking can be very helpful if you have mobility issues, as its the nearest you can get to park by the airport terminal building and its also great if you have bulky items such as skis and golf clubs or lots of luggage, young children with pushchairs etc.
Hotels with parking at Gatwick Airport
At Gatwick, you have the luxury of hotels attached by an indoor walkway to your departure terminal. For instance, there is the Hilton Hotel at the South Terminal and the Sofitel Hotel at North terminal. Both these hotels come with parking packages for maximum convenience.
If you are happy to stay a little further out, the rates go down. Why not try the Holiday Inn Gatwick close to North terminal, the traditional style Copthorne London Gatwick hotel built around a 16th century farmhouse just a 10 minute transfer away, or the modern Sandman Signature Hotel also 10 minutes away with their recently refurbished rooms and public areas. The choices don't stop either as there as there are many more and most will be available with a parking package making it the smart choice for those early flights or late returns.
Gatwick Airport Departure Lounge
At both North and South terminals, there is a good choice of cafes and restaurants to suit most tastes, like Yo!, Nando’s, Giraffe, Wagamama and Costa to name but a few. Bars include Wetherspoons and the London Bar located in the South Terminal.
If you like to indulge in some duty-free shopping, as well as the World Duty Free you can find many of your favourite stores such as Michael Kors, Cath Kidston, Fatface, Lacoste, Snow + Rock, Ted Baker, Superdry, just a few of many and of course the must-have newsagents and Beauty/Pharmacy store.
When you arrive at the airport you can enjoy 90 minutes free Wi-Fi and if you want to be online for longer, then high-speed wi-fi is provided at the airport by Boingo Hotspot for a fee.
If you like to have a cigarette before your flight, you may want to note that you can only smoke outside the terminal buildings in the clearly marked designated zones. That means once you've passed through security, there there's no smoking at all, even if for passengers connecting from one international flight to another.
If you need special assistance at Gatwick, they recommend you contact your airline at least 48 hours before you are due to fly to make sure you can book the specific mobility services you need to get on your flight in time. Bear in mind you may need to inform your airline of any mobility items you need to have on the flight with you, especially larger items like wheelchairs or mobility scooters.
Gatwick Airport Lounge
For an escape from the hustle and bustle and a comfortable start to your journey, you can also book an executive lounge. These can be used by any passengers flying out of Gatwick Airport regardless of the airline you are flying with and what class your ticket is.
There are a few lounges to choose from, at both terminals you will find the No:1 Lounge, as well as the more intimate My Lounge and the Club Aspire Lounge, Whilst you are enjoying the peace and comfort, you can enjoy complimentary drinks from the bar including soft drinks, beers, wines and spirits as well as hot beverages and hot and cold snacks from the pantry table.
For an even more luxurious experience why not visit the Clubrooms which offer an adult-only environment and table service with a number of freshly prepared delights to choose from.