London Gatwick Airport (LGW) is a major international airport situated near Crawley, West Sussex, approximately 30 miles south of Central London.
It is the second-busiest airport in the United Kingdom, following Heathrow (LHR), and ahead of the other two major airports in London: Stansted (STN) and Luton (LTN).
Gatwick served over 43 million passengers in 2024, ranking it among the top ten busiest airports in Europe. LGW offers an extensive network of domestic and international flights to five of the world’s continents.
Major Airlines - British Airways, easyJet, TUI Airways, Wizz Air UK
Gatwick is a hub for British Airways, the UK’s flag carrier. It alone flies to over 40 airports worldwide and over 30 holiday destinations depending on the season.
The airport is an operating base for several other airlines, including:
easyJet: The biggest British low-cost carrier maintains its largest operating base at Gatwick, which offers extensive coverage of over 60 destinations across Europe. Almost 50% of all passengers at Gatwick fly with easyJet.
Norse Atlantic UK: A long-haul low-cost airline with services connecting Gatwick to various transatlantic destinations.
TUI Airways: Offers both scheduled and charter flights to holiday destinations worldwide.
Vueling: A low-cost Spanish airline that operates numerous flights to Spain and Italy.
Wizz Air UK: Connects Gatwick to airports both big and small predominantly in Eastern Europe.
Full-service international airlines with scheduled flights to and from London-Gatwick include Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and China Eastern Airlines.
There are over 50 airlines with regular scheduled flights at Gatwick Airport.
Terminal Layout and Gates of LGW
Gatwick Airport has two passenger terminals - North and South. Despite the names, both are located north of the runways and only ¾ miles from each other.
The two terminals are connected via the Gatwick Airport Shuttle Transit: an elevated automated people mover that departs from each side every 5 minutes and takes 2.5 minutes to reach the other terminals.
North Terminal: The newer terminal and the one that easyJet uses. It has a total of 31 gates equipped with jet bridges. Terminal N was last expanded in 2011 to increase its capacity and number of facilities.
South Terminal: The older terminal and predominantly used by British Airways and Vueling. It offers 32 gates with jet bridges and seven remote gates.
Gatwick is capable of handling Airbus A380. Most of the gates have jetbridges.
Connecting Flights and Transit
Gatwick Airport is easy to navigate and pretty efficient when it comes to connecting flights.
As a general rule, allow at least 1 hour for transit flights in the same terminal, or at least 1.5 hours if your two flights use different terminals. Individual airlines may have minimum connection times.
Another thing to note is that the two terminals of Gatwick Airport are not connected landside. If you have flights arriving and departing from different terminals, you have to fulfill the UK’s visa and entry requirements as you will have to officially enter the country to transit.
The same applies to transits on separately booked tickets, i.e. not the same PNR code. This is what’s known as a self-transit and you will be responsible for ensuring adequate time between flights and all entry and security procedures.
However, most transits include two flights booked together under the same PNR and use the same terminal. In this case, you will remain in the airside area, your luggage will be checked through to your final destination and you will not need to enter the UK or clear Immigration & Security.
Wi-Fi at London-Gatwick Airport
London Gatwick offers free, unlimited, 50mbps Wi-Fi throughout both terminals. To connect, select “Free Gatwick Wi-Fi Vinci Airports” from the list of Wi-Fi networks and follow the on-screen prompts to enter your email address.
If you’d like an even faster connection, you can pay to use the Superfast 100mbps Wi-Fi at 5 GBP per 24 hours. To access this, sign up for myGatwick and look for the link to pay for premium Wi-Fi access.
Dining Options at Gatwick Airport
Both terminals house a wide array of dining establishments including coffee shops, simple fast food kiosks, bars/pubs, and classier sit-down restaurants.
You will have a lot more options after Security, in the airside zone. However, note that very few establishments remain open after 21:00 and before 3:00.
Here are some of the dining options you can choose from at London-Gatwick Airport:
In the North Terminal:
The Breakfast Club: From to-go breakfasts and coffee to pints and cocktails in a casual sit-down atmosphere. Located airside.
Brewdog: An airport bar like no other. Serves craft beer, burgers, wings, and other delicious options.
Pure.: Delicious and healthy food. Available to either sit down or take away. Find it after Security.
Sussex House: An eatery with local flavours located before Security.
There are also a few different coffee houses and snacks/desserts stores spread around the North Terminal.
In the South Terminal:
Big Smoke Taphouse and Kitchen: Serves fresh beers, cocktails, and an all-day menu to match. Located after Security.
Caviar House & Prunier: A luxurious fine dining experience with a seafood bar. After Security.
ITSU: A budget-friendly restaurant serving Asian meals rich in vitamins, proteins, and other healthy nutrients.
Nando’s: Everyone’s favorite Peri-Peri grilled chicken.
Giraffe: A funky restaurant with a menu from around the world and the music to match. Located before Security.
There are of course various coffee shops like Caffe Nero and Starbucks and pastry shops like Greggs too.
Lounges at Gatwick Airport
Getting the VIP treatment is easy at one of Gatwick Airport’s numerous lounges. Access to most is open to anyone wishing to pay the entrance fee, though there are a few airline-specific lounges too.
For example, British Airways operates two lounges in the South Terminal (the BA First Lounge and the British Airways Gatwick South Lounge) that both offer complimentary food and beverages, Wi-Fi, and comfortable seating areas.
In terms of independent lounges, you can choose between:
No1 Lounges: Find one in each terminal. They offer a fully tended bar, quiet areas (plus a choice of designer seating areas), and panoramic views of the runway. The entrance fee is 38 GBP per adult.
My Lounge: Also one lounge in each terminal. They provide hot and cold snacks, a self-service bar, and a relaxed atmosphere overlooking the runway. The lounge in the South Terminal also has an outdoor terrace. Prices start at 34 GBP per adult.
Plaza Premium Lounge: The best lounge for those with kids due to the fun Kids Zone. The exclusive buffet menu will entertain the adults. It’s located in the North Terminal and the entrance fee is 40 GBP.
Plaza Express: Located in the North Terminal, this lounge is perfect for anyone wishing to relax in a spacious welcoming lobby. With a kids zone, it also makes a great choice for families. It’s the cheapest lounge at 25 GBP per adult.
Clubrooms: One lounge in both the North and South terminals. The hosted table service and a la carte menu set it apart from the rest of the lounges. There is also a quiet business zone for those who need the perfect place to work before a flight. The price is to match - 44 GBP per adult.
Transportation from and to Gatwick Airport
Gatwick Airport is about 30 miles south of the center of London and it will take you about an hour to drive between the two. Take the A23/M23 and follow the signs.
The airport also provides multiple options for public transport. Not all connections go through London and you can get to destinations in South England directly from Gatwick Airport. It’s often considered to be the best-connected airport in the UK.
Just trains alone can get you pretty much anywhere in the region:
The Gatwick Express: offers a direct, non-stop service to London Victoria Station, with a journey time of about 30 minutes. Services depart twice per hour. Save 10% off the fare by booking online on the Gatwick Express website.
Southern Lines: Travel directly from Gatwick to Clapham Junction, Brighton, Horsham, Southampton, Eastbourne, Portsmouth, and many smaller regional stations.
Thameslink: Runs from Central London to Brighton in the south stopping at Gatwick Airport. Additionally, you can use this service to get to the Luton Airport Parkway which is just 4 minutes from Luton’s terminals via the DART airport rail.
Great Western Railway: Trains between London Gatwick and Reading run every half an hour via Redhill, Reigate, and Guildford.
But that’s not all.
Multiple buses and coaches create a comprehensive network of over 100 cities and towns. Name a place in Southern England and you can reach it by bus or coach from Gatwick Airport. Name a place anywhere in the UK and you can get there with a maximum of just 1 connection.
For private transport, you can either get a taxi, a rideshare, or a car rental:
Taxis: The official taxi company at Gatwick is Airport Cars Gatwick. It operates a fleet of taxis from both terminals offering a door-to-door service. Rides are metered and fares depend on distance as well as time of day. As an approximation, a trip to downtown London may cost anywhere from 60 to 110 GBP.
Rideshare options: Uber operates at LGW airport with designated pick-up locations at both terminals. Use the app to book a ride and follow the instructions to meet your driver.
Car Rentals: Gatwick’s official partnership is with Rental Cars but there are more than 15 other companies providing car hire services at the airport. In the South Terminal, their desks are located in the lower forecourt on Level 0 while in the North Terminal the car rental companies are in the Arrivals Hall, opposite Boots.
If you’d like a private transfer from LGW, check your options here.
Parking at Gatwick Airport
Gatwick Airport provides designated pick-up and drop-off areas with a minimum charge of 6 GBP for the first 10 minutes and an additional 1 GBP per minute. The maximum stay is 30 minutes which would cost 26 GBP in total.
At the North Terminal, the drop-off area is on the lower level between the Sofitel and the multi-story car park. At the South Terminal, it is located on the lower level.
If you’d like more time to say goodbye or just park for longer, make use of the Short-Term Parking. These are Car Parks 5 and 6 near the North Terminal and Car Parks 1, 2, and 3 near the South Terminal. These car parks cost 6 GBP for the first 30 minutes (10 GBP for the first hour) with a daily cap of 60 GBP.
For parking longer than 6 hours, you should opt for one of the Long-Term Car Park. It is a bit further from the terminals but also offers a complimentary shuttle bus that takes around 10 minutes to reach them. The first day costs 38 GBP with each additional day set at 32 GBP.
Last but not least, the Premium Parking option is best if you need express access to the terminal building. It is available in the short-term car parks at both terminals. Valet parking is available upon request.
Hotels near Gatwick Airport
Gatwick Airport houses more than a few hotels both inside the terminals and in very close proximity to them.
If you want to stay in an on-site hotel inside the South Terminal, the two options are:
Bloc: A 3-star airport hotel with rooms offering runway views and good noise insulation.
Yotel: Cabin-style accommodation just a few minutes from the check-in area. The standard cabins are singles whereas the premium have a double bed inside. The minimum stay is 4 hours.
While the North Terminal doesn’t have hotels inside it, there are 3 hotels right outside the building:
Hampton by Hilton: A classic business hotel with a fitness center just 2 minutes from the terminal via a covered walkway.
Premier Inn: With express check-in desks and located just 5 minutes from the terminal, this hotel guarantees you’ll be inside a room as fast as possible after you land.
Sofitel: Provides slightly more luxurious rooms and extensive meeting spaces. It’s just 5 minutes from the terminal under a covered walkway.
Because of how close the two terminals are to each other, you can comfortably book a room near one of them but get to the other in under 10 minutes. The monorail link operates 24/7, so the time of your flight shouldn’t matter too much either.
There are a few more hotels near Gatwick Airport not listed above. See more airport hotels here.
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