Gatwick Airport Guide
All you need to know about Gatwick airport
From getting to Gatwick airport to baggage and security arrangements, Holiday Extras has everything you need to know about Gatwick airport right here all in one place. Be wise and swot up before you go.
Facilities at Gatwick - great shopping, food and drink
The official Gatwick airport advice is to arrive at least two hours before your flight to allow plenty of time to check-in and pass security. Once you're airside you'll find plenty to do! Take a look at the main facilities and their location at each of the terminals below:
Want to escape the crowded terminal and unwind with free drinks and snacks for up to three hours before you fly? Check out our Gatwick airport lounges. Prices start from just £14.95 per person.
Can you sleep in Gatwick airport?
Gatwick airport has some reasonable places to sleep overnight if needed and the best places can be found in the landside areas of both terminals. While there aren't any dedicated sleeping areas, the South and North terminals have plenty of soft armchairs and seating. Airside there are a few padded benches without armrests where you can stretch out. Gatwick is bright, noisy and can get cold, so our top tip would be to come equipped with a sleep mask, some earplugs (or noise-cancelling earphones), and some extra layers to attempt some sleep!
Handy info
On this page we mention 'landside' and 'airside'. The landside area, open to the public, is the area before security and includes the check-in desks. The airside area, only accessible to passengers and staff, is the area after security and includes everything from the runways and taxiways to the duty free shops and lounges.
If you're looking for a much more comfortable (and safer) night's sleep, there are 2 hotels located inside Gatwick airport at the South Terminal before security: Bloc hotel and Yotel. There are also 5 on-site hotels located within walking distance of Gatwick : the Sofitel, Hilton, Hampton by Hilton, Premier Inn North and Courtyard by Marriott.
| On-site Gatwick Hotels | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gatwick Hotel | Location | Transfer Time | Avg price* |
| Bloc Gatwick | Inside the South Terminal | 0 min walk | £128 |
| YOTELAIR Gatwick | Inside the South Terminal | 0 min walk | £132 |
| Hilton Gatwick | South Terminal | 3 min walk | £66.40 |
| Courtyard by Marriott Gatwick | South Terminal | 10 min walk 3 min shuttle |
£55.00 |
| Hampton by Hilton Gatwick | North Terminal | 2 min walk | £98.10 |
| Sofitel Gatwick | North Terminal | 3 min walk | £80.00 |
| Premier Inn North Gatwick | North Terminal | 2 min walk | £101.50 |
*Prices quoted here are correct at the time of writing but are always subject to change according to availability on the dates you require and price fluctuations throughout the year. The Bloc hotel and Yotelair cannot be booked in advance with Holiday Extras.
For lots more options, take a look at our Gatwick airport hotels page. We sell the very best and closest hotels and have the option to add airport parking in one of our money-saving Gatwick hotels with parking deals.
Getting to Gatwick airport
Gatwick airport is easy to get to from London and the south-east, being just 10 miles south of the M25 (junction 7). The most direct route from London is via the A23 and M23 (junction 9a), which takes about an hour depending on traffic. We've lots of great Gatwick parking options. Pre-book and you could save up to 60% on the gate rate.
Gatwick airport by coach and rail
Another popular option with our customers are our Gatwick hotels with coach packages. National Express coaches will take to Gatwick airport and will drive you back home after your holiday. We can also organise rail travel to Gatwick airport, direct to the South terminal. There's a free bus service available to take you from the airport station to the North terminal.
Gatwick luggage information
- Liquids are allowed in containers of up to 100ml
- Pushchairs and wheelchairs are allowed but must be screened
- Laptops are now allowed as hand luggage
- Some airlines only except one item of hand luggage
- Dimensions no larger than: H:56cm, W:45cm, D:25cm
- Liquids must be carried in a small,clear re-sealable bag not bigger than 20x20cm
For more information about baggage restrictions including hand luggage allowance and liquid containers, see our Gatwick baggage and security page.