London is a great place to travel. The city has lots of amazing places, monuments, countryside, holiday spots, etc.
When you are traveling to and from London Gatwick Airport, it is a good idea to know about the airport and the amenities it offers. Whether it’s your holiday or a business trip, having general information and tips, especially when traveling alone or with a companion, can actually save you from experiencing troubled moments.
Our airport guide gives you all the essential insights that you, as a traveler, can make use of while journeying across places in any part of the globe.
Brief Overview of London Gatwick Airport
About a few kilometers from central London lies the busiest airport, the London Gatwick International Airport. The airport is located near Crawley in West Sussex in south London, England.
It is operated 24 hours throughout the year. It is a prominent airport that services various international airlines that transport passengers to and from other parts of the world.
IATA: LGW
Address:
Horley,
Gatwick RH6 0NP,
United Kingdom
Postcode: RH6 0RN (for North Terminal) and RH6 0LL (for South Terminal)
Contact: +44 1293 568153
Website: https://www.gatwickairport.com
What you will notice at Gatwick Airport is that there is no announcement of the arrival and departure of flights. Strangely, the airport operates silently.
However, the information on flights arriving and departing and their time, etc. are displayed on screens. Fret not. There are personnel and staff who are available to help you around if you need help boarding your flight at this busy airport.
Airport Terminals
The London Gatwick Airport has two main terminals, namely the North Terminal and South Terminal.
Parking Facilities at Gatwick Airport
At Gatwick Airport, travelers can park their vehicles for short-term as well as long-term stays at affordable rates but as it is the busiest airport, travelers have to book their parking space in advance. Travelers can book their space through the website of Gatwick Airport where they have to put their entry and exit times with parking dates. We’ll discuss here all the Parking Lots which are available at Gatwick Airport.
Short-stay parking: It is one of the best options for travelers who are going to travel for a short vacation. They can park their vehicles in this parking lot and can walk towards the terminal easily because it is located in the shortest proximity to the terminal. All the parking Lots are equipped with smart technologies and pre-installed cameras. After reaching the parking slot you will get a barrier that pulls up once your car’s number plate will be scanned. After that, you can take your ticket and can go to park your car in a bay.
Long-stay parking: This type of parking is basically used by travelers who want to park their car for long stays. Where travelers have to pay at lesser rates in comparison to short-stays. Once you park your car there you have to go for the free bus shuttle service which takes you to the terminals within 10 minutes. The long-stay parking lot is the most economical for passengers.
North terminal parking options: If you are going to Gatwick Airport’s north terminal then you have many options to park your car according to your convenience and budget. From the north terminal, premium short-stay parking is the most convenient parking lot which is only 2 minute walk. Long-stay parking is also available on the airport campus but a short bus ride away from the North terminal.
South terminal parking options: Passengers who are going to the south terminal of Gatwick Airport have the options of short-stay parking as well as long-stay parking. However, all the parking lots are located just some distance away from the south terminal whereas the short-stay is just 5 minutes away and the long-stay terminal is just 12 minutes away by bus ride from the south terminal.
Flights in Service
Being a busy airport also makes us think about how much air traffic London Gatwick Airport has to deal with each day. There are several airlines that take off and touch down at Gatwick Airport, day and night.
A few airlines that are serviced at London Gatwick International Airport include:
Aegean Airlines, Aer Lingus, Aeroflot, Air Arabia, Air Baltic, Air China, Air Europa, Air Malta, Air Transat, Aurigny, Austrian Airlines, Azores Airlines, Belavia, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, China Eastern, Croatia Airlines, EasyJet, Emirates, Enter Air, Finnair, Georgian Airways, Iberia Express, Icelandair,
Iraqi Airways, Jazeera, Level, Montenegro Airlines, Norwegian, Pegasus Airlines, Qatar Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Rwandair, Ryanair, Swiss, TAP Portugal, Titan Airways, Travel Smart Wings, TUIfly, Tunisair, Turkish Airlines, Uzbekistan Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Vueling, WestJet, and Wizz Air.
Facilities and Services Available at London Gatwick Airport
The London Gatwick Airport provides amenities to travelers.
Information Desk
You can visit the information desk at Gatwick Airport to get assistance with your flight. The staff can help out with your flights, lounges, etc. These information desks are located at South Terminal (Opposite Zones J and K) and North Terminal (atrium opposite Zone D).
Wi-Fi
You can connect your smartphone (or tablet and laptop) to free Wi-Fi at Gatwick Airport. The normal (free) wireless internet connection will give you a speed of up to 50 Mbps.
However, they also offer you a faster wireless internet connection of speed up to 100 Mbps, that’s twice the normal speed, for which you are required to create a “my Gatwick” account to avail of this benefit.
Additionally, there are several self-service Surfbox internet stations at the airport. All Surfbox kiosks have mobile charging facilities, while the landside Surfbox kiosks also have printing facilities. Prices are displayed, and payment is accepted via credit card or coin.
Free charging points can be found at the airside and landside throughout the airport. If you prefer a hands-free method of charging your mobile phone, there are ChargeBox kiosks located in the Departures lounges in both North and South Terminals, ChargeBox kiosks consist of a group of small lockers equipped with charging leads that are compatible with most phones.
Phones take about 30-90 minutes to fully charge. You simply need to plug in your phone, lock it up and take the key with you while you shop or dine at the airport. The cost is £1.50 ($1.86) for 30 minutes.
Baggage
The London Gatwick Airport provides premium services for the storage and handling of baggage.
Baggage Trolleys:
If you need help with your luggage, baggage trolleys are available. However, to use baggage trolleys, you need to deposit £1 ($1.24) which is refunded to you upon returning the baggage trolley.
Luggage Storage & Lockers:
Excess Baggage Company provides short and long-term left baggage storage in both terminals at the following rates: £6 ($7.46) per bag/item for up to 3 hours, £11 ($13.67) per bag/item for 3 hours up to your first 24 hours, then £7.50 ($9.32) per bag/item for your second 24-hour period.
After 72 hours, the charge is £5 ($6.21) per bag/item per 24-hour period. Luggage shipping, luggage wrapping, courier, tourist information, and other services are also available at the airport. You can find these at North Terminal landside, Arrivals (Hours: 5 AM – 10 PM), South Terminal, landside, Arrivals (Hours: Open 24 hours).
Luggage Wrapping:
Available at Excess Baggage Company for a fee.
Lounges
There are premium lounges available at both the North and South Terminals. Travelers can wait or relax in these lounges, while also availing of various services these lounges have to offer.
No1 Lounge
No1 Lounge is London Gatwick Airport’s premium lounge found at the North and South Terminals. A fee of £32 ($40) is charged for accessing the lounge at the airport. But, that’s not all. The lounge offers complimentary drinks, snacks, hot and cold food, newspapers, and magazines for that price. There is also a bar and library if you need one.
My Lounge:
My Lounge is another premium lounge available at both terminals. This lounge charges £24 ($30) and provides self-serviced drinks, snacks, games, and complimentary Wi-Fi.
In addition to the availability of premium lounges, there are premium club rooms as well, available at both Terminals.
Clubroom:
The clubroom is a nice place to retreat yourself before jetting off on your journey. Access to the Clubroom costs £38 ($47). This premium facility includes dining, wine, cocktails, and hosted table service.
Club Aspire:
Club Aspire is another luxury club room that provides complimentary food and drink and dedicated business and rest zones. This facility costs £21 ($26). On the other hand, the same Club Aspire lounge in the South Terminal will cost you £27 ($33) with an added service of Delay Cover. It means that if your flight is delayed, you can wait longer in this lounge.
They also offer a 20 percent discount on booking the lounge online.
Regus Express Business Lounge:
This business lounge is located at South Terminal. It is a fully equipped lounge, and meeting room and provides Wi-Fi, free tea and coffee, and showers. The lounge has 11 meeting rooms for up to 12 delegates. These meeting/conference rooms can be booked by the hour and online.
Shops, Cafes, and Restaurants
The Gatwick Airport offers four World Duty-Free shops, three of which function 24 hours a day. These are located at North Terminal Departures (Airside) and Arrivals and at South Terminal Departures (Airside). A wide range of retail stores can also be found that are open 24 hours.
These retail stores include Boots Drugstore located at North Terminal (Arrivals) and South Terminal (Arrivals), London News Company located at South Terminal (Landside), and WHSmith located at South Terminal (Landside) and North Terminal (Arrivals).
Food and Drinks:
Food concessions at Gatwick Airport are open 24 hours. Costa is located at both North and South Terminals (Arrivals), Jamie’s Coffee (Landside), Marks & Spencer Simply Foods (Landside), Pret a Manger (Departures and Airside), Starbucks (Airside), The Nicholas Culpeper Pub & Dining (Landside) and The Beehive (Landside, kitchen solely open 4:00 AM – 10:30 PM).
Baby Food:
Boots Drugstore offers a pre-order service for baby milk. The store is located at both the Airside and Landside sections. Simply place your order 5-6 days before your travel, and select post-security, freeing up space in your hand baggage for other essentials. Parents traveling with babies can even warm up child bottles at Pret a Manger restaurant, which is located at Airside in both terminals.
Amenities for Families with Children
Baby Care Facilities:
There are designated rooms (each marked with a baby care symbol) for the care and feeding of babies that are accessible in the check-in area, on the way to the gates, in the transfer area, and after passport control in Arrivals. Diaper change folding tables are also available in men’s and women’s restrooms at the airport.
Children’s Play Area:
When you want to make certain your children burn off all their energy before their flight, take them to one of the children’s play areas. The Kid’s Zones at the airport are equipped with toys and TVs for watching cartoons and other kids’ shows. These are located at North Terminal (Airside and Departures) and South Terminal (Airside and Departures).
Family Services:
This includes early check-in and bag drop, designated family-friendly parking bays, and special “Family Lanes” at security are some of Gatwick Airport’s offerings to assist families in having a smooth airport experience.
Strollers:
Strollers are available at the airport to make getting around the airport with your little ones a lot easier. Strollers are available free of cost, but require a £1 ($1.24) credit which is refunded after you return the strollers back to collection points in Baggage Reclaim.
Hotels
There are a few hotels located in and around the terminals of Gatwick Airport. You can also find more hotels with parking that are not far from the airport. This can save you plenty of time, especially if you need to catch your flight on time. The hotels in and around Gatwick Airport are serviced by both businesspersons and regular travelers.
Bloc Hotels:
Bloc Hotels is located at the South Terminal from the Departure lounge. It is mainly a short-stay hotel that also provides showers, and Wi-Fi and has its walls soundproof. A great feature of this short-stay hotel is that it lets you use your smartphone device to control the room temperature, adjust the lights, blackout blinds, and even control the HD TV in your room.
There’s no need to download any app or install a software program. They send you a unique, secure link for the Smart Room Control in your welcome e-mail, prior to your arrival.
Hampton By Hilton:
Hampton is just a few minutes from Gatwick Airport’s North Terminal check-in desks. The hotel has air-conditioned guest rooms with many amenities that include free Wi-Fi, a meeting room for up to 16 people equipped with the latest A/V technology, LCD TV, bathrooms, a walk-in power shower, a 24-hour fitness center, a 24-hour snack area, and complimentary breakfast.
YOTELAIR:
YOTELAIR is located in the Arrivals hall of the South Terminal (before security), close to the free shuttle connecting South Terminal to North Terminal. This hotel is ideal for travelers who want to have a private space to rest or work.
Whether you are arriving in Gatwick on a late flight or departing early in the morning, or just choose a few hours rest all through the day, the hotel provides cabins that are bookable at any time of the day, from a minimum 4 hours stay. The cabins are small and each cabin has a separate private bathroom with a shower, free Wi-Fi, free tea, and premium coffee from mission control (a type of kitchen).
Transportation service at Gatwick International Airport
Taxi
London Gatwick International Airport provides taxi services to passengers to help them get to and from the hotel or airport. Both the North and South Terminals have kiosks that can be found right through the Departures concourse.
There is no fee for booking a taxi from Gatwick Cars Ltd., which is the official taxi service provider at the London Gatwick International Airport. Also, their taxi service provider does not charge an additional fee, in case you wish to reschedule or cancel your booking date or time. They accept both cash and card payments.
Taxis can be quickly booked via the airport’s website. They also have a dedicated phone number in case you need help with booking a taxi.
Bus
London Gatwick Airport is connected via local bus and coach service to more than a hundred towns and cities in Great Britain. Buses are available at South Terminal and North Terminal.
National Express bus service provides low-cost, frequent 24-hour service between Gatwick and Victoria Coach Station (central London), Heathrow Airport, Brighton, and Bristol. easyBus provides frequent and direct low-cost transfers between Gatwick Airport and central London, with departures from 4:00 AM – 1:00 AM. Oxford Bus provides an hourly service between Gatwick Airport and Oxford, which is referred to as “The Airline”. Gatwick Flyer provides direct service between the South Terminal and Southend.
Car Hire
Several well-known companies that provide car hire/rental services to and from Gatwick Airport include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz, National, and Sixt. You can find them located at the Car Rental Facility across from the North Terminal.
Car Parking
London Gatwick Airport provides parking options, such as short-stay parking, long-stay parking, premium parking, and valet parking services.
Short Stay Parking at the North Terminal can be found at Car Park 5. For the South Terminal, it can be found at Car Parks 1, 2, and 3.
It is a great choice for those looking for convenience when flying for a short holiday or business trip from both the North and South Terminal. Short Stay is also perfect for families who are traveling with children or anyone with heavy luggage.
Conclusion
What you will also notice at Gatwick Airport are the works of three distinct local artists, which are now on display throughout the airport. Be sure to check out the unique mosaic celebrating Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee, the artwork is created with 5,500 pics of people from Sussex, Kent, and Surrey. You can find this at South Terminal.
To conclude, the London Gatwick International Airport has so much to offer to travelers that will make your trip as enjoyable as ever. Imaginatively, the London Gatwick Airport seems quite as though Santa Claus has got a bag full of goodies (free and premium) for travelers in south London.
