London Gatwick Airport

London Gatwick Airport (LGW) is the United Kingdom's second busiest airport and the busiest single-runway airport in the world. Located 47 km (29 miles) south of Central London in West Sussex, Gatwick handles over 46 million passengers annually and serves as a major base for easyJet, British Airways, and several long-haul carriers.

The airport has two terminals:

• North Terminal: Serves British Airways, easyJet (some routes), Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, and most long-haul carriers
• South Terminal: Serves easyJet (majority of flights), Vueling, WestJet, and many European carriers

The terminals are connected by a free automated shuttle train that runs 24 hours and takes approximately 2-3 minutes. Both terminals have their own train station platforms, though most rail services stop at the South Terminal station.

London's Other Airports

London is served by six airports. Connecting between them is common but requires significant planning.

Heathrow (LHR) — 41 km northwest

• UK's largest airport, British Airways hub
• Best for: Long-haul connections, Star Alliance/oneworld
• Transit: National Express bus (65-90 min, £25) or train via London (2+ hours)

London City (LCY) — 43 km northeast

• Small airport, business focus
• BA CityFlyer, KLM, Swiss
• No direct connection—must travel via central London

Stansted (STN) — 87 km north

• Ryanair's main London base
• Transit: Via London (2.5+ hours) or expensive taxi

Connecting between Gatwick and Heathrow:

Method	Time	Cost	Notes
National Express bus	65-90 min	£25	Most direct option
Train via London	90-120 min	£30-40	Clapham Junction or Victoria route
Taxi/Uber	60-90 min	£100-150	Traffic dependent, expensive

Minimum connection time: Allow 4-5 hours for Gatwick ↔ Heathrow. National Express is the most reliable option but still subject to M25 traffic.

Pro tip: If booking separate tickets through different London airports, consider an overnight stay in the city rather than risking a tight connection. London hotels between airports can be cheaper than a missed flight.

Gatwick is located 47 km south of Central London, making it more distant than Heathrow but with excellent rail connections.

Typical journey times to Central London:

• Train: 30-45 minutes
• Coach: 60-90 minutes
• Taxi/rideshare: 60-90 minutes (traffic dependent)

The Gatwick Express and Thameslink/Southern services offer reliable rail connections. For destinations south of London (Brighton, Crawley), Gatwick is often more convenient than Heathrow.

Uber is available at Gatwick. Pickup points are located:

• South Terminal: Follow signs to "Rideshare Pickup" outside arrivals
• North Terminal: Designated pickup zone in the forecourt area

Typical fares to Central London: £60-90 depending on traffic and exact destination.

Licensed black cabs and minicabs queue outside both terminals. Approximate fares:

Destination	Taxi Fare
Central London	£80-120
Brighton	£50-70
Crawley	£15-25

Pre-book minicabs for better rates than metered taxis. Services like Addison Lee and local firms offer fixed-price transfers.

Gatwick Express

The fastest dedicated service to London:

• Route: Gatwick Airport to London Victoria
• Journey time: 30 minutes non-stop
• Frequency: Every 15 minutes
• Fare: £19.90 single, £37.80 return (advance online fares from £14.90)
• Hours: 05:00-00:00 approximately

The Gatwick Express departs from the South Terminal station. Trains call at Victoria only, with no intermediate stops.

Thameslink & Southern

More affordable alternatives with wider destination coverage:

Thameslink services run to:

• London Bridge (30 min)
• Blackfriars (35 min)
• Farringdon (40 min)
• St Pancras International (45 min)
• Luton Airport (90 min via connection)

Fares: £10-15 single with Oyster/contactless

Southern trains serve:

• London Victoria (35-40 min, stopping service)
• Clapham Junction (30 min)
• East Croydon (20 min)
• Brighton (30-40 min southbound)

Bus & Coach

National Express coaches run to:

• London Victoria Coach Station (90 min, from £10)
• Various UK cities including Birmingham, Bristol, and Manchester

easyBus offers budget transfers to London (from £5-10, journey time 60-90 min depending on traffic).

Coaches depart from the lower forecourt of both terminals.

Gatwick offers extensive parking options:

Type	Rate	Notes
Short Stay	From £5/hour	Adjacent to terminals
Long Stay	From £8/day	Free shuttle, 5-10 min walk
Valet Parking	From £15/day	Meet and greet service
Off-airport	From £5/day	Purple Parking, Airparks, etc.

Pre-booking online saves significantly - often 60% or more versus drive-up rates. Long-term parking fills up during peak holiday periods, so book ahead.

Both terminals have drop-off zones (free for 10 minutes) and premium "priority" zones closer to entrances for a fee.

Gatwick's dining options are spread across both terminals:

South Terminal

• Wagamama: Asian noodles and rice dishes
• Pret A Manger: Quick sandwiches and coffee
• The Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck: Sit-down dining
• Jamie's Deli: Italian-inspired grab-and-go
• Wetherspoon (The Beehive): Pub food and drinks

North Terminal

• Giraffe: Family-friendly international menu
• Yo! Sushi: Conveyor belt sushi
• Grain Store: Vegetarian-friendly options
• Comptoir Libanais: Lebanese cuisine
• Costa Coffee: Multiple locations

For the best variety, North Terminal's upper departures area has the wider selection of sit-down restaurants.

Free WiFi is available throughout Gatwick Airport:

• Network name: "Gatwick Airport Free WiFi"
• Duration: Unlimited
• Speed: Adequate for browsing, email, and video calls

Register with an email address to connect. The connection is reliable for basic use. For faster speeds, use lounge WiFi or consider a mobile data plan.

SIM cards are available at:

• WHSmith (both terminals, arrivals and departures)
• Vodafone store (South Terminal arrivals)
• Dixons Travel (both terminals)

UK prepaid SIMs from EE, Vodafone, Three, and O2 cost £10-30 for data packages. Most include EU roaming at no extra cost.

Tip: Order a SIM online before travel (GiffGaff offers free SIMs posted internationally) for better value than airport prices.

ATMs are located throughout both terminals in arrivals and departures areas. Major UK banks represented include:

• Barclays
• HSBC
• NatWest
• Lloyds

ATM withdrawals are free for UK bank accounts. International cards may incur fees of £2-5.

Currency exchange counters (Travelex, Moneycorp, International Currency Exchange) are available but offer poor rates. Better options:

• Use your debit card at ATMs (check foreign transaction fees)
• Use a travel card like Wise or Revolut
• Exchange currency before arrival

Gatwick has extensive duty-free and retail:

South Terminal

• World Duty Free: Main duty-free retailer
• Accessorize: Accessories and gifts
• Boots: Pharmacy and beauty
• WH Smith: Books, magazines, snacks

North Terminal

• World Duty Free: Larger selection than South
• Harrods: Mini Harrods with luxury goods
• JoJo Maman Bebe: Children's clothing
• Cath Kidston: British homeware and bags

North Terminal generally has the better shopping selection, particularly for luxury and British brands.

Priority Pass Lounges

• No1 Lounge (South Terminal): Hot food, bar, showers. Often busy during peak times.
• No1 Lounge (North Terminal): Similar amenities, slightly larger space.
• My Lounge (South Terminal): Basic amenities, good for Priority Pass overflow.

Airline Lounges

• British Airways Galleries Lounge (North Terminal): BA Club/First passengers, oneworld Emerald/Sapphire
• Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse (North Terminal): Virgin Upper Class passengers
• Emirates Lounge (North Terminal): Emirates Business/First Class

Pay-Per-Visit

Day passes available for No1 Lounges (approximately £35-45) and My Lounge (approximately £25-35). Book online for discounts.

Hotels at or near Gatwick:

Connected to Airport

• Sofitel London Gatwick (North Terminal): Direct walkway connection, from £150/night
• BLOC Hotel (South Terminal): Modern pod-style rooms inside the terminal, from £80/night
• Hampton by Hilton (North Terminal): Short covered walk, from £90/night

With Shuttle Service

• Premier Inn Gatwick North/South: Budget-friendly, from £60/night
• Hilton London Gatwick: Full-service, shuttle to terminals, from £100/night
• Courtyard by Marriott: Business-focused, from £90/night

For early flights or late arrivals, BLOC Hotel inside South Terminal offers rooms bookable by the hour, ideal for short layovers.

Gatwick's location makes it a gateway to both London and the South of England:

London

• Central London: 30-45 min by train. Use the Thameslink for direct access to the City and King's Cross area.
• South Bank & Borough Market: 35 min via London Bridge station

South England

• Brighton: 30-40 min by train - the classic British seaside town
• Crawley town centre: 10 min by bus - nearest town for hotels and shopping
• South Downs National Park: 30 min by car - rolling countryside walks

Practical Tips

• Use Oyster or contactless payment for London transport - daily caps apply
• The Thameslink is usually better value than Gatwick Express if travelling beyond Victoria
• For Brighton trips, trains run directly from Gatwick in 30-40 minutes
• Book trains in advance for the best fares, especially for Gatwick Express