London Gatwick Airport
London, United Kingdom
London Gatwick Airport
London's second-busiest airport, a single-runway gateway.
- ›Gatwick is one of the world's busiest single-runway airports, managing over 900 aircraft movements per day at peak.
- ›The airport first opened as a civil aerodrome in 1936 and was substantially redeveloped in the late 1950s.
- ›A second runway has been approved in principle but faces ongoing legal, environmental, and financial challenges.
- ›The airport's two terminals are separated by the runway and connected by an automated people mover.
- ›Gatwick handled approximately 46 million passengers in 2019, its record year before the COVID-19 pandemic.
London Gatwick Airport, located in Crawley, West Sussex approximately 28 miles south of central London, has served travellers since 1934 and today ranks among Europe's busiest single-runway airports. It functions as a major hub for leisure and low-cost carriers, with EasyJet and British Airways operating significant presences across its two terminals. Gatwick plays a vital role in absorbing overflow demand from Heathrow and connecting southern England to hundreds of worldwide destinations.
- North Terminal — Handles British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and several European and long-haul carriers, connected to the South Terminal via a free automated shuttle.
- South Terminal — The larger and original terminal primarily serving EasyJet along with TUI, Norwegian, and numerous charter and short-haul operators.
- Gatwick Express train to London Victoria in approximately 30 minutes
- Thameslink rail services to London Bridge, City Thameslink, and St Pancras International
- Southern rail services to London Victoria and Brighton
- National Express and EasyBus coach services to central London and other UK cities
- Licensed black cabs and pre-booked private hire vehicles from designated ranks
- Car rental counters available at both terminals from major providers including Hertz, Avis, and Enterprise
- Sofitel London Gatwick (on-site, South Terminal)
- Hampton by Hilton London Gatwick Airport
- Bloc Hotel Gatwick
- Premier Inn London Gatwick Airport
- Crowne Plaza London Gatwick
Inside the terminals, passengers will find a broad mix of high-street names such as Wagamama, Wetherspoons, Pret a Manger, and Itsu, alongside premium options in the airside lounges. Both terminals offer food courts suited to budget travellers and sit-down restaurants for those seeking a more leisurely pre-flight meal. Crawley town centre, a short bus or taxi ride away, provides additional local dining options for those with extended layovers.
- Allow extra time if transiting between terminals, as the shuttle train runs frequently but adds 10–15 minutes to your journey.
- Book Gatwick Express tickets online in advance for discounted fares compared to buying on the day at the station.
- Check which terminal your airline uses before arriving, as North and South have separate drop-off and check-in areas.
- Security queues at peak summer and holiday periods can be lengthy — aim to arrive at least 2.5 hours before short-haul and 3 hours before long-haul departures.
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Route map (163 destinations)
Airlines serving this airport
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Stay, Eat & Explore: London
History and modernity on the Thames
- •Tower of London — A 950-year-old fortress guarding the Crown Jewels.
- •British Museum — Human history under one roof — from the Rosetta Stone to the Parthenon sculptures.
- •Buckingham Palace — The monarch's official residence; catch the Changing of the Guard.
- •Westminster & Big Ben — Parliament, the Abbey and the world's most famous clock tower.
- •South Bank & London Eye — Riverside culture mile from Tate Modern to Borough Market.
Getting around: The Underground, Overground, Elizabeth line and iconic red buses cover the city; Heathrow/Gatwick/Stansted link by express trains. Contactless payment works everywhere.
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London Gatwick Airport is one of several international airports serving Greater London and southern England. It is located in Crawley, in West Sussex, 30 miles south of Central London, England. In 2024, Gatwick was the second-busiest airport by total passenger traffic in the UK, after Heathrow, and was the tenth-busiest in Europe by total passenger traffic. It covers a total area of 674 hectares.
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