Business Traveller Airport GuidesLONDON GATWICK AIRPORT
6
Contents
Guide to
London
GATWICK
Airport
In association with
Business Traveller Airport Guides
Contents
GATWICK AIRPORT
2
03 AIRPORT OVERVIEW
06 GETTING THERE
07 PARKING OPTIONS/MAP
08 WHO FLIES FROM WHICH TERMINAL?
09 AIRPORT LOUNGES
11 TERMINAL MAPS
20 DINING AND SHOPPING
CONTENTS
21 USEFUL TIPS
22 HOTELS AND MEETINGS
26 COUNTRY HOUSE HOTELS
28 AREA MAP
Perry Publications, Cardinal House, 39-40 Albemarle Street,
London, W1S 4TE
tel +44 (0)20 7647 6330
www.businesstraveller.com
Editorial director Tom Otley
Managing editor Michelle Mannion
Art director Annie Harris
Designer Javier Otero
Senior features writer Jenny Southan
Editorial assistants Liat Clark, Rose Dykins
Online editor Mark Caswell
Contributors Prudence Ivey, Lucinda Kingham
Editorial tel number +44 (0)20 7647 6356
Email address editorial@businesstraveller.com
Map design Javier Otero. Terminal and parking maps provided
by Gatwick airport. Area map based on Googlemaps and not for
navigational purposes.
Publisher Rania Apthorpe
Managing director Julian Gregory
Online sales manager Ahmar Shah
Advertising tel +44 (0)20 7647 6361
Email address advertising@businesstraveller.com
Subscriptions tel +44 (0)844 477 0943
email jhalling@businesstraveller.com
Editorial tEam
In association with
Business Traveller Airport Guides
3
AN OVERVIEW OF GATWICK AIRPORT
AS THE FIRST “VICTIM” of the BAA sell-
off, you would forgive Gatwick for feeling
vulnerable, writes Michelle Mannion. Being
removed from the bosom of the UK’s largest
airport operator might have left another
organisation feeling cut adrift but, in fact, the
Sussex airport seems liberated.
“Gatwick is fundamentally different in
terms of the job we’re doing under the new
ownership,” says Simon Edwards, airline
business development manager for the
airport. “We are competing for business in
a way we weren’t before. The new owner
[Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), owner
of London City airport] wants a return on its
investment, whereas with BAA, I think it’s fair
to say the focus was very much on Heathrow.
Doing my job before felt almost as if I had
one hand tied behind my back, whereas now
there is a real focus at board level. It’s such a
refreshing change.”
For Angus McIntyre, head of airline
business development, the change of hands
in December 2009 has allowed Gatwick
to take a fresh look at its raison d’être. “As
part of BAA we were sort of happy with our
position in as much as it worked from a group
perspective – Heathrow was scheduled
business services, Gatwick was point-to-point
leisure, Stansted was low-cost. Take us out of
that mix and all of a sudden it’s: ‘What do we
want to be?’ Nobody’s saying we’re going to
be the next Heathrow because that would be
an unreasonable aspiration. Equally, we don’t
want to be Stansted, so it’s about finding that
middle ground.”
What this means is a greater focus on the
business traveller – currently about 15 per
cent of traffic. “We’ve put far more emphasis
on the business-style/premium passenger,”
McIntyre says. For Gatwick, the corporate
market encompasses not only the traditional
full-service airlines but the low-cost sector –
Easyjet is now its largest carrier, with 33 per
cent of the airport’s total slots. Second and
third are BA and Thomson, with 17 per cent
and 7 per cent respectively, demonstrating the
three prongs of Gatwick’s business – low-cost,
scheduled full-service and charter.
“Easyjet has come in and stolen the march
on the traditional scheduled business market,”
he says. “We’ve seen the low-cost model
morph up from the no-frills offering of several
years ago into a bit of a hybrid – you see that
with Air Berlin and Norwegian.” The German
carrier moved its Hanover and Nuremberg
routes from Stansted in February, while
Norwegian added a Helsinki service in May.
THE BILLION-POUND PROJECT
When it comes to capturing the business
market, Gatwick has some distinct advantages.
While it cannot compete with Heathrow
in terms of connectivity and frequency of
services, it boasts an affluent catchment area
and excellent train links. What it hasn’t perhaps
had is the state-of-the-art facilities to attract
new carriers, but that is changing.
In June last year, GIP announced it would
invest £1 billion in the airport’s infrastructure
(building on a redevelopment project began
by BAA in 2008). Scheduled to continue until
2014, the works involve revamping the South
Terminal, now more than half a century old, and
expanding the North Terminal, added in 1988.
On the ground, construction is well under
way. In the South, a £31 million single-
entrance forecourt aimed at speeding up the
passenger’s journey to check-in is due to be
finished by the end of March. The moving
walkways from the station (trains to Gatwick
arrive into the South) are being refurbished,
brighter flooring is being laid in sections, to
be finished by the end of the year, and £2.5
million is being spent on wayfinding, with
unnecessary signage being taken down and
the font sizes enlarged.
Plus, £170 million is being spent on a new
baggage system that will allow passengers
to drop their case at any vacant space in
the terminal (dependent on their airline’s
stipulations). This is being put in place in
phases until late 2014.
The airport has also reconfigured
Norwegian’s check-in zone, with self-service
North Terminal
Interchange
In association with
Business Traveller Airport Guides
4
AN OVERVIEW OF GATWICK AIRPORT
bag-drops and check-in kiosks so you can
print your own label. Edwards says: “We
worked hard to get Norwegian’s product right
and they’re delighted.” (In the North, BA and
Delta also have reconfigured check-in zones
with kiosks, and the airport is talking to Easyjet
about doing something similar.)
MAXIMUM SECURITY
One of the centrepiece projects in the South
is the spacious new security area. Some £45
million is being spent on security in total, with
the three previous zones being replaced by a
single area upstairs. It is being opened lane
by lane – four were operational as we went
to press, and there will be 19 by the time it is
finished in October, including two premium
lanes. “This is going to be the best security
area in the world,” says Steve James, South
Terminal programme development leader for
capital projects, who reports that the new lanes
are processing 250 people per hour, up from
160 with the old system.
First, passengers go through a “preparation
area” with ironing-board-shaped tables for
repacking bags, then put their boarding pass
through London Underground-style self-service
machines, where they can also scan mobile
boarding passes. As James explains, lanes are
longer than before so people have more time to
take off their jackets and belts before reaching
the conveyor. They will also be colour-coded
to indicate the shortest queues. Meanwhile, a
separate security area for families and those in
need of special assistance is in place to speed
up the process further. Airside, pier one will be
replaced with a new fast-turnaround pier for
short-haul aircraft by the end of 2014.
Zoom over to the North on the speedy new
shuttle service, open since last July, and you’ll
see changes afoot here too. Home to much
of Gatwick’s scheduled traffic, the terminal
handles 14 million passengers a year and
the plan is to increase that to 17 million. The
forecourt has, consequently, been moved
further out, and the inter-connected £25 million
eastern extension, which will add ticket desks
and circulation space, is due to be completed
in August or September – at which time check-
in will be directly connected by a walkway to
the fourth level of a new 1,200-space short-
stay car park, open since April. (This level will
cost more to park in.)
Security lanes like those in the South
Terminal are being added, with two new ones
just open, four to follow next summer and
the remainder to be converted after that. The
North Terminal’s southern extension (yes,
confusing…) will follow in October, adding
check-in zones, self-service kiosks and bag-
drops, and more carousels in arrivals.
By 2014, airside will have extra circulation
space, dining and retail. Aircraft stands
and gate rooms will be added to pier six,
and it’s intended that another level will be
added to pier five. Talks are ongoing about
how to boost the terminal’s A380 facilities
– the airport can currently only handle the
superjumbo with remote stands rather than
airbridges, which are a crucial component for
many carriers.
Other additions in the North include a new
No 1 Traveller lounge (there is also one in the
South). Open since May, it’s a welcoming
space that costs £25 to access (£20 online),
with a business centre, spa, and free wifi, food
and drink.
Meanwhile, the train station is getting a £53
million upgrade to improve its aesthetics and
add a platform, which will mean the Gatwick
Express will have two dedicated platforms.
The cosmetic work is due to be complete by
the Olympics, with the major construction
starting after.
The airport is also phasing in mobile printing
facilities near gates heavily used by business
travellers, and is working on what McIntyre
calls “a fast-track arrivals product”.
ROUTE AHEAD
With all this in place, Gatwick should be in a
stronger position to attract new routes. It is
well needed – the impact of the Open Skies
In association with
Business Traveller Airport Guides
5
agreement, which saw much of its US traffic
defect to Heathrow, means Gatwick now has
no direct link to New York, and Qatar Airways
chief executive Akbar Al Baker told Business
Traveller that the airline pulled its Gatwick
services in May because “all the American
feed we used to get there evaporated with
Open Skies”.
Getting some of this market back is,
understandably, a major focus: “The core
markets we’re massively under-represented in
are the US and Asia,” McIntyre says. Edwards
adds: “We’ve got active dialogue around
transatlantic routes. It’s one of our key targets
and we’re having conversations about getting a
New York route here.”
As for Asia, the airport is shortly expected
to confirm a new four-times weekly Vietnam
Airlines service starting in December, with
two flights to Hanoi and two to Ho Chi Minh
City. McIntyre says: “That is a gem of a route
because it is a hotbed of both leisure and trade
growth. We are excited because it will have a
viral effect on that part of the world.”
Other long-haul routes on the way include
a daily Air Nigeria service to Lagos from
September 1. The airport is also in discussions
with BA franchisee Comair about launching a
Durban route, which would be the only direct
service from London.
Easyjet, meanwhile, continues to grow its
network, which now numbers 92 destinations.
In March it added a thrice-weekly service to
Amman, in April a four-times-a-week route to
Seville, and in June a daily flight to Aberdeen.
Jason Holt, Easyjet’s head of Gatwick, says:
“The business take-up for Aberdeen is quite
high because there’s a lot of oil business
coming through the airport.” Other routes he
says the carrier is pressing for are Cairo and
Beirut. He adds: “The problem with Gatwick
is that it’s now becoming a slot-constrained
airfield – it’s the busiest single runway airport
in the world. That is going to present some
issues so in terms of continued growth, it’s
a question of us picking up slots as they
become free.”
In the meantime, it is planning to improve
its offering for business travellers at Gatwick
by offering add-ons such as lounge access.
“You can already purchase car parking online
[with us] at a favourable price, and the same
thing is going to happen with lounges – we’re
talking to companies who wish to see if our
passengers will purchase time in the lounges
as an add-on.”
He adds: “For us, Gatwick is the intuitive
business place at an affordable price.” The
airport will no doubt be hoping a growing
number of frequent flyers agree with him.
n Visit gatwickairport.com
AN OVERVIEW OF GATWICK AIRPORT
New South Terminal forecourt
In association with
Business Traveller Airport Guides
6
GETTING TO AND FROM GATWICK
TRAIN
There are various train services
between Gatwick and the
southeast. The Gatwick Express
is the fastest option, providing
a direct 30-minute service from London
Victoria every 15 minutes between 5am and
23.45pm (5.50am and 12.35am from Gatwick
to London Victoria) and less frequently outside
these times. There is a set price of £27 for
a standard return ticket. Cheaper stopping
services are run by several companies. First
Capital Connect provides frequent trains to and
from central London and costs around £17 for
an anytime return to St Pancras International
(with a journey time of about 50 minutes) or
London Bridge (about 30 minutes). The line
continues southbound to Brighton and north
to Bedford. Frequent stopping trains between
Gatwick and London Victoria – about five per
hour – are also run by Southern Railway. An
anytime return costs £25, although single fares
can be found for as little as £4 when paid for in
advance online. Trains also run to Hampshire
and Sussex. Gatwick rail station is linked to the
South Terminal and a free shuttle service will
take you to the North Terminal in a few minutes.
n gatwickexpress.com, firstcapitalconnect.
co.uk, southernrailway.com
BUS
Several coach companies link
Gatwick with major cities around
the UK. National Express is the
biggest and has ticket desks in
both terminals. It runs between Victoria and the
South Terminal hourly (departing London from
3.30am-11.30pm and Gatwick 5.15am-9.40pm)
and takes about 2.5 hours. An open return is
£14 but cheaper fares may be found in advance
online. Direct routes also operate as far afield
as Poole, Swansea, Bradford and Norwich.
Easybus operates a direct service to and from
London Earls Court for as little as £2 one-way
when purchased in advance online, or £10 on
the day. Other routes include the Oxford Bus,
which runs hourly throughout the day, costing
from £32 return, and the Gatwick Flyer, which
connects various Essex locations to the South
Terminal. Prices range from £36-£62 return
depending on the route.
n nationalexpress.com, easybus.co.uk,
oxfordbus.co.uk, gatwickflyer.co.uk
BIKE
National Cycle Route 21
runs past the South Terminal
and the transit to the North
Terminal. Cyclists can use car
park B for free, and more spots are being added
this year. Showers are available, landside and
airside, in both terminals.
TAXI
Road Runners UK – which
operates at the airport
under the name Airport Cars
Gatwick – was appointed as
Gatwick’s official on-airport
taxi service provider in June. The firm will
take you to central London for a pre-agreed
price of about £95, depending on where
you are dropped off (an £8 congestion fee
may be added if you are dropped within the
charging zone). Fares vary widely between
cab companies and depending on where
you are travelling to, you may be charged
extra for meet-and-greet services or if there
are delays at the airport. It may be worth
checking if the company will keep track
of flight delays and move your booking
accordingly. Local taxi firms include Checker
Cars, which has offices inside both terminals,
and Carline, based five minutes from Gatwick
airport. Driving to central London takes about
an hour, but factor in traffic delays when
calculating your journey time.
n checkercars.com, roadrunnersgatwick.
co.uk, carlineprivatehire.co.uk
CAR
Satnav postcodes are RH6
0PJ (North Terminal) and
RH6 0NP (South Terminal).
Gatwick is 45km south of
London, linked directly to
the M23 at Junction 9 and to the A23 London-
Brighton road. It is a ten-minute drive from
Junction 7 on the M25.
CHAUFFEUR
London-based company
iChauffeur serves Gatwick
as well as other city airports.
Its selection of cars includes
Mercedes, Bentley and Rolls-
Royce. It offers a meet-and-greet service and
can accommodate groups of up to 16 in its
luxury minibuses. A journey from central London
(postcode W1) to Gatwick in a Mercedes Benz
S Class (up to four passengers) costs £150.
Executive Drive operates the free chauffeur
service for airlines at Gatwick, including British
Airways (Club World passengers), Virgin Atlantic
(Upper Class) and Delta (Business Elite) – distance
restrictions may apply. Executive Drive uses
Mercedes and BMW cars and serves destinations
anywhere in the UK. Individual quotes may be
arranged by contacting the company.
n ichauffeur.co.uk, uk-chauffeurcars.co.uk
In association with
Business Traveller Airport Guides
7
PARKING OPTIONS
Short-stay
Short-stay car parks are located a short walk
from both terminal buildings. Prices increase
by the hour, from £1 for 15 minutes up to £30
for one day, so costs can mount up if you’re
planning to do more than a quick stop. There
are some deals for one- or two-day stays
available with advance booking online via
parking.gatwickairport.com.
A premium fast-track service is available at
the North Terminal, costing between £18 for up
to four hours to £40 per 24 hours – it includes
a free porterage service from the car park to
the terminal between 6am and 6pm.
gatwickairport.com/parking
Valet parking
A service is available at both terminals and the
drop-off and pick-up points are both located
in the short-stay car parks. If you phone from
the arrivals hall once you land, your car will
be ready for you. The service can be booked
in advance or you can show up on the day.
Prices start from £37 for one night. Your car will
be waiting outside the terminal on arrival.
Meet-and-greet company Meteor operates
at both terminals. Prices start from about £36
for one night, with additional fees for services
such as car washes.
meteormeetandgreet.com
Long-stay
Several options are available. Long Stay North
and South are self-park facilities with free, five-
minute coach transfers to the terminals running
every ten minutes throughout the day. As neither
has a minimum stay limit, it could be more cost-
effective to park here for shorter periods too.
Other options include Long Stay Plus,
which is available for stays of three or more
days, and the Summer Special car park –
open year round for South Terminal passengers
and offering a more limited service to the
North Terminal. Valet staff will park your car as
you make the airport transfer. The free coach
to the airport takes four minutes from Long
Stay Plus and runs every ten minutes. The
Summer Special service is slightly less regular,
with three coaches an hour making the five-
minute journey.
The drive-up rate for all car parks is £11.50
per day but cheaper prices for longer stays can
POSTCODES FOR CAR PARKS
South Terminal RH6 0NP
North Terminal RH6 0PJ
North Terminal long stay RH6 0RN
be found by pre-booking online. Seven nights’
parking, booked one week in advance, costs
just under £10 per day for a standard service.
gatwickairport.com/parking
Off-airport long-stay
This is available at three Airparks sites, all
within ten to 15 minutes of the airport via free
shuttle. You’ll find the best value on stays of a
week or more, which, if booked far enough in
advance, can cost less than £10 per day.
airparks.co.uk
GATWICK
AIRPORT
North
Terminal
South
Terminal
M23
M23
M23
Horley Rd
Long Stay
South
Short Stay
South
Valet
Valet
Short Stay
North
Summer Special
Holiday Parking
Long Stay
North
Long Stay
Plus
In association with
Business Traveller Airport Guides
8
WHO FLIES FROM WHERE
NORTH TERMINAL
Adria Airways JP
Air Berlin AB
Air Seychelles HM
British Airways BA
Easyjet EZY
Emirates EK
Delta Air Lines DL
Malev MA
Meridiana Airlines IG
Royal Air Maroc AT
Thomson Airways TOM
Aer Lingus EI
Aerosvit VV
Air Baltic BT
Air Europa AEA
Air Malta KM
Air Moldova 9U
Air Transat TS
Air Zimbabwe UM
Alnaser Airlines MHK
Astraeus Airlines AEU
Aurigny Air Services GR
Belavia Belarusian Airlines BRU
BH Air (Balkan Holidays) BGH
Bmi BD
Bulgaria Air FB
Cimber Sterling QI
Croatia Airlines OU
Cubana de Aviacion CU
Easyjet EZY
Estonian Air OV
Flybe BE
Hellenic Imperial Airways HT
Iceland Express HW
Jet2.com LS
Monarch Airlines MON/ZB
Montenegro Airlines YM
SOUTH TERMINAL
Norwegian DY
Nouvelair BJ
Onur Air OHY
Pegasus Airlines PGT
Rossiya Airlines FV
Ryanair FR
SAS SK
SATA International S4
Sky Airlines ZY
Strategic Airlines STU
Sun Country Airlines SY
TAP Portugal TP
Thomas Cook TCX
Titan Airways ZT
Torair OAI
Tunisair TU
Ukraine International Airlines PS
United Airways Bangladesh 4H
US Airways US
Viking Hellas VKH
Virgin Atlantic VS
In association with
Business Traveller Airport Guides
9
LOUNGEs
NORTH TERMINAL
Airside lounges in this terminal are
located in the Lounge Pavilion, at
the far end of the departure lounge.
NO 1 TRAvELLER
Open since May, the No 1 Traveller lounge is an
attractive space in which to spend some time
before you fly. The paid-for facility costs £25 for
three hours (£20 if you book in advance online)
and is free for Delta Air Lines Business Elite
passengers, Medallion members and Skyteam
Elite Plus passengers. Travellers who have
bought a return first class Gatwick Express
train ticket can also access for free (this special
offer is initially running until the end of August).
Star Alliance gold cardholders, and gold and
silver cardholders of any airline, get 10 per
cent off. Bright and white with plenty of marble,
floor-to-ceiling windows and a stylish, retro-
boutique feel, the 930 sqm venue has ample
seating overlooking the runway, a living wall,
a games console room, pool room, children’s
play area, a mini-cinema, free wifi, a manned
bar (all drinks free except for champagne and
cocktails), a food bar with snacks such as
cakes, fruit and cookies, a bistro area with
table service and a menu of free light meals
(there is a breakfast buffet in the mornings),
newspapers and magazines, board games
and departure screens. The spa, which offers
massages (from £15 for 15 minutes), facials,
manicures and fish pedicures (they nibble
your feet inside a tank), showers (£10) and a
hairdressers, can be used separately without
paying for lounge access, as can the business
centre, which costs £15 to access on its own
and has computers, drinks and two meeting
rooms. The lounge is open 4am-10pm.
n no1traveller.com
BRITISH AIRwAYS FIRST/CLUB LOUNgES
All of BA’s Gatwick flights fly from the North
Terminal, so its two lounges are based there.
Both were refurbished in 2009 – the Club
lounge is for silver Executive Club members
and can accommodate 168 passengers,
while First is for gold cardholders and holds
79. The lounges are similar in style, featuring
furniture and chairs upholstered with Osborne
and Little fabric, showers, a bar offering free
drinks and a variety of hot and cold snacks
throughout the day, flatscreen TVs, computers
and a kids’ zone with TVs, games and
Playstations. Wifi is free throughout. They are
open 5.30am-10pm.
n ba.com
EMIRATES
Located on the floor below the No 1 Traveller
lounge, the Middle Eastern carrier’s facility
is spacious with a classic feel. Featuring
touches such as potted plants and gold-
plated Rolex wall clocks, it has lots of beige
leather seating, two self-service bars with
soft and alcoholic drinks (staff are also
on hand to serve you), newspapers and
magazines, departure screens, a big business
centre with PCs, workstations, a printer
and phone-charging facilities, free wifi and
showers. A food station offers snacks – in the
morning hot and cold breakfast items are on
offer (eggs Benedict and French toast can
be made to order), while options through the
day include soup, seafood pie, lamb curry,
cakes, cheeses and fruit. The lounge can be
used by Emirates first and business class
passengers and Skywards gold members. It’s
open 6am-8.45pm.
n emirates.com
SERvISAIR ASCOT EXECUTIvE SUITE
The newest of Servisair’s lounges at the
airport opened in 2008 and costs £16 to use
(£10 for children aged 11 and under). The air
conditioned facility offers free snacks, a bar
offering soft and alcoholic drinks, free wifi,
newspapers and magazines, phones, a fax
machine, and a flight information screen. A
meeting area with business facilities is available
on request. It’s open 6am-9.30pm.
n servisair.com
SOFITEL ARRIvALS LOUNgE
Located on the ground floor of the Sofitel
London Gatwick hotel, directly connected
to the North Terminal, this facility is a useful
option for people arriving from night flights
and travelling direct to morning meetings.
Free to BA first, business and full-fare
economy class passengers when they present
their boarding pass, it otherwise costs £20
to access for four hours. Facilities include 19
shower rooms (you can have your clothes
pressed while you freshen up), a seating area
with leather armchairs and a fire, a continental
breakfast buffet, soft drinks, free wifi, four
PCs and four workstations, newspapers and
magazines. You can even use the Sofitel’s
gym, located on the same level. The lounge is
open 5am-1pm.
n sofitelgatwicklounge.com
No 1 Traveller
No 1 Traveller
Emirates
Servisair
In association with
Business Traveller Airport Guides
10
LOUNGEs
SOUTH TERMINAL
NO 1 TRAvELLER
Open since 2009, the lounge is located
airside on the mezzanine level of departures,
by Frankie and Benny’s restaurant. Like No 1
Traveller’s North Terminal facility, it costs £25
to access, or £20 in advance online – the
Gatwick Express offer also applies to this
lounge. SAS, TAP Portugal and US Airways
business passengers can use it for free, while
Star Alliance gold cardholders, and gold and
silver cardholders of any airline, get 10 per
cent off. It has a manned bar offering soft and
alcoholic drinks, various seating areas, a five-
metre-high living wall, free wifi, runway views,
table football, newspapers and magazines,
and a TV and flight information screen. A
bistro area serves continental buffet breakfast
4am-11am, along with dishes such as eggs
Benedict and Florentine, and a seasonal menu
during the day. A spa treatment room on the
mezzanine level offers massages, manicures
and pedicures at a charge. Open 4am-10pm.
n no1traveller.com
SERvISAIR ASHDOwN/LINgFIELD
LOUNgES
Servisair has two airside facilities in the South
Terminal – Ashdown is on the lower level of
the departure area and Lingfield on the upper.
Ashdown has a capacity of 76, and children
are 12 are not permitted. Entry is £18. Lingfield
accommodates 100 people and children of any
age may enter – £16 is the entry fee for adults
and children aged two and above. Both
have
runway views, a contemporary feel and a muted
colour scheme. They
offer free snacks (including
cheese and biscuits, crisps, croissants, cakes,
cereal bars, fruit and yogurts), soft and alcoholic
drinks (champagne is chargeable), free wifi,
newspapers and magazines. Ashdown has a
flight information screen and a meeting area,
while Lingfield has a children’s zone with a
TV, computer and Playstations. Lingfield
was
refurbished 18 months ago, at which time
Ashdown was given new furniture. Ashdown is
open 6am-2pm and Lingfield 5am-10pm.
n servisair.com
vIRgIN CLUBHOUSE
Located airside on the upper level of
departures, Virgin Atlantic’s lounge is open to
Upper Class passengers and gold cardholders
from 6am to 12pm. It was refurbished in
2009 and features modern, sophisticated
décor with splashes of colour. It is divided
into different zones, including a concierge
and reception area with shoe shine and coat
and baggage storage, a family lounge with
a playground and TV, and an entertainment
lounge and business area, where passengers
can make use of the “Internet Forest” (wifi is
free) or enjoy Wii and Guitar Hero. There’s also
a Cowshed Spa, where showers are available,
along with treatments including massages,
manicures and barbering, an “Internal
Rock Garden” (a
relaxation area),
and “the Snug”,
where TV shows
and films are
screened. The bar
and restaurant
offer free food and
drinks, which can
also be served at
various “waiter
points” throughout
the lounge. Dishes
on offer include a
British breakfast,
scrambled eggs
and smoked
salmon, and
American
pancakes.
n virgin-atlantic.
com
Virgin Clubhouse
Virgin Clubhouse
Servisair Lingfield
Servisair Lingfield
In association with
Business Traveller Airport Guides
11
MAPS - NORTH TERMINAL
In association with
27
29
30
28
40
41
34
42
4
Zone A
Zone B
Zone D
Zone D
Zone E
Zone F
33
32
31
26
25
24
2
3
Security
To Gates 59 - 63
Departures
6
8
11
1
9
8
8
10
12
7
7
7
7
Train station and
bus service to
South Terminal
Zone A
3
5
5
2
Special
assistance
security
Bureau de change
Check-in
Postbox
Public telephone
Tickets
1 Customs VAT office
2T ravelex Bureau
de Change
with cash machine
3S pecial assistance
help point &
reserved seating
4M oneycorp Bureau
de Change
5B A self-service check-in
6B A customer services
7S pecial assistance
help point
8O versized baggage
9S hipping and bag wrap
10 Worldwide baggage services
11 easyJet ticket desk
12 Self-service check-in
Services
Accessible toilet
Toilet men
Toilet women
Amenities
Public areas
Passenger areas
Lift
North Terminal - Check-in
T
S
S
S
M
O
B
B
Business Traveller Airport Guides
12
MAPS - NORTH TERMINAL
In association with
Hotel &
car park
18
17
21
5
7
7
21
2
1
8
9
6
8
8
9
10
11
13
14
15
19
20
Arrivals
from
Pier 5
Passport Control
5
8
4
3
20
12
Restaurant /Café
1J oe’s Kitchen
2G lobe Freehouse
6B ags Etc
8C osta Coffee
9M onsoon
10 Accessorize
12 Spectrum Internet
13 Game Grid
14 Rolling Luggage
15 Tie Rack
17 M&S Simply Food
18 Boots
19 WHSmith
Bureau de change
Public telephone
Seating
3 Excess baggage
5E -mail post
7S pectrum Internet
11 Cash machines
20 Moneycorp Bureau de
21 Special assistance help poin
Accessible toilet
Babycare
Toilet men
Toilet women
Public areas
Passenger areas
Lift
Amenities
Services
Shops & Food and Drink
North Terminal - The Avenue
M
C
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G
B
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Change
Business Traveller Airport Guides
13
MAPS - NORTH TERMINAL
In association with
29
1
3
8
9
10
18
17
12
7
19
21
20
27
35
30
28
36
37
38
39
40
41
34
42
4
Zone A
Zone A
Zone B
Zone D
Z
33
32
31
26
25
24
23
22
15
14
13
6
2
4
5
To gates 45 - 55, 101 - 113
& airline lounges
Starbucks at gates 46 - 49
At gates 101 - 113
& domestic lounge (Starbucks),
WHSmith, World Duty Free,
Wetherspoon’s Express
To flight
connections
To gates 57 & 58
Security
To gates 59 - 63
Departures
1
7
3
5
2
Bureau de change
Information
Public telephone
Seating
Wireless hotspot
19 Moneycorp Bureau de
Change with cash machine
20 Shopping information
27 Flight information / special assistance
28 Special assistance seating
Services
Bar / Pub
Restaurant / Café
1W HSmith
2B oots
3B est of the Best
4 Dixons Travel
5J o Malone
6T he Watch and Jewellery
Store
7R osetta Stone
8W orld Duty Free
9 Harrods
10 Hamleys
12 Seafood Bar
13 Hugo Boss
14 Mango
15 Shoe Studio
17 Ray-Ban
18 Next
21 World Duty Free
22 World of Whiskies
23 Sunglass Hut
24 Ted Baker
25 Tie Rack
26 Rolling Luggage
30 Dixons Travel
32 Fat Face
33 Rituals
31 Travelex Bureau de Change
with cash machine
Shops & Food and Drink
Accessible toilet
Toilet men
Toilet women
Amenities
Public areas
Passenger areas
Lift
39 WHSmith
40 HMV
41 WHSmith Bo
42 JD
34 Accessorize
35 Lacoste
36 Game Grid
37 Red Lion
38 Glorious Britain
North Terminal - International departure lounge, lower level
B
J
B
W
W
R
oks
T
Business Traveller Airport Guides
14
MAPS - NORTH TERMINAL
In association with
12
11
12
9
6
1
10
2
3
4
8
5
13
6
4
5
7
Restaurant / Café
1 Nike
3S unglass Hut
4 Café Rouge
5S pectrum Internet
6 Lloyds No.1
7E n Toast
8S hake-A-Hula
9E at
10 Caffè Nero
11 Garfunkels
12 Armadillo
13 Costa Coffee
Bureau de change
Public telephone
Wireless hotspot
2M oneycorp Bureau de Change and cash machine
Services
Shops & Food and Drink
Accessible toilet
Babycare
Toilet men
Toilet women
Amenities
Public areas
Passenger areas
Lift
North Terminal - International departure lounge, upper level
S
M
S
S
E
E
Business Traveller Airport Guides
15
MAPS - NORTH TERMINAL
In association with
UK
Channel Islands
Ireland
arrivals
International arrivals
Domestic arrivals
Baggage reclaim
To long term car parks
Taxis and car rental
Entrance
Entrance
Entrance
Entrance
To Chapel
and baggage
services
6
8
7
9
10
11
15
12
14
14
3
2
1
5
13
14
16
13
4
4
4
17
To smoking area
across forecourt
Restaurant / Café
2C osta Coffee
3W orld Duty Free Arrivals Shop
6W HSmith
Baggage reclaim
Bureau de change
Information
Meeting point
Public telephone
Smoking area
Wireless hotspot
1H M Immigration information telephone
4S pecial assistance help point
5 National Express waiting area
7 Cash machine
8 National Express tickets
10 British Hotel Reservation
Centre (BHRC)
11 Travelex Bureau de Change
13 easyBus
14 Shopping collection
15 Emirates Limousine Services
16 BA Solo Flyers meeting point
17 Seating Area
Services
Shops & Food and Drink
Accessible toilet
Babycare
Toilet men
Toilet women
Amenities
Public areas
Passenger areas
Lift
9S pectrum In
12 Gamegrid
North Terminal - Arrivals
S
C
S
W
W
H
ternet
Business Traveller Airport Guides
16
MAPS - SOUTH TERMINAL
In association with
10
1
7
6
6
15
6
2
3
5
4
8
4
7
4
2
3
4
8
1
14
2
12
2
11
13
13
14
20
11
4
1
3
2
10
12
9
9
Gatwick Train station and
north terminal shuttle
Long & short stay car parks
Car rental
Coach station
Taxis
Hilton hotel
Train station
Train station
Up to
Security
Up to
The Village
Long & short stay car parks
Car rental
Coach station
Taxis
Hilton hotel
UK domestic arrivals
& Zone B check-in
Lifts to
Arrivals Lounges
Lift to platforms
Zone A
Zone C
Zone D
Stairs/escalators
down to Zone B
Zone E
Zone H
Zone J
Zone K
Zone S
Departures
International
departures lounge
Security
Zone F
Zone G
Special assistance
security
International
arrivals
Buggy access
Bureau de change
Chapel and prayer room
Check-in
Lift
Lost property
Public telephone
Smoking area
Tour operator / airline ticket desks
Wheel chair access
2M oneycorp Bureau de Change
4O versized baggage
5S pecial assistance desk
& reserved seating
6S elf-service check-in
7S pecial assistance help point
8T ravelex Bureau de Change
9 Cash machines
10 Photo booth
11 HM Customs
13 British Hotel Reservation Centre (BHRC)
15 Baggage repack and weigh zone
Services
1B ags etc. (Excess Baggage Company)
3W HSmith
12 Boots
14 M&S Simply Food
Shops & Food and Drink
Accessible toilet
Toilet men
Toilet women
Amenities
Public areas
Passenger areas
Lift
South Terminal - Check-in
T
S
S
S
M
O
B
W
Business Traveller Airport Guides
17
MAPS - SOUTH TERMINAL
In association with
7
10
7
8
4
2
11
10
14
13
20
20
11
15
16
17
18
23
24
22
25
21
8
6
5
4
1
3
2
10
19
12
9
9
Up to
The Village
a
rrivals
e
ck-in
c
alators
Z
one B
o
ne H
Zone J
Departures
International
departures lounge
Security
To gates 1 - 10
To airline lounges
To gates
11 - 95
Costa Coffee at
gates 23-28 and 31-38
WHSmith and
World Duty Free
at gates 31-38
From flight connections
Bureau de change
Information
Seating
Security
Public telephone
Wireless hotspot
9 Travelex Bureau de Change
and cash machine
10 Special assistance desk
& reserved seating
11 Moneycorp Bureau de Change and cash machine
12 Customs VAT office
Services
Restaurant / Café
1 Sunglass Hut
2A nimal
3 Caviar House Seafood Bar
4B oots
5 Fat Face
6 Watches and Jewellery
8 Harrods
13 WHSmith Books
14 Ted Baker
15 Clarins
16 Dixons Tax Free
17 Rolling Luggage
18 World of Whiskies
19 Best of the Best
20 World Duty Free Promotions
21 World Duty Free
22 Spectrum Internet
23 HMV
24 Hugo Boss
25 WHSmith
Shops & Food and Drink
Public areas
Passenger areas
Lift
Accessible toilet
Babycare
Shower facilities
Toilet men
Toilet women
Amenities
South Terminal - International departure lounge, lower level
B
A
Business Traveller Airport Guides
18
MAPS - SOUTH TERMINAL
In association with
14
2
11
2
3
1
6
8
9
7
14
13
12
16
17
18
19
20
20
15
10
8
13
1
To airline
lounges
First aid
box
e
l
Stairs to
Frankie & Benny’s
View of
aircraft
View of
aircraft
Lift to
Frankie & Benny’s
(limited access)
5
3
Security
4
5
To airline
lounges
Entrance
from Village
security search
Moneycorp Bureau de Change
and cash machine
Public telephone
Seating
Wireless hotspot
7M oneycorp Bureau de Change
Services
Restaurant / Café
1P ret A Manger
2W HSmith
3 Next
4A ccessorize
5J D –K ing Of Trainers
6S hake-A-Hula
8J D Wetherspoons ‘The Flying Horse’
9M cDonald’s
10 Game Grid
11 World Duty Free and Sunglasses
12 Kurt Geiger
13 SuperDry
14 All Saints
15 Dixons Tax Free
16 The Bridge Bar and Frankie & Benny’s
17 Apostrophe
18 Costa
19 Café Rouge
Shops & Food and Drink
Public areas
Passenger areas
Lift
Accessible toilet
Toilet men
Toilet women
20 Airline lounge
Amenities
South Terminal - International departure lounge, upper level
S
M
M
J
J
W
A
P
Business Traveller Airport Guides
19
9
1
11
1
6
8
9
7
14
13
12
10
To Chapel
and prayer room
2
Down to
arrivals
Security
3
To airline
lounges
Entrance
from Village
Security Search
New Security area under construction
including new refreshment facility.
Opening summer 2011
MAPS - SOUTH TERMINAL
In association with
10
1 Bags etc
2 Travelex Bureau
3 WHSmith
4 Travelex
5 TTT
6 Boots
7 Game Grid
10 Whistlestop
30 World of Whiskies
31 Virgin Megastore Express
32 Best of the Best
33 Hugo Boss
35 WHSmith
36 World Duty Free
38 Harrods
39 The Clarins Studio
41 Goldsmiths
4
2
13
3
4
4
5
6
7
1
15
2
12
2
11
10
14
d
t
Up to
The Village
Up to
Security, Cafe.
Chapel and prayer
room
Lifts and stairs
for local buses
Lifts to
Yotel
No
entry
Exit from
baggage reclaim
Zone K
Zone S
Departures
International
arrivals
To check-in
Bureau de change
Meeting point
Smoking area
Wireless hotspot
1T ravelex Bureau de Change and cash machin
2U K Immigration Services phone
5O nward Travel Centre –T rains,
easyBus, National Express
Services
Public areas
Passenger areas
Lift
Restaurant / Café
3W HSmith
4W orld Duty Free Arrivals Shop
6 Left baggage (and shop and drop)
7C osta Coffee
Shops & Food and Drink
South Terminal - Arrivals
Restaurant / Café
1 Caffè Nero
2 Boots
Bureau de change
Chapel and prayer room
Lift
Postbox
Public telephone
Seating
Wireless hotspot
3 Photo booths
Services
Shops & Food and Drink
Accessible toilet
Babycare
Shower facilities
Toilet men
Toilet women
Amenities
Public areas
Passenger areas
Lift
South Terminal - The Village
T
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Business Traveller Airport Guides
20
NORTH TERMINAL
DEPARTURES LANDSIDE
EAT There are branches of Costa Coffee, Caffe
Nero and Marks and Spencer Simply Food if
you want a quick drink or bite. Joe’s Kitchen and
Coffee House serves a variety of dishes, from a
traditional English breakfast (£8) to a Thai green
curry (£9). The Globe Freehouse offers beers
(£3.50 per bottle), wines (about £4 per glass) and
spirits, as well as a varied food menu.
SHOP Popular high-street chains include Boots,
Accessorize, Monsoon, Tie Rack and Sunglass
Hut. The Excess Baggage Company caters
for your last-minute travel needs and Rolling
Luggage offers top brands of travel luggage.
DEPARTURES AIRSIDE
EAT The North Terminal has many outlets to
suit all budgets, ranging from Costa Coffee to
the Caviar House and Prunier Seafood Bar. The
Armadillo Cafe and Grill provides dishes inspired
by the southern US such as tostada and sweet
corn fritters. The Red Lion is a Wetherspoon
bar offering a wide range of beers and wines
plus classic pub food (fish and chips is £9, as is
sausages and mash). There is also a Caffe Nero,
sandwich bars such as Eat and En Toast, and
Shake-a-Hula, an American-style milkshake bar.
The terminal also includes Café Rouge, which
serves French-style cuisine, Lloyd’s No 1, a
stylish bar offering a selection of drinks, snacks
and meals (breakfast is served until noon), and
Garfunkel’s, which offers options such as a
classic burger for £9 or beef and ale pie for £11.
SHOPS Popular fashion brands include Ted
Baker, Hugo Boss, Mango, Lacoste, Ray-Ban,
JD Sports, Fat Face, Next and Tie Rack. There
is a large World Duty Free offering tax-free prices
on a range of products, WHSmith and Boots
for essentials, Accessorize and Sunglass Hut
for holiday accessories, and HMV for music.
There is also a small Harrods outlet that provides
a range of luxury products, and a Hamleys for
exclusive toys. Dixons Travel is handy for any
last-minute electronics buys and Rolling Luggage
can also be found airside. Jo Malone and Rituals
provide premium beauty products, and Shoe
Studio is there if you need extra footwear. Master
of Time has a variety of fashion accessories,
Travelex and Moneycorp provide currency
exchange, World of Whiskies offers a range
of 350 malts and Glorious Britain is the place
for gifts and souvenirs. Game Grid offers fruit
machines and video game entertainment.
ARRIVALS
EAT Costa Coffee
SHOP WHSmith, Boots, World Duty Free, Game
Grid, Travelex
DINING AND SHOPPING
SOUTH TERMINAL
DEPARTURES LANDSIDE
EAT Giraffe offers a global menu ranging
from burgers (£9) to mezze plates (£8), while
sandwich bar Apostrophe provides fresh food
all day. Both have departure screens for keeping
an eye on your flight. There are also branches of
Costa Coffee, Caffe Nero, the Gourmet Hotdog
Company and Marks and Spencer Simply Food.
SHOP There are WHSmith, Accessorize, Boots,
Sunglass Hut, Moneycorp, Travelex, Game Grid
and Rolling Luggage outlets.
DEPARTURES AIRSIDE
EAT Outlets range from McDonald’s to the Flying
Horse, a family-friendly pub. There is Frankie
and Benny’s for US/Italian-style food, and a Café
Rouge. The Caviar House and Prunier Seafood
Bar offers a sophisticated dining experience,
serving king crab (£20) and caviars such as
Tsarina (£19.50 for 15kg), Malossol (£70 for
30kg) and Heritage (£125 for 30kg). The Bridge
Bar and Eating House serves pastas (from £8)
and grilled salmon with pesto (£11). There are
branches of Caffe Nero, Costa Coffee, Pret a
Manger, Shake-a-Hula and Apostrophe.
SHOP Fashion stores include Ted Baker, Hugo
Boss, Kurt Geiger, Superdry, Next, Fat Face, JD
Sports and All Saints. There is also a World Duty
Free store, a small Harrods outlet, and branches
of Sunglass Hut, HMV, WHSmith, WHSmith
Books, Dixons Travel, Boots, Rolling Luggage,
World of Whiskies, Accessorize, Master of Time,
Travelex, Moneycorp and Game Grid.
ARRIVALS
EAT Costa Coffee, Giraffe
SHOP Boots, WHSmith, World Duty Free,
Travelex, Game Grid
In association with
Business Traveller Airport Guides
21
useful tips
If you want to see how the
airport will look when its
revamp is complete, look
out for posters displaying a
huge bar code for the free
Stickybits app. Android and
iPhone users can download
it for an audiovisual peek
behind the scenes.
If you’re looking for a
hotel, don’t rule out
properties nearer the
other terminal. The
entrance to the Sofitel,
for example, is just
by the North Terminal
shuttle drop-off so,
with the speed of the
transfer service (only a
few minutes), could be
quicker than going to
a hotel near the South.
(See page 22.)
Arrived off a night flight and
going straight to a meeting?
The arrivals lounge in the
Sofitel (open 5am-1pm;
free to BA first, business
and full-fare economy
passengers when they show
their boarding pass, £20
for others) has 19 shower
rooms, and staff will press
your clothes while you
freshen up. You can grab
breakfast, too. (See page 9.)
If you want to get
some sleep between
connections, the Yotel
in the South Terminal
offers cabins for four-hour
periods. (See page 22.)
Travelling economy but fancy
some pampering? The new
No 1 Traveller lounge in the
North Terminal costs £25 to
access (£20 online), or you
can opt to use only its spa
services, which are priced by
treatment. No 1 Traveller’s
South Terminal lounge also
offers treatments, though you
will have to pay for lounge
access too. (See page 9.)
Want the fastest way into
the airport? In the South
Terminal, park on the first
floor of short-stay car park
3 to be on the same floor
as the entrance – though
from March next year,
when the new forecourt
building will be complete,
that will change to the
second floor. In the North
Terminal, park on the
fourth level of the brand-
new short-stay car park
6 – by August-September, it
will have a direct walkway
to check-in (be aware that
this level will cost more).
If you have a question about
your flight, or are in the
terminal and need help, it
might be quicker for you to
tweet it as Gatwick uses
Twitter as a customer service
tool and aims to offer swift
assistance. The airport also
tweets news and special
offers. See twitter.com/
gatwick_airport
Unless you are worried
about saving the
environment, don’t worry
about fishing out an old
plastic bag for liquids
before you travel – free
ones are supplied.
If you need to access
the internet or print any
documents, there are banks
of PCs and printers in both
terminals, with web access
costing from £1 for ten
minutes. The airport was also
set to install mobile printing
facilities at the exit of the
North Terminal departures
lounge by the end of June/
beginning of July.
Book car parking in
advance for the cheapest
rates – visit gatwickairport.
com/parking. (See page 7.)
In association with
Business Traveller Airport Guides
22
AT THE AIRPORT
HILTON LONDON gATwICK AIRPORT
The 821-room Hilton is connected to the South
Terminal and located next to the long-stay
car park. Its public spaces were revamped in
November 2009, adding a restaurant, redesigned
lobby and atrium area, and Costa Coffee shop.
Amy’s bar in the centre of the atrium is a great
place to sip cocktails. You can drop your key
through a post box in the lobby if you wish to
make a speedy check-out, and there are live flight
information screens. Rooms start from 23 sqm
and have wired internet charged at £15 for 24
hours (there is wifi in the lobby). Executive rooms
come with thick white bathrobes and slippers
and access to the Executive lounge, which offers
a complimentary continental breakfast, snacks,
drinks and free wifi. The hotel also has a business
centre, 21 function rooms and a small 24-hour
gym. The hotel group is scheduled to open a
192-room Gatwick property under its Hampton
by Hilton brand in time for the 2012 Olympics.
n South Terminal; tel
+44 (0)1293 518 080;
hilton.com
YOTEL gATwICK
Located underneath the
South Terminal arrivals
hall, this was the first
Yotel to open when
it launched in 2007
(the brand now has
properties at Heathrow
and Amsterdam
Schiphol airports,
and in New York). It has 46 pod-style rooms
that can be booked overnight, or for four-hour
stints if you are between connections and want
to grab some rest. The white-walled, futuristic
cabins are compact to say the least – 7 sqm for
Standard ones, which have single beds, and
10 sqm for Premium ones, with doubles – and
have no daylight. Nevertheless, they have all the
amenities you need for a short stopover, including
air conditioning, a rainshower, white towels and
linens, free wifi, flatscreen TV (in Premium rooms
you can connect your iPod to them), a small
fold-down table and chair with plug sockets,
and mood lighting. The reception is manned 24
hours and has self-service check-in kiosks and a
phone-charging stand. A round-the-clock snack
menu can be delivered to your room.
n South Terminal; tel +44 (0)20 7100 1100;
yotel.com
SOFITEL LONDON gATwICK
Accessed by a covered walkway from the North
Terminal Interchange, where the shuttle service
from the South comes in, the 518-room, four-
star Sofitel opened in 2005 (it was previously
a Le Méridien) and is built around a bright and
airy eight-floor atrium. Rooms start from 23 sqm
and are modern with big windows – higher up
the building there are some good views of the
runway and surrounding area. Entry-level rooms
come with wired and wifi internet (£15 per 24
hours), a workdesk, 24-hour room service,
a tube TV (to be upgraded to a flatscreen by
October), fridge, tea and coffee-making facilities,
iron and ironing board and safe. Upgrade to
a Superior room and you get free internet
and bottled water, 10 per cent off food and
beverages and half-price movies, while Luxury
rooms (which already have flatscreens) have
a minibar, robe and slippers, and access to
the Club lounge, which serves a continental
breakfast and evening alcoholic drinks and
canapés. There are also two bars, a café, a
brasserie with private dining space, 11 meeting
rooms – the largest of which holds 300 theatre-
style – a 24-hour gym, and a paid-for airline
arrivals lounge open in the mornings (see page
10 for more information).
n North Terminal; tel +44 (0)1293 567 070;
sofitel.com
hotels and meetings
NEAR THE AIRPORT
PREMIER INN gATwICK AIRPORT CENTRAL
The closest Premier Inn to the airport (until a
630-room one opens in late 2012/early 2013
with direct access to the North Terminal) is a
ten-minute walk around a ring road from the
North Terminal. At night, and with luggage in
tow, it wouldn’t be the nicest stroll, so you may
want to use the round-the-clock shuttle bus
(£2.50). Refurbished last year, it has 220 rooms
decked out in Premier Inn’s purple and white
colour scheme, equipped with double and sofa
beds, flatscreens with Freeview, wifi (£9 per
24 hours), workdesks, tea and coffee-making
facilities, and a combined shower and bath. An
£8 buffet breakfast is served in Thyme – Premier
Inn’s new-concept restaurant – a pleasant space
that also serves snacks and dinner. There’s also
a business corner with two PCs in the lobby
(£3.75 for 15 minutes) and internet is £9 for 24
hours. Park and fly deals are available.
n Longbridge Way; tel +44 (0)870 238 3305;
premierinn.com
Hilton
Sofitel
Sofitel
In association with
Business Traveller Airport Guides
23
hotels and meetings
COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT LONDON
gATwICK AIRPORT
The UK’s only Courtyard opened in April
2009 and is a ten-minute walk from the
South Terminal (the shuttle bus that serves
the Premier Inn Central also stops here).
The 218-room new-build features a bright,
attractive lobby with floor-to-ceiling windows,
a bar, a restaurant overlooking a garden area,
and a “courtyard” – essentially, a white-walled
atrium area with potted trees and seating.
Rooms are a decent size and have an earthy
colour scheme featuring a leaf motif. Facilities
include a workdesk with leather seat, a
flatscreen TV with Freeview, wifi internet
charged at £12 for 24 hours, tea and coffee,
a laptop safe, iron and ironing board, air
conditioning, a combined shower and bath,
and room service served 12pm-10pm. It’s
worth paying £24 to upgrade to one of the
spacious Junior suites, which offer espresso
machines, robes, free internet and 10 per
cent off food and drink. There’s also a good-
sized gym, a business corner with three PCs,
a snack bar, and three meeting rooms, the
largest of which holds 35 delegates. Park and
fly deals are offered.
n Buckingham Gate; tel +44 (0)1293 566 300;
marriott.com
TRAvELODgE
Located a ten-minute drive from both terminals
is the 185-room Travelodge. Open since
2001, it is divided into old and new, and the
newer, 58-room part was refurbished four
years ago. Rooms are basic but are all family-
sized, so offer a good amount of space and
a sofa bed as well as a double. They also
have desks, tea and coffee-making facilities,
flatscreen TVs, a shower over the bath and
double-glazed windows. Wifi costs £10 for
24 hours. Rooms in the older part of the hotel
have the same layout but feel more dated – it
is one of Travelodge’s properties earmarked
for refurbishment, but no date has been set
for this yet. An all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet
served in the on-site bar/café is £7.65, and this
Travelodge is the only one in the UK to serve
it from 5.30am-10am. Other facilities include a
24-hour manned reception, vending machines
and a PC in the lobby, where internet costs £1
for 20 minutes. A shuttle bus service operates
between 3.20am and 1am and costs £3.20.
Travelodge has also taken over the Mercure
London Gatwick Airport north of the airport,
and is to expand the property’s room count
from 257 to 400.
n Church Road, Lowfield Heath; tel +44 (0)871
360 2020; travelodge.co.uk
PREMIER INN MANOR ROYAL
Situated in the Manor Royal business park,
two miles from the South Terminal, this Premier
Inn opened in June last year and is very
well-presented, with a stylish bar and Thyme
restaurant that serves Costa coffee. There
are 204 bedrooms with blackout curtains
and comfortable beds. They come with a
laptop safe, shower over a bath, and tea and
coffee-making facilities, and wifi costs £10
for 24 hours. There are seven meeting rooms
with daylight on the ground floor, the largest
of which holds 60 people. The hotel has a
24-hour reception, self-check-in kiosks, and
a lounge/kitchen area and gym which are
exclusively for crew and pilots. Park and fly
packages are available. The G23 shuttle bus to
the airport visits the hotel every 20-40 minutes
and costs £3.
n Crawley Business Quarter; tel +44 (0)871
527 9214; premierinn.com
PREMIER INN gATwICK SOUTH
Ten minutes from the South Terminal by car,
this Premier Inn has a countryside feel. Built
within the grounds of the former 14th-century
Gatwick Manor, the original moat with its lilies
and ducks is a pleasant feature. The hotel
has 105 rooms equipped with wifi (free for 30
minutes, then £10 for 24 hours). The layout
and amenities in the rooms are identical to
those of Premier Inn Manor Royal, except there
are no safes (there is one at reception). Guests
are served breakfast in the Gatwick Manor’s
Chef and Brewer pub-restaurant across the
path. The 17th century pub also offers an all-
day menu with mains costing about £8, and
there is outdoor seating. There are function
rooms available that are managed by Gatwick
Manor, the largest of which can hold 160
people theatre-style (visit gatwickmanor.co.uk).
Park and fly packages are available, and the
G23 hopper bus also serves the hotel. Other
Premier Inns in the Gatwick area include the
Crawley (Pound Hill), Crawley East and Crawley
South (Goffs Park) properties.
n London Road; tel +44 (0)871 527 840;
premierinn.com
BEST wESTERN gATwICK MOAT HOUSE
The 125-room Best Western is next to the
Longbridge roundabout, just off Junction 9
of the M23, and a five-minute drive from the
South Terminal. Open since the early 1970s,
Courtyard by Marriott
Premier Inn Gatwick South
Premier Inn Gatwick Central
In association with
Business Traveller Airport Guides
24
hotels and meetings
the building feels a little dated, and while its
rooms are functional, their décor is quite drab
and uninspiring. However, they are reasonably
sized, and wifi is free. The TV offers a good
selection of channels, and there is a workdesk
and tea and coffee-making facilities. There are
eight meeting rooms with varying amounts
of daylight, and a Conference Café where
refreshments are available for delegates. The
hotel’s restaurant offers a variety of dishes
(breakfast is 6am-10am and dinner is served
from 5.30pm, in addition to a full lounge menu
from 11am till late), and 24-hour room service
is available. Park and fly packages are offered
and a shuttle service operates on request
around the clock, costing £3.50.
n Longbridge Roundabout; tel +44 (0)871
2261 931; bestwestern.co.uk
HOLIDAY INN gATwICK AIRPORT
Across the road from Best Western, the
Holiday Inn caters well to business clientele.
The Academy conference centre offers
12 meeting rooms with a capacity of 300,
in-house AV, natural daylight and a central
breakout area. Internet is charged as in the
hotel’s rooms – £15 for 24 hours (Executive
rooms have internet included and wifi is
available in the lobby). It’s also possible to
convert the ground corridor of bedrooms into
meeting rooms for interview sessions. The
Traders restaurant is reserved for conference
guests at lunchtime, but for breakfast and
in the evening it is open to all, and the
cosmopolitan Hub bar serves food all day.
The hotel has 216 modern bedrooms, and
Executive rooms come with free water, robes
and slippers, a trouser press, iron and ironing
board, and tea and coffee-making facilities. A
shuttle bus serves the hotel every 15 minutes
and stops at both terminals (£3).
n Povey Cross Road; tel +44 (0)871 9429
030; holidayinn.com
MENzIES CHEqUERS gATwICK AIRPORT
Refurbished in 2009, the Menzies Chequers
has a fresh, well-kept feel. The 104 rooms
have a splash of muted colour and have
flatscreen TVs with Freeview, free water and
wifi (Superior ones also have walk-in wet
rooms). The sophisticated Brasserie restaurant
serves breakfast and dinner, and the lounge
bar has an all-day food offering. The Chequers
Bar retains its original 15th-century bar and
character, and contrasts with the modern feel
of the main hotel, which was originally built
as an extension of the bar during the 1960s.
There are eight air-conditioned meeting rooms,
the largest of which holds 80 theatre-style.
Park and fly packages are available, and a taxi
ride to the airport takes ten minutes. Despite
being closer to the North Terminal, the road
system means it is slightly quicker to travel to
the South.
n Brighton Road; tel +44 (0)1293 766 750;
menzieshotels.co.uk
IBIS LONDON gATwICK AIRPORT
The Ibis’s 141 rooms were refurbished in
early 2010, and there are plans to refresh
the ground-floor open-plan lobby, restaurant
and bar. Rooms are modern with a pod-style
bathroom and curved furniture that uses
space efficiently. The Philips TV comes with
a wireless keyboard and can double up as
a PC. For £10 you can access the internet
(via the TV or cable provided) and watch
movies. Wifi is available, but is charged
and set up via Orange’s website. Rooms
also have tea and coffee-making facilities, a
walk-in shower (no bath) and an air-cooling
system. A hot buffet breakfast is served from
6.30am to 10am, and a continental breakfast
from 10am to 12am. There is a 24-hour
snack service, which includes pizza, curry
and jacket potatoes – this is served in the
restaurant, although you can also take the
food up to your room. The hotel is ten minutes
from the North Terminal and a shuttle service
operates every 30 minutes between 5am and
11.30pm. The local G23 bus also serves the
airport from here.
n London Road; tel +44 (0)1293 590 300;
ibishotel.com
CROwNE PLAzA LONDON gATwICK AIRPORT
Less than 15 minutes by taxi from the airport
is the Crowne Plaza, with 294 rooms that
have all been refurbished in the past three
years. The hotel has a classy feel with a
grand, sleek marble reception area that
leads on to the Cube restaurant. Here, a
buffet breakfast is served, along with evening
meals, while the Cube Lounge serves food
all day. There is also a separate bar that has
a pool table and shows sports matches in
the evenings. Standard rooms come with
complimentary water, robes, slippers, an
ironing board, flatscreen TV and a large
desk. Upgrading to a Club room gets you
a bigger bed, a walk-in shower and access
to the Club lounge, which has turquoise
and chocolate furnishings, individual booths
with TVs and a PC area with printer. The
conference suite has 11 meeting rooms, the
largest of which holds 300 for a reception.
Leisure facilities include a 15-metre pool,
steam room, spa bath and gym, open from
7am to 10pm.
n Langley Drive; tel +44 (0)1293 608608;
crowneplaza.com
RAMADA LONDON gATwICK
One of the nine Ramadas that is now being
managed by BDL, the Gatwick hotel has
recently been upgraded from a Jarvis to a
Plaza. A sweeping marble staircase leads
to six conference rooms on the first floor
Menzies Chequers
Menzies Chequers
In association with
Business Traveller Airport Guides
25
hotels and meetings
(there are further syndicate rooms on each
level), all with natural daylight and free wifi.
The 151 bedrooms have good amenities
and a corporate feel. There is a decent-sized
desk, trouser press, ironing board, tea and
coffee, air conditioning and triple-glazed
windows. Internet is £5 per hour or £10 for 24
hours (wifi is available only in the first floor bar).
The Arts Grill restaurant offers a sophisticated
menu that can be delivered to your room 24/7,
and the Club bar is open around the clock,
as is the kinetic room with treadmills and
cross-trainers. The hotel operates a shuttle
service (£3.20) every 30 minutes from 3am to
12.45am, and it is ten minutes from the airport
by taxi.
n Tinsley Lane South; tel +44 (0)1293 561
186; ramadahotelgatwick.co.uk
ARORA HOTEL gATwICK
A towering water feature, palm trees and glass
atrium ceiling give Arora’s lobby and lounge a
tranquil ambience. The hotel has 432 rooms
equipped with a fridge, laptop safe, iron and
ironing board, trouser press, tea and coffee-
making facilities and complimentary toiletries.
The Gallucci restaurant serves contemporary
Italian food, and there is a 24-hour gym and
health club with a steam room, jacuzzi room
and treatment room, open 8am-8pm. The
13 meeting rooms are on the ground floor,
the largest of which has a capacity of 270
theatre-style and backs on to a terraced area.
Park and fly packages are available and the
hotel has a private gate to Crawley station, an
eight-minute train-ride from Gatwick. It’s a ten-
minute drive.
n Southgate Avenue; tel +44 (0)1293 530 000;
arorahotels.com
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS gATwICK CRAwLEY
A 15-minute drive from the airport, the hotel’s
138 guest rooms were refurbished last year.
The rooms are clean and convenient and
feature flatscreen TVs with Sky channels, large
power showers, continental plug sockets and
tea and coffee-making facilities. Wifi internet
costs £10 for 24 hours. A continental buffet
breakfast with sausages and scrambled eggs
is served in the ground-floor restaurant from
6.30am to 10am during the week – this is
the only food the hotel serves, but there are
restaurants in walking distance. A tiny bar
extends from the reception desk and offers
a small selection of wines, and there is a
25-capacity meeting room.
n Haslett Avenue; tel +44 (0)1293 525 523;
hiexpress.com
FELBRIDgE HOTEL AND SPA
This four-star, 120-room property is located
on a busy section of the A22, about a
15-minute drive east of Gatwick. Modern in
style, it underwent a £7 million refurbishment
in 2007. There are two restaurants – Bay
Tree brasserie, a relaxed, attractive space
that seats 60, and Anise, an intimate fine-
dining establishment seating 30 – while Qube
cocktail bar can be used for conference
lunches. A ballroom with its own entrance
holds 330 for dinner – it opens on to a central
landscaped courtyard, which the property is
built around in a horseshoe shape. There are
eight other meeting venues, two tennis courts
and a 1,500 sqm field where teambuilding
activities such as duck herding, falconry and
archery can be held. Guestrooms are smart
and have free wired internet, Egyptian cotton
sheets, flatscreen TVs, safes, Elemis spa
products and 24-hour room service. The spa
has a kidney-shaped pool, relaxation room,
spa bath, sauna, steam room, five treatment
rooms and a gym.
n London Road, East Grinstead; tel +44
(0)1342 337 700; felbridgehotel.co.uk
Arora
Felbridge
Felbridge
Arora
In association with
Business Traveller Airport Guides
26
COUNTRY HOUSE HOTELS AROUND GATWICK
6 KILOMETRES
LANgSHOTT MANOR
Built in the 1580s and developed into a hotel
in the 1980s, this Grade II Listed building
has three acres of land, a croquet lawn and
beautiful gardens and is about a ten-minute
drive from the North Terminal. The medieval
property is covered in creepers and maintains
original features such as stained glass
windows, roof tiles, beams and a bell tower.
The hotel is divided between different mews
houses, with 22 rooms in total. Each has
unique special features, but all are luxurious,
with Egyptian cotton sheets, Temple Spa
products, tea and coffee-making facilities, a
desk and free wifi. There are three meeting
rooms, a gourmet restaurant and a homely
lounge furnished with medieval furniture with
a modern twist. The hotel is available for
exclusive hire for corporate groups.
n Langshott; tel +44 (0)1293 786 680;
alexanderhotels.co.uk
8 KILOMETRES
COPTHORNE HOTEL LONDON gATwICK
Originally a 16th-century farmhouse, the
Copthorne is set within 40 hectares of
woodland and landscaped gardens, despite
being only a ten-minute drive from the airport.
The hotel’s White Swan pub has original
beams, and a country-house style runs
throughout the 227 guestrooms. Club rooms
have large double beds, a spa bath, robes,
tea and coffee-making facilities, and wifi
costs £12 for 24 hours. Décor in the rooms is
traditional and pretty, but the hotel also has 34
more modern rooms with the same amenities
(except the spa bath). There are 15 meeting
rooms with good light, the largest of which
accommodates 100 theatre-style. There is
also a fine-dining restaurant, a brasserie and a
library-style bar. One minute’s walk away is an
LA Fitness leisure club, which is free for guests.
n Copthorne Way; tel +44 (0)13 4234 8800;
millenniumhotels.co.uk
11 KILOMETRES
COPTHORNE EFFINgHAM gATwICK
Copthorne’s other property in the area is set
in 40 acres of grounds just a few kilometres
northeast of the London Gatwick hotel. The
122-room property was once a stately home
and the lobby points to more glamorous times,
with its large central chandelier and grand
piano, but the hotel feels tired and in need of
renovation. The corridors look a little sad and
the rooms, while functional and good-sized,
would benefit from a refresh. They are traditional
in style and have tube TVs (you can access the
internet through these), tea and coffee facilities
and a trouser press. Club rooms (£20 extra) are
nicer and come with wired internet, robes, free
movies and a drink voucher (the Club lounge is
no longer in operation). New beds have been
installed throughout the property in the past few
weeks. In-room internet access costs £12 per
night, and wifi is available in the lobby (£2.50 for
one hour/£7 for 24 hours). There is a restaurant
and two bars, a domed conference suite holding
600 people, which was re-carpeted earlier this
year, and a selection of other meeting rooms.
Other facilities include a nine-hole golf course,
two tennis courts, a croquet lawn that can be
used for teambuilding, and a health club with a
good-sized gym, treatment room, sauna, steam
room and 20-metre pool. There is extensive car
parking and the number of vehicles parked up
around the property suggests that many guests
are taking advantage of its park and fly offers.
n West Park Road, Copthorne; tel +44 (0)1342
714 994; millenniumhotels.co.uk
13 KILOMETRES
NUTFIELD PRIORY HOTEL AND SPA
Easily reachable from Gatwick and the M25,
Nutfield Priory is a luxury, tranquil property
positioned high on a Surrey hillside and offering
wonderful views of the rolling countryside.
Accessed via a driveway off the A25, the 60-
room neo-Gothic building was constructed in
Langshott Manor Copthorne London Gatwick
Copthorne London Gatwick
In association with
Business Traveller Airport Guides
27
COUNTRY HOUSE HOTELS AROUND GATWICK
1872 as a private house for an MP, and retains
many of its original features, with furnishings
that merge traditional and boutique styles.
The homely lounge, featuring a beautiful old
organ and stained glass windows depicting
the crests of the Knights of the Crusades, is
a nice place to linger, but in warm weather
take a seat on the outdoor terrace leading
from the bar and library, and enjoy the view.
Bedrooms are elegantly decked out in shades
of aubergine, cappuccino and blush and have
flatscreen TVs and free wired internet (some
have wifi) – the 15 suites are particularly lovely.
Cloisters restaurant seats 62 and offers a
modern British menu. There are seven meeting
rooms, all with daylight, the largest of which
holds 100 people. Teambuilding can be held
in its 5.5 hectares of grounds, and on the 100
hectares owned by neighbouring company
Priory Events, with activities including quad
biking, off-road driving, archery and fishing.
There is also a lawned/forested area that
experiential training company the Holt uses to
run leadership-focused games. Located in a
building next door, the two-floor health club
and spa has nine treatment rooms, a saltwater
pool, a good-size gym, two squash courts, and
a big bar-café and garden area that can also
be used for group events.
n Nutfield; tel +44(0)845 072 7485;
handpickedhotels.co.uk
18 KILOMETRES
ALEXANDER HOUSE HOTEL AND UTOPIA SPA
About a 15- to 20-minute drive southeast of
the airport, this luxury boutique property has a
true country retreat feel, accessed via a curving
tree-lined driveway and offering amazing views
of the countryside. Built in the
1700s and set in 49 hectares of
grounds, it was the family home
of Percy Shelley and has been
a hotel for about 30 years. With
38 rooms, it is a member of the
Small Luxury Hotels of the World,
and attention has been lavished
on the interiors, a mixture of
traditional and contemporary chic – quirky
furniture and art pieces sit alongside lovely
original features. The lounge room off the
lobby, in particular, is beautiful, and opens on
to a terrace and lawn where gatherings can
be held. Guestrooms are individually designed
with plush furnishings, marble bathrooms
and free wifi. There is a fine-dining restaurant,
a brasserie, a champagne bar, a library and
six meeting rooms, the largest of which
accommodates 120 delegates. Teambuilding
can also be arranged (motorised activities are
not permitted). The luxurious two-level spa
has 25 treatment rooms, a Grecian-style pool,
spa bath, outdoor hot tub, sauna and steam
rooms, and a hair and nail salon, as well as a
big gym and a fitness studio. There’s a tennis
court, too.
n Turners Hill, East Grinstead; tel +44 (0)1342
714 914; alexanderhotels.co.uk
LINgFIELD PARK MARRIOTT HOTEL
AND COUNTRY CLUB
Not a country house hotel but
a modern new-build set in 180
hectares of parkland, overlooking
Lingfield Park racecourse. Open
since May last year, the 116-
room property is an excellent
proposition for groups wishing to
combine business with pleasure
– there are extensive meeting facilities across
the hotel and racecourse, along with an 18-hole
golf course, spa, and teambuilding activities
such as orienteering and 4x4 driving possible
in the grounds. Some £30 million has been
spent on building the hotel and upgrading
the racecourse’s facilities, which include a
450-capacity conference suite. There are 14
meeting spaces in total – four of these are in
the hotel, which is linked to the grandstand by
a covered bridge. Combined racing/meeting
packages are offered, with a conference in the
morning followed by lunch and an afternoon
of racing being a common option (there are 83
race meets taking place this year). Guestrooms
are smart with a racing-style colour palette of
green, brown and red, floor-to-ceiling windows,
a workdesk, media hub, free wifi and flatscreen
Nutfield Priory Nutfield Priory Alexander House
Lingfield Park
In association with
Business Traveller Airport Guides
28
COUNTRY HOUSE HOTELS AROUND GATWICK
PREMIER INN
CRAWLEY EAST
GATWICK
AIRPORT
CRAWLEY
HORLEY
EAST
GRINSTEAD
Crawley Rd
Crawley Ave
Crawley Ave
Crawley Ave
Antlands Ln
Brighton Rd
Effingham Rd
W Park Rd
Newchapel Rd
Eastbourne Rd
London Rd
Beeching Way
Eastbourne Rd
Racecourse Rd
Ray Ln
Copthorne Way
Copthorne Rd
Paddockhurst Rd
Turners Hill Rd
Selsfield Rd
Balcombe Rd
Northgate Ave
London Rd
London Rd
Balcombe Rd
Worth
Park
Ave
Horsham Rd
M23
M23
M23
Balcombe Rd
PREMIER INN
CRAWLEY SOUTH
ARORA
Three Bridges
Rail Station
Ifield Rail Station
Crawley
Rail Station
Gatwick Airport
Rail Station
Horley Rail Station
East Grinstead
Rail Station
RAMADA
JARVIS
CROWNE
PLAZA
PREMIER INN
MANOR ROYAL
PREMIER INN
GATWICK SOUTH
PREMIER INN
CRAWLEY
PREMIER INN
GATWICK CENTRAL
NUTFIELD PRIORY
HOTEL AND SPA
LANGSHOTT
MANOR
BEST WESTERN
MOAT HOUSE
HOLIDAY INN
MENZIES CHEQUERS
IBIS
SOFITEL
HILTON
YOTEL
GATWICK
COURTYARD
BY MARRIOTT
TRAVELODGE
COPTHORNE
LONDON GATWICK
ALEXANDER
HOUSE HOTEL
AND UTOPIA SPA
LINGFIELD PARK
MARRIOTT HOTEL
AND COUNTRY CLUB
COPTHORNE EFFINGHAM
FELBRIDGE
HOTEL AND SPA
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS
➔
SOUTH LODGE HOTEL
➔
TVs. Cyprium bar and grill is an airy space with
a terrace. The racecourse’s carvery restaurant
looks on to the winning post and can host 200
for lunch, while the main grandstand bar can
be used for drinks, and the corporate boxes
for breakout sessions. You can even do horse
riding on the course (if you bring your own
steeds). The spa has four treatment rooms, a
gym and a pool.
n Racecourse Road, Lingfield; tel +44 (0)1342
830930; marriottlingfieldpark.co.uk
25 KILOMETRES
SOUTH LODgE HOTEL
Turn off the busy A281 road up a tree-
lined driveway to South Lodge and you’ll
immediately feel tucked away from it all. About
a 25-minute drive southwest of the airport,
this grand five-star property is a member of
the Small Luxury Hotels of the World. Built as
a family home in 1883, it became a hotel in
the early 1980s and is set in 38 hectares of
grounds. The lobby is large and welcoming,
with original features including stained glass
windows and a big stone fireplace, and there
are various lounges for relaxing in. Dining and
drinking options include the Pass, a small,
ultra-modern fine-dining restaurant, Camellia,
a more traditional venue serving breakfast,
lunch and dinner, with an outdoor terrace
offering wonderful views of the South Downs,
and the Cellar, a newly opened wine bar
in the original Victorian cellar. There are 89
rooms and suites, the property having been
extended a couple of years ago, and all are
luxurious and elegant, with the rooms in the
main house having a more traditional feel.
Many have great mosaic-tiled bathrooms,
and standard facilities include Bose sound
systems, flatscreen TVs, free bottled water
and free wifi. A dedicated conference wing has
12 meeting rooms across three levels – all have
daylight and the largest holds 168 delegates
and has access to an outdoor terrace. There
is also a champagne pavilion, a five-hectare
activity field, a croquet lawn in summer, a
tennis court and small gym, and in-room
treatments can be arranged.
n Brighton Road, near Horsham; tel +44 (0)
1403 891 711; southlodgehotel.co.uk
South Lodge Hotel
In association with
