London Gatwick Airport (LGW) Flights & Flight Status

Gatwick Airport is the secondary international airport serving London after Heathrow. It served 40.9 million passengers in 2023, with short haul flights accounting for 86% of journeys. The airport is split into two terminals, North and South, and has one runway. Low cost carrier easyJet is the airport’s biggest airline, handling 19 million passengers in 2023 alone.

The airport is located directly south from London, which is just 28 miles away. Gatwick is particularly well connected to the rest of Europe, servicing over 30 countries and 100 destinations in the continent – you can jump on a flight at Gatwick and be on a Spanish beach in just a handful of hours.

Travelling between Gatwick Airport and London

You can arrive at Gatwick and book a taxi at the Arrivals booth to take you the one hour 15 minutes drive into central London. While this may be the best method if you want a simple door-to-door service, it certainly isn’t the quickest or most purse-friendly option given the airport’s brilliant public transport connections.

The Gatwick Express is a direct service between Gatwick Airport and London Victoria Station and takes just 30 minutes. Given it’s predominantly used by visitors to London who have arrived at the airport, the service is quiet enough that you’re usually guaranteed a seat. You can book your ticket ahead of time online or buy one when you arrive in England.

A cheaper train option and the route most locals would opt for is to jump on a normal train. These can be busy but cost less and give you the option to arrive at different London stations – as well as Victoria, another main hub is London Bridge, for example. This is best suited for visitors staying south of the River Thames, so be sure to check which station is closest to your hotel before travelling.

Public transport routes to the rest of England and the UK

Unlike Heathrow, Gatwick Airport has its own train station that is connected to routes across the country. Jump on a train heading south and you’ll arrive in Brighton, the seaside city famed for its vibrant cultural, music and arts scene, in just half an hour. You can travel directly by train to over 120 stations, and to 700 stations within one change, so the world (or, at least, the UK) is your oyster.

If you choose to travel by train on your visit to the UK, be sure to book your tickets as far in advance as possible for the best prices. There aren’t seat reservations on every route, so be sure to arrive at the train station with plenty of time to give yourself the best chance of getting a seat.

There is also an extensive network of coaches and buses across the country, and many routes available directly from Gatwick – you can even use the direct National Express coach service to Heathrow for onward travel. I have used this service and it’s a quick, cheap and easy way to get to Heathrow an hour away, so I would definitely use it again.

Hiring a car at Gatwick Airport

Hiring a car is a great idea if you plan to visit more parts of the UK than just London – and if you have the time and budget to do so, I would highly recommend visiting the breadth of cities, towns and villages England has to offer. While the public transport network is great, having a car offers much more flexibility to explore the quieter corners of the country and enables you to do multiple pit stops per day.

Gatwick is served by seven car rental companies including familiar names like Hertz, Enterprise and Avis. From Arrivals at the South Terminal, follow the signs to car rental and take the upper forecourt lift to Level 0 – the desks are on the right hand side. If coming from North Terminal Arrivals, follow the signs to car rental and Jubilee House. The desks can be found past Jubilee House on the right.

I don’t recommend hiring a car to explore London as the traffic is terrible and the public transport network is frequent, affordable and efficient. However, if a car is essential for your trip, you may need to pay the city’s congestion and ULEZ charges. Be sure to research whether these charges apply to where you’ll be driving in London, as you could receive really pricey fines if you don’t pay what you owe.

Travelling internationally from Gatwick Airport

You can fly to over 220 destinations directly from Gatwick Airport. Most flights are within Europe, but there is a long haul roster too – I’ve flown to both Vancouver and New York from Gatwick, and other far-flung spots on its direct routes include Singapore, Las Vegas and Dubai. Gatwick’s huge list of European destinations is where the airport really shines through – the city break possibilities in particular are endless.

Gatwick Airport hotels

There are seven hotels within the airport’s campus that are all a short walk away from both terminals, making early morning flights a doddle. YOTEL is a great option for budget-conscious travellers and is situated within the South Terminal. It also allows for short, four-hour bookings, which could suit some travellers looking for a quick snooze before their onward journey.

If you’re looking for something a little more luxurious, head to the Hilton, which is a 10 minute covered walk to the South Terminal. It has a gym, restaurants and bars, as well as a business centre. It’s a huge hotel with 821 rooms, and the buffet breakfast is top notch.

Priority security

Security lines at Gatwick Airport can get very long at weekends – especially on UK bank holidays – so I have opted to pay the small fee for Fast Track security many times and I’ve never regretted it. Book online before your travel day for the best price, or pay a few pounds more when you arrive, and you’ll get access to the dedicated security lane. Opening times are from 4am to 10pm.

Lounges at Gatwick

Gatwick has five lounges in its North Terminal and two at its South Terminal. I recommend My Lounge at the South Terminal – mainly for its outside terrace and brilliant runway views. Nothing gets you in the mood for your holiday more than daydreaming at planes taking off while eating your way through a free buffet of hot and cold food. There’s even a DIY pancake making machine!

There’s also a self-service beer tap and a drinks selection of complimentary wines, spirits, soft drinks, juices, teas and coffees, plus games console stations, table football, TVs and a kids play area. My Lounge is open daily from 4am to 8pm, with the last entry at 7pm. It’s a great way to start your holiday – especially if it’s a special trip.

Food and shopping

Both of Gatwick’s terminals offer extensive shopping and food options to keep you busy in the lead up to your flight. In the North Terminal, grab an all-day breakfast at The Breakfast Club (the pancakes and vegetarian plates are incredible) or if you fancy a tipple, head to Bar on the Balcony for a glass of English sparkling wine.

Once you’re full, it’s time for some holiday shopping at outlets including Jo Malone, Ray-Ban, Hamleys and so many more – and you can never forget a trip to World Duty Free, which has a bit of everything from perfume to sweets.

In the South Terminal, I love a pre-flight meal at Giraffe for an unbeatable burger and chips (try the California burger) or, if you’re feeling really fancy, head to Caviar House & Prunier to really kick start the holiday in style. When it comes to shops, Sunglass Hut, Lego, Accessorize and Bobbi Brown are just a handful of the many stores as well as, of course, a huge World Duty Free.

My experience of Gatwick Airport

Gatwick is my nearest airport and the hub I search for flights from first as part of my travel planning – not only because of the convenience of its close proximity to home, but because its smaller size makes for a much less stressful travel experience than its expansive bigger sister Heathrow.

Gatwick has been the gateway to almost all of my travel within Europe, with low cost carriers like easyJet connecting the airport with a huge number of destinations across the continent – Copenhagen, Stockholm, Berlin, Amsterdam, Prague, Ljubljana, Kotor, and the list goes on. If you can fly to or from Gatwick and value a quieter travel experience, I’d choose the airport over Heathrow any day.