Ruth Haines
London Gatwick Airport (LGW) is an airport located 30 miles south of Central London. It is the second-largest of the main London airports and the second busiest airport in the United Kingdom in terms of passenger traffic. The airport consists of two terminals, North and South, and is served by over fifty airlines, including British Airways, Virgin, and easyJet. London Gatwick Airport offers a variety of shopping, dining, and accommodation options for travellers, as well as convenient transportation links to London and other parts of the UK.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Gatwick Airport |
| IATA Code | LGW |
| Location | 30 miles south of central London, near Crawley, West Sussex |
| Year of opening | 1930s |
| Number of terminals | 2 (North and South) |
| Number of runways | 2 (1 secondary) |
| Number of gates | 31 |
| Airlines | British Airways, easyJet, Wizz Air, TUI Airways, Virgin, Thomas Cook, Thomson |
| Annual passenger traffic | 43 million |
| Transport to London | Trains, coaches, taxis |
| Transport to London time | 30 minutes |
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What You'll Learn
Gatwick Airport's history
Gatwick Airport (LGW) is the second-largest of London's airports and the second busiest airport in the United Kingdom in terms of passenger traffic. It is located 29.5 miles (47.5 km) or 30 miles south of Central London, just outside the town of Crawley in West Sussex. Gatwick Airport is unique among London's airports in its representation of the three main airline business models: full service, low-cost, and charter.
The land on which Gatwick Airport stands was first developed as an aerodrome in the late 1920s. The Air Ministry approved commercial flights from the site in 1933, and the first terminal, "The Beehive," was built in 1935. Scheduled air services from the new terminal began the following year. During World War II, the airport was taken over by the military and was known as RAF Gatwick. After the war, the airport returned to its civilian capacity, and the airport proper was built in the mid-1950s, opening in 1956. The airport buildings were designed by Yorke Rosenberg Mardall between 1955 and 1988.
In the 1960s, British United Airways (BUA) and Dan-Air were two of the largest British independent airlines at Gatwick, with BUA becoming the dominant scheduled operator and Dan-Air the leading provider of inclusive tour charter services. In the 1970s, following the takeover of BUA by Caledonian Airways, the resulting airline, British Caledonian (BCal), became Gatwick's dominant scheduled airline. BCal continued to dominate scheduled operations at Gatwick for most of the 1980s and also remained one of the airport's major charter airlines until the end of the 1970s.
In the late 1980s, conditions imposed by Britain's Monopolies and Mergers Commission on the takeover of BCal by the then newly privatised British Airways (BA) resulted in Dan-Air and Air Europe assuming BCal's former role as Gatwick's dominant scheduled short-haul operator. BA continued in BCal's erstwhile role as the airport's most important scheduled long-haul operator. In the early 1990s, following the demise of Air Europe and Dan-Air, BA began building up Gatwick as a secondary hub, eventually becoming the airport's dominant airline by the turn of the millennium. However, BA's subsequent decision to de-hub Gatwick created an opportunity for easyJet to establish its biggest base at the airport and become its dominant airline.
Gatwick Airport has two terminals, the North Terminal and the South Terminal, with a total of 65 gates. The airport operates as a single-runway airport, with a main runway length of 3,316 meters (10,879 feet). However, a secondary runway is available but can only be used when the main runway is not in operation. The airport is easily accessible by train, car, or coach, with excellent connections to London and the surrounding areas.
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Transport to and from Gatwick Airport
Gatwick Airport is conveniently located just south of London and is easily accessible by car, train, coach, bus, or taxi.
If you are travelling by car, the airport is linked to the M23 at Junction 9 and to the A23 Brighton road. There are several parking options available at the airport, including short-stay, long-stay, premium, and valet parking.
Gatwick Airport has direct rail links to 120 train stations, offering unrivalled connectivity into London and the South East of England. The Gatwick Express is a non-stop service to London Victoria Station, departing twice an hour and taking just 30 minutes. Thameslink also offers train services to several central London stations, including London Bridge, London Blackfriars, and St Pancras International.
National Express operates coach services from Gatwick Airport to various destinations across England and Wales, including London Victoria Coach Station. The coach and bus network connects the airport to over 100 cities and towns.
You can also easily get to and from the airport by taxi. Gatwick Cars Ltd is the official taxi provider and can be found outside both the North and South Terminals.
For those looking to cycle to the airport, Gatwick has better cycle accessibility than other London airports, with a national cycle route running through the airport.
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Facilities at the airport
Gatwick Airport (LGW) is located 30 miles south of central London and is the second-largest of the main London airports. It is the second busiest airport in the United Kingdom in terms of passenger traffic, with over 43 million passengers per year. The airport has two terminals, North and South, with 65 total gates, and both terminals have shops and restaurants. All areas are accessible to disabled passengers, and there are facilities for baby changing and feeding. Business travellers have specialised lounges.
The North and South Terminals are connected by a 0.75-mile (1.21 km) elevated, two-way automated people mover landside. They are not connected once past security. The South Terminal has 32 gates with jetbridges and seven remote gates. The North Terminal has 31 gates with jetbridges, including three that can support an Airbus A380. The airport has a wide range of parking options, including short-stay, long-stay, premium, and valet parking.
The airport has excellent transport links to London and the surrounding area. It is linked directly to the M23 at Junction 9 and to the A23 Brighton road. The coach and bus network connects to over 100 cities and towns, and the airport has better cycle accessibility than other London airports, with a national cycle route running through it. Gatwick Express offers a non-stop train service to central London, with trains running every 30 minutes. Thameslink and Southern also offer regular train services to London. Oyster cards, contactless payment cards, and mobile payments are accepted on trains.
Gatwick Airport offers a variety of food and drink options, including hearty meals, snacks, and tea. The airport also has shops, bars, and restaurants in the Arrivals hall, as well as currency exchange services. There are hotels in both terminals, and the airport's website offers joint booking deals for hotels and parking.
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Airlines operating from Gatwick Airport
Gatwick Airport, located just south of London, is a base for several scheduled airlines, including British Airways (BA), easyJet, Wizz Air, and charter operators such as TUI Airways. It is unique among London's airports as it represents the three main airline business models: full service, low-cost, and charter.
As of October 2016, these business models accounted for 26.6%, 61.3%, and 13.1% of Gatwick's seat capacity, respectively. EasyJet, as the largest low-cost carrier operating from Gatwick, served over 100 routes from the airport with a fleet of more than 60 aircraft as of late 2015. The airline's 16 million passengers per year accounted for 45% of Gatwick's 2013 total, making it the airport's largest carrier.
British Airways, which uses Gatwick as its secondary London hub, was the second-largest airline at Gatwick in 2013, with 4.5 million passengers, comprising 14% of total passenger traffic in 2011-2012. Norwegian Air Shuttle, which had a presence at Gatwick until late 2020 when it closed its base, was also one of the airport's three biggest resident airlines during that period.
In addition to these major carriers, other airlines that have operated from Gatwick in recent years include Thomas Cook Airlines and TUI Airways, which were among the five largest airlines at Gatwick in 2010 according to Official Airline Guide (OAG) data. Gatwick's diverse range of airlines and business models offers travellers a variety of options for both domestic and international travel.
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Hotels at Gatwick Airport
Gatwick Airport (LGW) is London's second-busiest airport, serving over 40 million passengers annually. The airport is located in Crawley, 31 miles (50 km) from central London, and is accessible by train, car, or coach.
Gatwick Airport offers a range of hotels within the airport and in the wider area, providing convenient options for travellers. Here is an overview of some hotels at or near Gatwick Airport:
Hotels within Gatwick Airport
Gatwick Airport has hotels located in both the North and South Terminals, offering easy access to departure gates and convenient check-in options.
- Premier Inn: This four-star hotel is directly opposite the main entrance of the North Terminal and features a Costa coffee shop, a restaurant, a bar, a business lounge, and express check-in desks.
- Hampton by Hilton: Conveniently connected to the North Terminal, this hotel offers high-quality accommodations, a restaurant, a bar, and a fitness centre. It is also just a five-minute shuttle ride from the South Terminal.
- Courtyard by Marriott: A short walk from the South Terminal, this hotel features an on-site restaurant and a well-equipped fitness centre.
- Yotel Gatwick Airport: This unique Japanese-style capsule hotel is located within the South Terminal, offering free Wi-Fi and a 24-hour front desk.
- Bloc Hotel: Also located within the South Terminal, Bloc Hotel provides modern and comfortable accommodations with free high-speed Wi-Fi.
Hotels near Gatwick Airport
There are also several hotels located near Gatwick Airport, offering convenient transfers and competitive rates.
- Sandman Signature London Gatwick Hotel: This hotel is praised for its cleanliness and convenient location for accessing the airport.
- Gatwick Studio: Located in Horley, this property offers accommodations with a terrace, free private parking, and free Wi-Fi.
- Cristina Modern: Found in Horley, this guest house provides comfortable and private accommodations, just 14 miles from Box Hill and 16 miles from Hever Castle.
Booking through the Gatwick Airport website may offer deals and discounts on joint bookings for hotels and parking.
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Frequently asked questions
LGW is the IATA code for London Gatwick Airport.
Gatwick Airport is located about 30 miles south of central London and is accessible by train, car, or coach.
Gatwick Airport has two terminals: North and South.
Gatwick Airport offers shops, bars, restaurants, currency exchange, and parking options. Hotels are also available in both terminals.
Travellers can take the train, which takes about 30 minutes, or opt for a taxi or coach service.
