London's Lgw Airport: Location And Convenience

London Gatwick Airport (LGW) is the second-busiest airport in the UK and the eighth-busiest in Europe. It is located 29.5 miles south of Central London, near Crawley, West Sussex. The airport has two terminals, North and South, and offers full-service, low-cost, and charter flights to the UK, Europe, and beyond. London Gatwick is accessible by train, coach, or taxi. The Gatwick Express train service runs directly to Victoria Station in Central London in about 30 minutes. Coaches from Victoria Coach Station to Gatwick take about one and a half to two hours. Gatwick Cars is the airport's official taxi provider.

London Gatwick Airport's location

London Gatwick Airport (LGW) is located 28-30 miles south of London, near Crawley in West Sussex. The airport is conveniently positioned just south of London, with direct links to the M23 at Junction 9 and to the A23 Brighton Road.

Gatwick Airport is easily accessible by train, car, or coach. The Gatwick Express offers a direct train service to London Victoria Station, with a journey time of approximately 30 minutes. Thameslink and Southern also provide regular train services from Gatwick Airport to several London stations. For those travelling by car, the M23 motorway connects to the M25 and A23, providing easy access to central London. National Express operates a coach service between Gatwick Airport and Victoria Coach Station, with a journey time of about 1.5 to 2 hours.

Gatwick Airport has two terminals, the North Terminal and the South Terminal, which offer a range of shops, restaurants, and other amenities. The airport is well-connected, with a free shuttle service between the terminals and a nearby train station, making it a convenient travel hub for passengers travelling to and from London and the surrounding areas.

Transport options to and from the airport

London Gatwick Airport (LGW) is located 28-29.5 miles (45-47.5km) south of Central London. It is conveniently linked to London by train, car or coach.

Train

The airport's train station is attached to the South Terminal, with a free shuttle service connecting passengers to the North Terminal. The Gatwick Express is a nonstop train service to London Victoria station, taking 30-34 minutes. Thameslink and Southern also offer regular train services from the airport to several London stations.

Car

Gatwick Airport is linked to London by road, being situated just off the M23 at Junction 9, which connects to the M25. Airport Cars Gatwick is the official taxi provider, with kiosks at both terminals.

Coach

National Express runs coaches from Gatwick to London Victoria Coach Station, taking around 1.5-2 hours. Coaches depart from the lower level outside International Arrivals at the North Terminal.

The airport's history

London Gatwick Airport (LGW) is located 29.5 miles (47.5 km) south of Central London, near Crawley, West Sussex. It is the UK's second-busiest airport in terms of passenger traffic, serving as a secondary international airport for London.

Gatwick Airport has a rich history, dating back to the late 1920s when it first opened as an aerodrome. Here is a detailed account of the airport's evolution over the years:

The Early Years:

Gatwick's journey began in the late 1920s when the land was developed as an aerodrome. It started commercial flight operations in 1933 after receiving approval from the Air Ministry. The airport's first terminal, known as "The Beehive," was constructed in 1935, and scheduled air services commenced the following year.

World War II and Post-War Developments:

During World War II, the airport was taken over by the military and renamed RAF Gatwick. After the war, in the 1950s, Gatwick returned to its civilian role and underwent significant development. The airport buildings were designed by Yorke Rosenberg Mardall during this period.

Growth and Expansion:

In the 1960s, British United Airways (BUA) and Dan-Air were the leading independent airlines operating at Gatwick. BUA established itself as the dominant scheduled operator, while Dan-Air excelled in providing inclusive tour charter services. The airport continued to grow, and in the 1970s, following the merger of BUA and Caledonian Airways, the resulting airline, British Caledonian (BCal), became Gatwick's primary scheduled airline.

New Airlines and Increased Traffic:

In the late 1980s, British Airways (BA), which had acquired BCal, became Gatwick's dominant airline. However, when BA decided to de-hub Gatwick, it created an opportunity for EasyJet to establish its largest base at the airport and become its leading airline.

Transatlantic Flights and Beyond:

From 1978 to 2008, Gatwick Airport served as a hub for flights to and from the United States due to restrictions on the use of Heathrow Airport. This period saw significant traffic, with many airlines utilising Gatwick for transatlantic routes.

Recent Years:

Gatwick Airport has continued to evolve and adapt to the changing aviation landscape. In 2008, BAA announced its intention to sell Gatwick due to market dominance concerns. The airport was subsequently sold to a consortium led by Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) for £1.51 billion in 2009. GIP has since syndicated the equity portion by bringing in additional investors while retaining management control.

Today, Gatwick Airport boasts two terminals, the North Terminal and the South Terminal, and handles a significant volume of passenger traffic, serving as a vital gateway to London and the surrounding region.

The airport's busiest routes

Gatwick Airport (LGW) is located 28-30 miles south of London, in Crawley, West Sussex. It is the second-busiest airport in the UK and the eighth-busiest in Europe by total passenger traffic.

Gatwick Airport has two terminals, North and South, and uses a single runway, with a second runway available for use when the main runway is out of action. The airport handles over 40 million passengers per year and flies to more destinations than any other UK airport.

The busiest routes from Gatwick Airport in 2023 were:

• Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Tenerife-South, Spain
• Belfast-International

Other busy international routes include Barcelona, Dublin, Malaga, Madrid, Orlando, Geneva, Alicante and Copenhagen.

The airport's facilities

London Gatwick Airport (LGW) is located 45-48km (28-30 miles) south of London Central district, just outside the town of Crawley in West Sussex. It is the second-busiest airport in the UK and the eighth-busiest in Europe by total passenger traffic.

The airport has two terminals, the North Terminal and the South Terminal, with 65 total gates. Both terminals offer a range of facilities and services, including:

• Restaurants, cafes, and bars catering to a variety of cuisines and dining preferences.
• Shops, including duty-free options.
• VIP services.
• Baby-changing facilities.
• Kid zones and play areas.
• Free charging stations.
• Currency exchange and ATMs.
• Bag wrapping services.
• Meeting rooms.
• Special assistance services.
• VAT refunds.
• Post boxes.
• Public telephones.
• Information desks.

Additionally, both terminals are accessible to disabled passengers and offer multi-faith prayer and counselling rooms.

Frequently asked questions