Roberta Aguirre
Gatwick Airport, located 45km (28 miles) south of London, is the second busiest airport in the United Kingdom. The airport's name is derived from its location, as it is situated in the town of Crawley in West Sussex. Gatwick Airport first opened as an aerodrome for commercial flights in the early 1930s and has since expanded to include two terminals, the North and South Terminals, and a single runway. The airport offers a range of amenities and transportation options, including hotels, shops, restaurants, and train services to London.
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What You'll Learn
Gatwick Airport's location
Gatwick Airport is located 27 to 30 miles south of London, in Horley, Gatwick, United Kingdom. The airport is situated 5 miles north of Crawley, in West Sussex. The latitude of London Gatwick Airport is 51.153629, and the longitude is -0.182152, or 51° 9' 13.0644'' N and 0° 10' 55.7472'' W.
The airport is accessible via the Gatwick Airport railway station, which is attached to the South Terminal. A free shuttle service transports passengers to and from the North Terminal. The airport train station has been in operation since 1958 and is located on the Brighton Main Line. Southern, Thameslink, and Gatwick Express trains provide direct connections to Brighton, Eastbourne, Littlehampton, Bognor Regis, and Portsmouth Harbour to the south. To the north, Thameslink trains connect to London Bridge, while Gatwick Express offers non-stop services to London Victoria. Southern trains also connect to both stations, as well as East Croydon and Clapham Junction.
Gatwick Airport consists of two terminals, the North Terminal and the South Terminal. Both terminals feature a variety of shops, restaurants, cafes, currency exchange services, and help desks. The airport's official taxi provider is Gatwick Cars, which has kiosks in both terminals. There are also several on-site and off-site hotels near the airport, and a range of parking options are available to suit different budgets and preferences.
Gatwick Airport is the second busiest airport in the United Kingdom, serving millions of passengers annually. It is a hub for British Airways and easyJet, and it offers flights to more destinations than any other UK airport. The airport has a single main runway that is 3,316 meters long, as well as a secondary runway that is used only when the main runway is not in operation.
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The airport's history
Gatwick Airport is located 28-30 miles south of London, just outside the town of Crawley in West Sussex. The airport is accessible by road, being directly linked to the M23 motorway at Junction 9, as well as the A23 London-Brighton road. It is also possible to reach Junction 7 of the M25 within 10 minutes of the airport. Gatwick Airport has an excellent public transport system, with a train station attached to the South Terminal and a free shuttle service to the North Terminal. The Gatwick Express train service runs to London Victoria station in central London in 34 minutes, while other train services connect to several London stations. Coaches are also available from Victoria Coach Station, taking around 1.5-2 hours.
The land on which Gatwick Airport stands was first developed as an aerodrome in the late 1920s and approved for commercial flights in the early 1930s. The first terminal, "The Beehive", was built in 1935, and scheduled air services 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 civilian use, and the current airport was built in the mid-1950s, opening in 1956. Gatwick Airport has two terminals, the North and South Terminals, and serves hundreds of destinations and millions of passengers each year, making it the second busiest airport in the UK.
Gatwick Airport has had several owners throughout its history. From 1966 to 2009, it was owned and operated by the former BAA Limited (now Heathrow Airport Holdings). In 2009, it was sold to a consortium led by Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), which also subsequently bought Edinburgh Airport in 2012 for £1.51 billion. GIP then sold minority stakes in the airport to the South Korean National Pension Service and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) in 2010. In 2018, Vinci announced it would acquire a 50.01% majority stake, with a GIP-managed consortium of investors retaining the remaining 49.9%. The airport is currently owned and operated by Gatwick Airport Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ivy Holdco Limited, which is owned by GIP and, subsequently, BlackRock.
Gatwick Airport has a wide range of amenities and facilities for passengers. Both terminals offer shops, restaurants, cafes, bureaux de change, and help desks. There are also Anglican, Catholic, and Free Church chaplains, with multi-faith prayer and counselling rooms in each terminal. The airport has a variety of parking options, including short-stay, long-stay, premium, and valet parking. Additionally, Gatwick has on-site and off-site hotels, with offers available for joint bookings of hotels and parking.
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Transport to/from the airport
Gatwick Airport (LGW) is located 28-30 miles south of London. The airport is easily accessible by train, coach, car, and taxi.
The Gatwick Express is a non-stop train service between the airport and Victoria station in central London. The journey takes about 30-34 minutes, and trains run every 30 minutes from 5:41 am to 11:10 pm. Thameslink and Southern also offer train services from Gatwick Airport to several London stations, including London Bridge, London Blackfriars, and St Pancras International. Trains run frequently, up to eight times per hour, and passengers can use Oyster cards or contactless payment cards for payment.
National Express operates coaches to and from Gatwick Airport, with services running day and night from multiple locations across the UK. The journey from Victoria Coach Station takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. Coaches arrive and depart from the lower level outside International Arrivals at the North Terminal, and tickets can be purchased online or at the ticket office inside the terminal.
Gatwick Airport offers a wide range of parking options, including short-stay, long-stay, premium, and valet parking. The airport's official taxi provider is Gatwick Cars, which has kiosks at both the North and South terminals and provides fare quotes online.
Additionally, many hotels in the Gatwick area offer airport transfers, and information on accommodation options can be found on the airport's website.
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The airport's terminals
Gatwick Airport has two terminals: the North Terminal and the South Terminal. The airport's first terminal, "The Beehive", was built in 1935, with the airport proper being built in the mid-1950s and opening in 1956. The North Terminal is accessible from the airport's train station via a free shuttle from the South Terminal, where the train station is attached. The North Terminal is also accessible via coach, with coaches arriving and departing from the lower level outside International Arrivals.
Both terminals offer a selection of shops, restaurants, cafes, bureaux de change, and help desks. Check-in desks can be found on the third floor of both terminals. The South Terminal features an independent pay-for-access lounge, while the North Terminal is home to the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse and the Virgin Holidays V Room, which is dedicated to long-haul leisure travellers.
Multi-faith prayer and counselling rooms can be found in each terminal, with a daily service led by one of the airport's Anglican, Catholic, or Free Church chaplains. Gatwick also has a conference and business centre, as well as on- and off-site hotels ranging from executive to economy.
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RAF Gatwick
Gatwick Airport, located in West Sussex, South East England, derived its name from its historical roots. The area where the airport is situated was originally a small village called Gatwick, which is believed to have originated from the Middle Saxon word "Gatwick", meaning "goat farm" or "goat wick".
During World War II, the airport served as a base for the Royal Air Force (RAF) and was known as RAF Gatwick.
As the war progressed, RAF Gatwick took on a more active role. It became a base for both Spitfire and Hurricane fighter aircraft, with these iconic planes taking off from Gatwick to defend the skies over Southern England and London during the Battle of Britain. The airfield also played a crucial role in the lead-up to D-Day, with RAF squadrons departing from Gatwick to provide air support for the Normandy landings.
In addition to its military functions, RAF Gatwick also made contributions to the war effort on the home front. The airfield hosted a number of repair and maintenance units, playing an important part in keeping damaged aircraft in the air. It also served as a training ground for new pilots, with the surrounding countryside providing an ideal, relatively secluded area for flight instruction.
After the war, the airfield was no longer required by the RAF and was handed over to the Ministry of Civil Aviation in 1946. It then underwent development to become the civilian airport we know today.
The history of RAF Gatwick is a reminder of the area's contribution to Britain's military efforts during World War II and the important role it played in ensuring the safety and success of Allied forces.
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Frequently asked questions
Gatwick Airport is named after the town of Crawley in West Sussex, where it is located. The town is called Gatwick.
Gatwick Airport opened as an aerodrome for commercial flights in the early 1930s. The first terminal was built in 1935, and the airport was taken over by the military during World War II.
Gatwick Airport has two terminals: the North Terminal and the South Terminal.
