London Gatwick Airport (LGW)

Overview

Located three miles (5km) north of the town of Crawley in West Sussex and 28 miles (45km) south of central London, London Gatwick Airport is the second-largest airport in London and the United Kingdom, serving more than 33 million passengers each year.

Despite the long distance from central London, London Gatwick Airport takes advantage of excellent public transport links into the city for a surprisingly easy commute. Flights to London Gatwick are provided by a variety of low-cost and charter airlines, offering flights to a number of popular holiday resort areas like the Canary Islands, Costa del Sol, and Greece. The airport also offers flights to many worldwide destinations, including Dubai, Orlando, Geneva, Toronto, Harare, Havana and Beijing.

The airport has a variety of restaurants and duty-free shops, but that's just the beginning of the entertainment at London Gatwick Airport. The facility's No. 1 Lounges offer everything from complimentary refreshments and games to spas and mini-cinemas, making any layover at London Gatwick a pleasure.

Location

The airport is situated 28 miles (45km) south of London.

Getting to the city

The easiest and quickest way into London from Gatwick is on the Gatwick Express train, which takes 30 minutes to the central Victoria railway station and costs £15. Local buses call at both terminals and run between Gatwick and key destinations including Crawley, Horley, Redhill and Horsham. Taxis are also available from the airport into town, while coaches take passengers to destinations including Heathrow, central London, Bristol and Brighton (ticket desks are in the North and South Terminals). Car rental companies operate from both terminals.

Time

GMT (GMT +1 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).

Contacts

Tel: +44 (0)870 000 2468.

Car rental

Car rental companies such as Avis, Budget, Europcar and Hertz operate from both terminals.

Airport Taxis

Taxis from Gatwick Airport are available outside the Arrivals Hall and a taxi to London city centre will take roughly an hour to an hour-and-a-half as this road can be very busy. The cost can be anything between £60 and £90.

Transfer between terminals

The two terminals are linked by the Inter Terminal Transit train that leaves every three minutes.

Facilities

Both terminals have shops, restaurants, bars, left luggage, bureaux de change, ATMs, an Internet café, baby changing rooms and children's play areas. In the South Terminal there is a post office, a medical centre offering vaccinations, and the BAA Conference and Business Centre, which provides meeting rooms, videoconferencing, fax, photocopy, Internet access and secretarial services. Disabled facilities at the airport are good; those who require special assistance should contact their airline in advance.

Parking

Short-term parking at London Gatwick starts at £1 for 15 minutes, £2.50 for 30 minutes, £5.20 for an hour, and £11.30 for three hours up to a daily limit of £30. Long-term parking, slightly farther from the terminal buildings, is charged at £11.50 per day and is served by a free shuttle.

Departure Tax

None.

Website

www.gatwickairport.com

Airlines

Flights to London Gatwick Airport are available via Aer Lingus, Air Europa, British Airways, easyJet, Flybe, Monarch, Ryanair, TAP Portugal, Thomas Cook, Thomson and Virgin Atlantic.

Internet

Wifi is available through Boingo for £3.95 per hour or £9.95 per day.

Business Lounges

There are business lounges located in each terminal offering free internet, fax, copying and scanning services as well as meeting rooms with audio-visual equipment.

London Gatwick Taxis: the taxi fares above are intended as a guideline only.

Parking: Passengers should book their Gatwick Airport Parking in advance to get the best rates.