Gatwick Airport Guide

If you are planning on travelling through Gatwick Airport soon this guide will help you make the most of the facilities and services on offer at or near the airport. The sheer size of large international airports can at first seem almost overwhelming especially for those that have never travelled by air before. London Gatwick Airport is one of London's largest international airports, second only to Heathrow.

Located 45km south of London, Gatwick has two terminals and a complementary shuttle service between the two. After a recent change of ownership, the already successful airport has seen a numbers of changes. One of largest, currently under construction is a second intra-terminal shuttle service scheduled for completion on or before July 2010.

Check-in in the North Terminal is located on the third floor, while the South Terminal desks are located on the right side of the ground floor. For domestic flights, the check-in time is no later than one hour before departing. For European flights, check-in no later than two hours before departing. For International flights, check in is at least three hours prior to departing. To ensure a smooth check-in, become familiar with the security check and luggage policies of the airport.

Gatwick, in common with other busy areas of London suffers from heavy traffic congestion at peak times, you can avoid traffic and construction delays by making use of public transportation to and from the airport. The abundance of transportation choices will almost certainly fit any budget and the sheer number of services mean something should be available to suit your travel plans.

  1. Rail services: Overground rail services alone are not available to connect to the airport. However, the Gatwick Express is available on the underground network connecting from Victoria Station.
  2. Taxi services: The Taxi services available at the airport will pick you up and drive you to the forecourt of either terminal. Taxis remain at the airport on a regular basis for passengers arriving at Gatwick.
  3. Coach services: Several coaches run every hour between the terminals.

Once you arrive at the airport several activities are available to keep you occupied while you wait. Shopping is available in a large mall inside the retail area of the airport. Shopping at Gatwick offers a service in common with other airports whereby you may leave your purchase at the store location and pick it up pending your return to the airport. The airport also offers several fantastic eateries.

Another feature of the Gatwick Airport is the complimentary availability of the internet for those travelling with their laptops. Internet access is available in certain areas of the airport and is clearly marked. For those that are not travelling with a laptop, there are Internet stations available to use.