Gatwick Airport Guide (LGW)

London Gatwick Airport

West Sussex, RH6 0NP, UK

LGW

44

0870 000 2468

None

Via the airport's website

www.gatwickairport.com

2

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

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

There had been doubts in recent months over the continued operation of the Gatwick Express non-stop train service to and from London Victoria station, but it was recently decided that it will continue to serve the airport until at least December 2008.

There is a free Transit train, which links the North and South terminals 24 hours a day.

The airport is linked to the M23 motorway. Turn off at junction 9 and follow signs for the airport. London Gatwick is also accessible from the A23 London-Brighton Road.

Each terminal has a short-term car park with direct access to the terminals via covered walkways; these are operated by NCP (tel: 0870 606 7050; website: www.ncp.co.uk). Long-term parking is also available in car parks further from the terminals; a free shuttle bus runs between the car parks and the terminals. Passengers can book parking via BAA Advance (tel: 0870 850 2825; website: www.baa.com). Valet parking is available and also operated by NCP.

Companies include Avis, Dollar, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz, National and Thrifty. Offices are located in designated car rental buildings on the Lower Forecourt Road at both terminals.

Rail: The Gatwick Express train (tel: 0845 850 1530; website: www.gatwickexpress.co.uk) runs regularly between 0435 and 0135 to London Victoria Station (journey time - 30 minutes). There is also a Thameslink (tel: 0845 748 4950; website: www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk) service, which runs to London King’s Cross (journey time - 50 minutes) as well as other London stations. Information on all national rail travel is available through the 24-hour National Rail enquiries line (tel: 0845 748 4950; website: www.nationalrail.co.uk).
Road: Coach: There are more than 400 express coach service operating daily from the coach stations at both terminals. The main coach station is located on the ground floor of the South Terminal, with most services operating from here. Principal routes also stop at the North Terminal station. National Express (tel: 0870 580 8080; website: www.nationalexpress.com) operates most of the services. National Express coach 700 coaches operate to Heathrow Airport, from both terminals. The National Express Shuttle coach 25 runs to London Victoria Station. The Gatwick Flyer (tel: (01708) 730 555; website: www.gatwickflyer.co.uk) runs to destinations east of London, and coaches operate from the South Terminal station only. There are coach information and ticket desks located in the Arrivals concourse of both terminals.
Taxi: The official Gatwick Airport taxi service is provided by Checker Cars (tel: 0800 747 737; website: www.checkercars.com). Booking desks are located in the North Terminal arrivals area, and the northern entrance to the South Terminal, and cabs wait outside the terminal buildings.

Each Arrivals concourse has an information desk (tel: 0870 000 2468) where multi-lingual staff are on hand to deal with enquiries 24 hours a day.

Money and communications: Both terminals have bureaux de change and ATMs. There is a post office and a 24-hour Internet café in the South Terminal. Wireless Internet connection is also available throughout the airport.
Eating and drinking: There are numerous restaurants, bars and cafés located in both terminals.
Shopping: There are many shops at the airport, including several duty-free outlets. The airport has also recently introduced a home delivery service and a collection service. More information is available from the BAA Shopping Information Line (tel: 0870 850 2825).
Luggage: Left-luggage facilities are available in both terminals. A lost property service is also operated by the Excess Baggage Company (tel: (01293) 502 014 South Terminal or (01293) 502 013 North Terminal).
Other facilities: These include baby changing rooms and showers, a children’s play area, a medical centre offering vaccinations (tel: (01293) 507 400) and prayer rooms.

17 meeting rooms are available for hire at the United Business Centre in the South Terminal (tel: (01293) 555 515; website: www.unitedbusinesscentres.co.uk). There are business facilities, including telephone, fax, photocopy and secretarial services and conference and meeting rooms, at London Gatwick Hilton Hotel (tel: (01293) 518 080; website: www.hilton.co.uk) at the South Terminal and at Sofitel London Gatwick (tel: (01293) 567 070; website: www.sofitel.com) at the North Terminal. There is one executive lounge in the South Terminal, the Servisair Lounge (tel: 0870 787 6877), and one in the North Terminal, the Aviance Alexandra Suite (tel: (01293) 507 203).

Special assistance is available for disabled passengers. There are ramps and/or lifts where necessary. Wheelchair push and provision and help with baggage are also provided on request. Reserved seating is located throughout the airport, and there is also designated parking for badge holders. There is an induction loop installed in the terminals, as well as disabled toilets. Passengers requiring assistance should inform the relevant airline before travelling. Travel-Care (tel: (01293) 504 283) provides advice to anyone who needs assistance and is located in The Village, in the South Terminal.

Airport hotels include the London Gatwick Hilton Hotel (tel: (01293) 518 080; website: www.hilton.co.uk) at the South Terminal, and Sofitel London Gatwick Hotel (tel: (01293) 567 070; website: www.sofitel.com) at the North Terminal. A new 'capsule' hotel, Yotel (tel: (020) 7100 1100; website: www.yotel.com), is located in the International Arrivals hall in the South Terminal. The PremierTravel Inn (tel: 0870 238 3305; website: www.premiertravelinn.com) is situated a 5-minute walk away from the North Terminal. Other nearby hotels include the Best Western Gatwick Moat House (tel: 0870 443 1671; website: www.bw-gatwickmoathouse.co.uk), Holiday Inn Gatwick Airport (tel: 0870 400 9093, website: www.ichotelsgroup.com), Renaissance Gatwick (tel: (01293) 820169; website: www.marriott.co.uk), Thistle London Gatwick (tel: 0870 333 9134; website: www.thistlehotels.com) and the Skylane Hotel (tel: (01293) 786 971; website: www.skylanehotel.co.uk).