Gatwick Airport Information

London Gatwick Airport has something for everyone!

Gatwick Airport is the UK's second busiest airport and sees more than 33 million passengers travel through it each year - a big change from its first year in operation in 1958 when just 186,000 people passed through the hub.

It is now the eighth busiest travel hub in the world and apart from the sheer volumes of people travelling through and a vast selection of flights to choose from, there are certain features about Gatwick Airport that makes it stand out.

Gatwick Airport is huge and its two terminals, the south one which opened in 1958 and the north, which came into being 30 years later, cover a massive 200,000 square metres.

Shop till you drop at Gatwick Airport

If you're a fan of shopping, then you will be pleased to know that almost 30,000 square metres of Gatwick Airport is taken up with retail space.

From buying some jewellery or a new bag in Accessorize to getting a silk scarf in Tie Rack or some Scottish beverages in the World of Whiskies, there are plenty of shops to keep you occupied.

You can pick up a last-minute British present from Harrods as a gift for friends or family abroad, treat yourself to indulgent underwear at La Senza or shop for essential beauty products at Boots while waiting to board your plane.

There is also the Gatwick Airport duty-free section, for happy browsing through perfumes, beauty products, alcohol, chocolate and cigarettes.

Enjoy a range of eateries when at Gatwick Airport

Restaurants and cafes are spread out evenly across the two Gatwick Airport terminals, offering a variety of different food options that are certain to tempt everybody.

Whether you want a relaxing hot drink while you read the paper in Costa Coffee, or fancy treating the kids to a Burger King meal there really is something for everyone.

Healthy options and huge breakfasts are available at Gatwick Airport's many eateries, which include Frankie and Benny's and Garfunkel's Restaurant.

If you have time to kill before an evening flight then there are also a few bars, including Wetherspoon's The Red Lion and Lloyds No.1 Bar, where you can escape and enjoy a drink before take-off.

Relax in a Gatwick Airport lounge

For business travellers or those who want to escape the hustle and bustle of the shops and restaurants there are a couple of airport lounges available to relax in.

Chill out in the Servisair lounge in the south terminal or the Aviance in the north before the journey from Gatwick Airport begins.

These airport lounges have internet access, TVs and a selection of newspapers, so you can settle down in comfortable chairs and enjoy the complimentary drinks and nibbles on offer.

Getting to Gatwick Airport

Another bonus if you are travelling from Gatwick Airport is that is very close to central London - a mere 30 minutes on the Gatwick Express, which is a high-speed train service especially for airport customers.

There are also daily coach services to Gatwick Airport from around the UK with direct services travelling from central London, Heathrow, Bristol and a number of other cities.

If you're planning on travelling to Gatwick Airport by coach then you can buy your National Express tickets at both terminals. The coaches stop outside both the south and north terminals making bus travel a convenient option.

But, if you're coming from further afield, booking an airport hotel for before or after the flight may be a wise idea.

Some conveniently located hotels include the four-star Copthorne London Gatwick, the three-star Europa and the two-star Russ Hill.

Or if you are driving to the travel hub then you could save cash by booking Gatwick airport-parking in advance online.

Pre-booking airport car parking will not only guarantee you a space but you could also save cash as early booking discounts are available from BookFHR.com.

Booking off-airport car parks can often be cheaper than the airport's on-site long-stay car parking and if you pre-book then you could save even more money.

Another option is the Meet and Greet services that operate to and from Gatwick Airport and can also be booked with FHR. An insured driver will meet you at the airport terminal and drive your car to a secure car park, saving you the hassle.

When you fly back to Gatwick the driver will have your car waiting for you at the terminal.

However whichever way you end up travelling to Gatwick Airport you can be sure that you can go onward to some fantastic destinations including Orlando in the US, Madrid in Italy, Alicante in Spain and Geneva in Switzerland.