Gatwick hotels

When it comes to the best hotels in Gatwick for location, Bloc Hotel Gatwick is hard to beat. Located in the airport’s South Terminal, the hotel is set just above the terminal building, mere minutes from the departures lounge. It’s the ideal spot if you’ve got an early-morning flight to catch.

Housed within a converted office building, the property is based on the Japanese concept of capsule hotels, so you can expect the rooms to be on the small side. That being said, I appreciate the decor, which is sleek and modern with cleverly designed furniture.

Despite being a fairly no-frills option, all double rooms have plush king-size beds, flat-screen TVs and adjoining wet rooms with monsoon showers. For something extra special, ask for one of the rooms with a runway view—the corner rooms offer the best vistas.

Despite being connected to Gatwick’s North Terminal, Sofitel London Gatwick isn’t your average airport hotel. That became apparent to me as soon as I stepped into the vast lobby, which is a bright, airy space that houses a variety of restaurants, cafes and bars.

One of the best hotels in Gatwick, rooms here are as plush and comfortable as you’d expect from the Sofitel brand, with delightfully large beds and floor-to-ceiling windows that let in plenty of natural light (as well as the odd runway view, if you’re lucky).

If you’ll be spending a bit of extra time here before jumping on a flight, there are plenty of amenities to keep you busy, including a 24-hour fitness suite, a range of meeting rooms and 4 restaurants and 2 bars. My top pick is Vanda, which serves a delicious array of Pan-Asian dishes.

If you’re catching a flight from Gatwick’s North Terminal, you can’t get a closer stay than the Hampton by Hilton London Gatwick. It takes just 5 minutes from the hotel lobby to the airport’s security line. Add on another 10 minutes if you’re departing from the South Terminal, which you can access via a free shuttle train.

The public spaces are sleekly designed with bright pops of colour—the bar area is particularly buzzy. Guestrooms are clean and comfortable, with purple accents and wooden furniture. I recommend upgrading to a Queen room for more space, especially in the bathroom, where you’ll even get your own bathtub.

This is one of the best hotels in Gatwick for those travelling with young children, thanks to the daily free breakfast. Making sure hungry kids are fed before a flight is essential, as I know all too well from travelling with my young daughter.

This is one of the best hotels in Gatwick for those looking to explore the local area. The Sandman Signature London Gatwick Hotel is just 3 miles from Gatwick but is a world away from the usual bland airport hotels. It’s an easy jaunt to the lively coastal city of Brighton from here, while the picturesque South Downs are just an hour’s drive away.

If you plan on staying closer to home, there are plenty of on-site amenities to enjoy, including a well-equipped fitness centre, where I love working up a sweat, a swimming pool and a steam room to melt away any post-flight aches and pains.

All of the 151 guestrooms come with flatscreen LCD TVs, air conditioning and free Wi-Fi, while family rooms have a king bed and 2 single beds, as well as a mini fridge, microwave and coffee and tea station.