The short answer: Gatwick has a North and a South Terminal, joined by a free driverless train that runs 24 hours a day and takes about two minutes. Sofitel and Hampton by Hilton are connected to the North Terminal, where Emirates flies from. The Hilton is connected to the South Terminal, and Bloc and YOTELAIR are inside it. Premier Inn North is a short walk from the North Terminal. Check your terminal first, because vehicles cannot cross between the two.
2 terminals · 7 stays covered · Last checked · How we checkPick your terminal, then filter by how you get there, the kind of trip and what you want to spend. A hotel that serves more than one terminal appears once for each, with that terminal's journey time and cost.
About 2 minutes per Holiday Extras
Hilton: free 24-hour monorail link to the North Terminal. About a 10 minute ride per Booking.com
Booking.com: a minute's walk from the main entrance. Door to check-in is our estimate
Booking.com: linked to the North Terminal by a short covered walkway. About 3 minutes per Holiday Extras
Reception is opposite security. Time is our estimate
Marriott says about a 2 minute drive and no hotel shuttle. The Hoppa bus is GBP 5.25 per person. No bus times given. Door to check-in is our estimate
About 5 minutes per Gatwick
Hilton: connected to the South Terminal by a covered walkway. The 3 minutes is from Holiday Extras only
Booking.com: free 2 minute transfers to the South Terminal from the North Terminal station. Door to check-in is our estimate
Booking.com: easy connection by monorail. Time is our estimate
YOTEL says under a minute's walk from arrivals and no airside security to pass. Reception open 24 hours. Door to check-in is our estimate
Totals are a typical room for one night plus getting to the terminal, for two adults, one way. Checked November 2026; your dates may cost more or less. Prices were sampled in Australian dollars and converted to GBP at the 2026-10-28 rate, so treat them as approximate.
Choose your terminal and the kind of trip. We show the one hotel we would book, and why.
Our pickNorth Terminal · Early flight
Why we would choose itA covered walk of about two minutes, so nothing has to run on time.
The compromise. A three-star with fewer facilities than the Sofitel.
You book with the provider, not with us. We may earn a commission if you do. It never decides what we recommend.
Our pickNorth Terminal · Late arrival
Why we would choose itA covered walk of about two minutes with no transfer.
The compromise. Late check-in terms are not confirmed.
You book with the provider, not with us. We may earn a commission if you do. It never decides what we recommend.
Our pickNorth Terminal · Overnight connection
Why we would choose itA covered walk of about two minutes each way.
The compromise. You leave the terminal, so border control comes first.
You book with the provider, not with us. We may earn a commission if you do. It never decides what we recommend.
Our pickNorth Terminal · Family trip
Why we would choose itA covered walk of about two minutes and reported family rooms.
The compromise. Family room numbers are limited and not confirmed.
You book with the provider, not with us. We may earn a commission if you do. It never decides what we recommend.
Our pickNorth Terminal · Long layover
Why we would choose itA two minute walk each way, so most of the time is in bed.
The compromise. Hourly booking is not confirmed, so you may pay for a night.
You book with the provider, not with us. We may earn a commission if you do. It never decides what we recommend.
Our pickNorth Terminal · Older travellers
Why we would choose itGatwick lists easy-access rooms, and the walk is indoors.
The compromise. The dearest option.
You book with the provider, not with us. We may earn a commission if you do. It never decides what we recommend.
Our pickNorth Terminal · Budget stay
Why we would choose itSteady rates and a covered walk of about two minutes.
The compromise. Rates reached AU$313 around 19 December.
You book with the provider, not with us. We may earn a commission if you do. It never decides what we recommend.
Our pickSouth Terminal · Early flight
Why we would choose itReception is opposite security, so the walk is almost nothing.
The compromise. Compact rooms.
You book with the provider, not with us. We may earn a commission if you do. It never decides what we recommend.
Our pickSouth Terminal · Late arrival
Why we would choose itNext to the South Terminal, with a 24-hour gym.
The compromise. Late check-in terms are not confirmed.
You book with the provider, not with us. We may earn a commission if you do. It never decides what we recommend.
Our pickSouth Terminal · Overnight connection
Why we would choose itA covered walk and a full hotel.
The compromise. You leave the terminal, so border control comes first.
You book with the provider, not with us. We may earn a commission if you do. It never decides what we recommend.
Our pickSouth Terminal · Family trip
Why we would choose itNext to the terminal at a large hotel, and the lowest rates we sampled there.
The compromise. Family rooms are not confirmed.
You book with the provider, not with us. We may earn a commission if you do. It never decides what we recommend.
Our pickSouth Terminal · Long layover
Why we would choose itInside the terminal, and you pay for hours, not a night.
The compromise. Small cabins.
You book with the provider, not with us. We may earn a commission if you do. It never decides what we recommend.
Our pickSouth Terminal · Older travellers
Why we would choose itA covered walkway of about three minutes.
The compromise. Accessible rooms are not confirmed.
You book with the provider, not with us. We may earn a commission if you do. It never decides what we recommend.
Our pickSouth Terminal · Budget stay
Why we would choose itThe lowest rates we sampled at the South Terminal, joined to it by a covered walkway.
The compromise. A large hotel, and further from the North Terminal.
You book with the provider, not with us. We may earn a commission if you do. It never decides what we recommend.
Each terminal has its own short lists, because the hotels you can walk to are different at every one.
Your booking confirmation names it. If you only know the airline, this is where each one mostly flies from. Airlines do move, so check before you book a room.
| Terminal | Airlines you will mostly find |
|---|---|
| North Terminal | Emirates says it uses the North Terminal, and sources say easyJet does too. We have not confirmed other airlines on Gatwick's own pages, so check your ticket |
| South Terminal | Sources put British Airways and many European carriers here. We have not confirmed an airline list on Gatwick's own pages, so check your ticket |
What about the layout decides where you should sleep.
Almost every hotel around the airport falls into one of these. Knowing which you want is most of the decision.
Bloc and YOTELAIR are inside the South Terminal building, before security. Bloc's entrance is on the third floor next to security. Rooms are compact, and the rates are among the highest at Gatwick. Best for early flights from the South Terminal and short overnight stays.
Sofitel and Hampton by Hilton are connected to the North Terminal, and the Hilton is connected to the South Terminal. Walks are about two to three minutes according to Holiday Extras. The Hilton is linked to the North Terminal by the shuttle train. Best for early flights, late arrivals and anyone with heavy bags.
Premier Inn North is about a two to five minute walk from the North Terminal, and sources disagree on the exact time. Courtyard by Marriott is a three minute shuttle or ten minute walk from the South Terminal. Check shuttle hours before you book. Best for travellers on a lower budget who do not mind a short walk.
Premier Inn London Road and Manor Royal are about a ten minute drive from the South Terminal, with bus links. Crawley and Horley have more hotels at lower rates. You will pay for a transfer, so add it to the price. Best for mid-morning flights and longer stays.
Pick the trip closest to yours. You will choose your terminal on the next page.
Sleep close enough that the morning is a short walk or a short ride.
Early flight staysArr 23:55Get from the gate to a bed without waiting on a shuttle that has stopped.
Late arrival staysConnect 9hDecide whether to stay inside the terminal, next to it, or head out.
Connection staysFamily × 4Rooms that fit everyone, and a transfer that works with bags and a buggy.
Family staysLayover 7hA day room, a shower or a few hours out. What is realistic in the time you have.
Layover optionsStep-freeA short, calm route from the room to check-in, with as few steps, waits and transfers as possible.
Stays for older travellersLowest totalThe lowest total for the night, with the room and the trip to the terminal added up.
Budget staysYour booking confirmation names it. If you only know the airline, the table on this page shows where each one mostly flies from. Airlines do move, so check before you book a room.
The stays we list as a walk from each terminal, rather than a shuttle, bus or taxi. North Terminal: Hampton by Hilton London Gatwick, Premier Inn London Gatwick Airport North Terminal, Sofitel London Gatwick. South Terminal: Bloc Hotel London Gatwick, Hilton London Gatwick Airport, YOTELAIR London Gatwick.
Two terminals, one free train. The inter-terminal shuttle is a driverless train that Gatwick says runs every few minutes, 24 hours a day, with a journey of about two minutes. Follow the signs for the other terminal to find it. Allow extra time if your hotel is at the opposite terminal from your flight. Check your airline's terminal. Emirates says its flights land and depart from the North Terminal. easyJet also flies from the North Terminal, and British Airways short-haul from the South. We could not confirm the terminal for every other airline on Gatwick's own pages, so check your ticket. Summer holidays and Alps ski flights. Gatwick is a main departure point for British families flying to Europe in summer and to the Alps in winter, with seasonal and charter flights alongside the scheduled ones. Many of these leave early in the morning, which is why a night at the airport saves a pre-dawn drive or train. Book well ahead for school holidays and ski weekends, when rates rise. Check your ticket for the terminal, because charter flights can use either one. The railway station is in the South Terminal. Gatwick Express, Thameslink and Southern trains leave from the station in the South Terminal. If you arrive at the North Terminal, take the shuttle train first. The Gatwick Express takes about 30 minutes to London Victoria. There is no vehicle link between the terminals. A taxi or transfer must drop you at the correct terminal. Switching terminals by road means leaving the airport precinct, so use the shuttle train instead.
A room inside the South Terminal: Bloc and YOTELAIR are inside the South Terminal building, before security. Bloc's entrance is on the third floor next to security. Rooms are compact, and the rates are among the highest at Gatwick. Best for early flights from the South Terminal and short overnight stays. Connected to a terminal: Sofitel and Hampton by Hilton are connected to the North Terminal, and the Hilton is connected to the South Terminal. Walks are about two to three minutes according to Holiday Extras. The Hilton is linked to the North Terminal by the shuttle train. Best for early flights, late arrivals and anyone with heavy bags. Close to the terminal, but not joined: Premier Inn North is about a two to five minute walk from the North Terminal, and sources disagree on the exact time. Courtyard by Marriott is a three minute shuttle or ten minute walk from the South Terminal. Check shuttle hours before you book. Best for travellers on a lower budget who do not mind a short walk. Further out, with a bus: Premier Inn London Road and Manor Royal are about a ten minute drive from the South Terminal, with bus links. Crawley and Horley have more hotels at lower rates. You will pay for a transfer, so add it to the price. Best for mid-morning flights and longer stays.
