Location: It may feel a little like you’re being led on a wild-goose chase as you follow signs through the car park from Gatwick’s South Terminal, but within a few minutes you’re walking into the soaring atrium of the Hilton London Gatwick Airport.
It’s the only hotel linked to the South Terminal, so in terms of location – and what is more important when it comes to airport hotels? – the Hilton is the pick of the bunch. There’s also a free shuttle service to North Terminal.
Rooms: It’s also the largest hotel at Gatwick, with 821 rooms. They’re all triple-glazed, with blackout curtains, so you don’t hear every roar and bump from take-offs and landings.
The 586 lead-in rooms are comfortable and have all you need in terms of widescreen TVs, tea and coffee facilities and radio alarm clocks, but for wealthier travellers or business clients, suggest the executive rooms – we found it worth the extra cost.
The sleek-looking executive wing has spacious rooms with updated, contemporary decor, separate showers and baths, and access to the executive lounge. This has comfy seating, broadband internet terminals and light refreshments, plus a complimentary continental breakfast between 6am and 10.30am, and canapés and pre-dinner drinks between 6pm and 9pm – a little touch that might make a client feel like the holiday has already really started.
Families are well catered for too, with triple rooms, baby cots, rooms with bunk beds and family rooms to accommodate five.
Facilities: Restaurants and bars are gathered around the lobby, so it’s easy to browse the options. The garden restaurant offers a buffet breakfast, and a buffet evening meal. Amy’s restaurant offers à la carte dining, and the bar area serves cocktails.
Charlie Fry’s Sports Bar screens major sporting events, so there’s no need for clients to miss the game. Plus there’s a Costa Coffee concession too, for snacks and those with early flights – it opens at 5am.
There’s 24-hour room service too, and a gym, accessible by room card. Park-and-fly packages come with either eight or 15 days’ parking included.
Book it: From £100 per night for a standard room and £159 for an executive room.
On the web: hilton.co.uk/gatwick
