Quick answer: We run fixed-fare transfers between Gatwick and the hotels around it: the on-airport hotels by the North and South Terminals, the hotel clusters in Horley and Crawley, and country and business hotels across Surrey and Sussex. That covers the night before an early flight, the night after a late landing, and the run from your hotel to the terminal in the morning.
Many people stay near Gatwick rather than travel on the day of an early departure, and plenty of arriving passengers would rather sleep locally than drive home at 1am. This page is about those short, time-sensitive hotel transfers. For every other journey, see our main Gatwick airport taxi page. If you’re staying in the capital, see our London hotel transfers instead.
Types of Gatwick hotel transfer we handle
- Home to hotel the night before: travel down in the evening, sleep near the airport, and avoid a 3am start from home.
- Hotel to terminal on the morning of your flight: a short, reliable run to the right terminal at a time you choose.
- Terminal to hotel after a late arrival: the driver tracks your flight and takes you straight to your room.
- Hotel to home after an overnight stay: on your own schedule, with luggage, rather than waiting for a shuttle.
- Hotel to hotel: for business travellers staying at a conference venue one night and an airport hotel the next.
On-airport hotels
Gatwick has hotels right next to the terminals, including the Sofitel at the North Terminal and the Hilton at the South Terminal. If you’re staying at one of these, you can usually walk to check-in. A car is most useful when you’re arriving at the hotel from home with luggage, or leaving for home after you land. If your hotel is at one terminal but your flight leaves from the other, the free shuttle train links the two, or we can drop you at the right door.
Hotels in Horley and Crawley
Most of Gatwick’s hotels are a short drive away in Horley, to the north of the airport, and Crawley, to the south. Some run their own shuttle buses to the terminals. These are handy, but they run to fixed timetables and stop at several hotels, which isn’t ideal for a first-wave flight or a family with a lot of luggage. A pre-booked car picks you up at the hotel door at the time you need and takes you straight to your terminal.
Park-and-stay hotel packages
If you’ve booked a hotel-and-parking package, you may still want a transfer for part of the trip. For example, someone else might drop the car and a taxi brings the family down later, or you might land at a different airport and need to get back to Gatwick for your car. Tell us the hotel name and which leg you need, and we’ll arrange it.
Timing a morning transfer from your hotel
Hotel-to-terminal journeys are short, but the morning rush at a hotel can be slow: checkout queues, breakfast and a car park full of people leaving at once. A few tips:
- Book your pickup for after checkout, not at the same time, and settle the bill the night before if the hotel allows it.
- Give us your flight number so we drop you at the right terminal. Check our North or South Terminal guide if you’re unsure.
- Allow check-in time. For international flights, aim to be at the terminal at least two to three hours before departure.
- Tell the hotel you’re being collected, especially if the hotel has a barrier or a separate pickup area.
Late-night arrivals to a Gatwick hotel
After a late landing, the last thing you want is to wait for a hotel shuttle or work out which bus stop is yours. Your driver follows the flight, meets you at arrivals and takes you straight to the hotel. Choose meet and greet if you’d like someone waiting in the arrivals hall with your name. For more on what happens when you land, see our Gatwick arrivals guide.
Hotel shuttle, taxi rank or pre-booked car?
| Hotel shuttle | Taxi rank | Pre-booked transfer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timing | Fixed timetable | When a taxi is free | The time you choose |
| Stops | Often several hotels | Direct | Direct, door to door |
| Price | Often charged per person | Usually metered | Fixed fare per vehicle |
| Luggage and groups | Limited space at busy times | Next car in line | Vehicle chosen to fit |
| Late flights | May not run late at night | Queue on arrival | Driver tracks the flight |
More on the rank itself is in our Gatwick taxi rank guide.
Families and groups staying near Gatwick
Hotel transfers are where groups gain most from booking one vehicle. Two adults, three children, suitcases and a pushchair won’t fit on a crowded shuttle, and they may not fit in one standard taxi either. Tell us how many people and bags you have, and we’ll send an estate, people carrier or 7 or 8-seater.
Business and conference stays
Hotels around Gatwick and the wider Crawley area host meetings and conferences. If you’re flying in for an event, a transfer from the terminal to the venue, and back to the airport afterwards, keeps the day simple. See our Gatwick business taxi service for booking on behalf of colleagues and visitors.
Getting to a Gatwick hotel from London and the South East
The night-before trip is often the longer leg, and the one where a fixed fare helps most. Evening traffic out of London or along the M25 can be slow, but your price is agreed in advance. We collect from homes, offices and stations across the region. See London to Gatwick and Central London to Gatwick for the most common routes. Tell us the hotel instead of the terminal as your destination, and book the hotel-to-terminal leg for the next morning at the same time.
Hotels near Gatwick with a cruise or onward journey
Some travellers stay near Gatwick before heading to a cruise port or on to another airport. If you land at Gatwick, spend a night locally and then need to reach Southampton, Dover or Portsmouth, we can link the legs into one plan. Our Gatwick cruise port transfers guide covers those journeys.
What to include when you book a hotel transfer
- The hotel’s full name and postcode. Several hotels near Gatwick have similar names.
- Pickup time, and your flight number for airport legs
- Number of passengers and bags
- Whether you need a return, such as home to hotel and later terminal to home
- Any notes, for example “please wait at main reception”
Frequently asked questions
Can you pick me up from a hotel near Gatwick and take me to the terminal?
Yes. We collect from hotels at the airport and in Horley, Crawley and the surrounding area, and drop you at the correct terminal.
Is a taxi better than the hotel shuttle?
For early flights, families, groups or lots of luggage, a pre-booked car is usually more convenient because it goes when you need it and straight to your terminal.
Can you take me from Gatwick to my hotel after a late flight?
Yes. We operate 24/7 and track your flight, so the driver is there when you land.
Do you do transfers from home to a Gatwick hotel the night before?
Yes. Many customers travel down the evening before an early departure. We can book that and the hotel-to-terminal leg the next morning together.
Is the price fixed?
Yes. Every transfer is quoted as a fixed fare when you book.
Staying near Gatwick? Use the booking form at the top of this page for a fixed-fare quote, or see all our options on the Gatwick airport taxi page.