Gatwick has two terminals, North and South, almost a mile apart and joined by a free shuttle train. Nearly everything about your trip depends on which one you are flying from: where you drop off, where you park, and which lounge you can use. The drop-off charge catches out a lot of people too, because there is nothing to pay at the time. This guide covers what is worth knowing before you fly from Gatwick: which terminal you need, what drop-off costs and how to avoid it, how early to arrive, and which parking suits your trip.
North or South: check before you book anything
Your airline decides your terminal. easyJet, the largest airline at Gatwick, flies mainly from the North Terminal, and British Airways flies from the South Terminal. Other airlines are split between the two, and allocations change, so check the terminal on your booking confirmation or the airline's website before you book parking, not on the morning you leave.
- North Terminal: RH6 0PJ. From junction 9 of the M23, follow the airport signs, go straight over the first roundabout (junction 9a) and take the first exit for the North Terminal. See parking for the North Terminal.
- South Terminal: RH6 0NP. From junction 9 of the M23, keep left in the filter lane, turn left at the first roundabout (junction 9a) and follow the South Terminal signs. Gatwick's railway station is here. See parking for the South Terminal.
Gatwick warns that sat-nav accuracy around the airport varies, so follow the road signs for your terminal once you leave the motorway. If you are parking, use the postcode in your parking confirmation instead.
If you do arrive at the wrong terminal, the free shuttle train between them runs every few minutes, 24 hours a day, and the journey takes about two minutes. It is for passengers on foot only, so drivers still need to go to the right terminal.
The drop-off charge, and the free alternative
Stopping in the drop-off zone outside either terminal is charged. There is no barrier and no machine: cameras read your number plate and you pay afterwards.
- £10 for up to 10 minutes, then £1 for each extra minute up to 20 minutes. The maximum stay is 30 minutes, and the most you can be charged in a day is £30.
- Pay by midnight the day after, online, by phone on 0330 174 4503, or through an AutoPay account. Forget, and a parking charge notice follows.
- Blue Badge holders are exempt, but the car must be registered first through Gatwick's drop-off account.
- The free alternative is the Long Stay car parks, where you can park for up to two hours at no cost while a free shuttle bus takes passengers to the terminals. If you need longer to say goodbye, there are Short Stay car parks at both terminals.
If you are parking rather than being dropped off, none of this applies: Meet & Greet handover points and car parks are away from the drop-off lanes, and your confirmation email says exactly where to go.
How early to arrive
Gatwick's advice is to arrive at least two hours before your flight, and to check your airline's own check-in times, which can be earlier. Work back from that and add the time from car park to terminal:
- Park & Ride: allow 25 to 35 minutes from the car park barrier to check-in. The car parks we sell are around 7 to 12 minutes from the terminals by shuttle.
- Meet & Greet: be at the handover point 10 to 15 minutes before your booked time.
Early mornings and school holidays are the busiest times at security, so give yourself a margin if your flight leaves before 9am in the holidays.
Which parking suits which trip
Before You Fly lists every Gatwick car park we sell in one table, cheapest first, with transfer times and security accreditation.
- Meet & Greet for families, early flights and heavy luggage. You drive to the handover point at your terminal, a driver takes the car, and you walk into departures. Some services cover one terminal only, and the product name says which, so book one that matches your flight. Photograph the car at handover.
- Park & Ride for a week or more away. You keep your keys, park a short drive from the airport and take the shuttle. It is usually the lowest daily rate.
At Gatwick the gap between the two is often small. When we compared the cheapest of each for an eight-day trip booked about three months ahead, Meet & Greet cost around £12 more than Park & Ride. Our Meet & Greet or Park & Ride guide explains how to choose, and the only way to be sure for your dates is to compare them side by side.
Whichever you choose, book the flexible rate if your dates might move. It can be cancelled up to 72 hours before arrival for a full refund; see the cancellation FAQs.
Lounges and hotels
Both terminals have lounges you can pre-book. The North Terminal has No1 Lounge, My Lounge, Plaza Premium and Clubrooms, and the South Terminal has No1 Lounge, My Lounge, Club Aspire and Clubrooms. You can only use a lounge in your own terminal, and pre-booking at Gatwick often includes priority security. Compare them on our Gatwick lounges page.
For a dawn departure, a hotel the night before saves a very early drive. Two hotels connect to a terminal by covered walkway: the Sofitel at the North Terminal and the Hilton at the South Terminal. Search Gatwick hotels.
Getting there by train
Useful if someone is collecting you, or you are leaving the car at home. Gatwick Airport station is at the South Terminal, about a five-minute walk from departures, with the shuttle train taking two minutes on to the North Terminal.
- Gatwick Express: non-stop to London Victoria twice an hour, in about 30 minutes.
- Southern: to London Victoria and Clapham Junction, and south to Brighton, Eastbourne, Portsmouth and Southampton.
- Thameslink: through London Bridge, Blackfriars, Farringdon and St Pancras International, continuing to Bedford, Peterborough and Cambridge.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need the North or South Terminal?
Check your booking confirmation or your airline's website. easyJet flies mainly from the North Terminal and British Airways from the South, but other airlines are split between them and can move. The free shuttle train links the two in about two minutes if you arrive at the wrong one.
How much is drop-off at Gatwick?
£10 for up to 10 minutes, then £1 a minute up to 20 minutes, with a maximum stay of 30 minutes. Pay online or by phone by midnight the following day, or you will receive a parking charge notice.
Where can I drop off for free at Gatwick?
In the Long Stay car parks, where the first two hours are free and a free shuttle bus runs to the terminals. Blue Badge holders are also exempt from the terminal drop-off charge once their car is registered.
How early should I get to Gatwick for a 6am flight?
Gatwick advises arriving at least two hours before your flight, so be at the terminal by 4am. Then add the time from your car park: 25 to 35 minutes for Park & Ride, or arrive at the handover point 10 to 15 minutes before your booked time for Meet & Greet.
Is a hotel the night before worth it?
For a very early flight, often yes. It saves a drive in the small hours. The Sofitel and the Hilton are joined to the North and South Terminals by covered walkways. Compare Gatwick hotels.
Sorted before you fly.
