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LGW · London, England, United Kingdom · International Hub

London Gatwick Airport Guide

Terminals, minimum connection times, ground transport, parking, lounges, and layover advice for London Gatwick Airport (LGW), sourced from the airport or the operator that runs each service, with minimums from OAG data.

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On this page
  1. Map
  2. Terminals & connections
  3. Layover helper
  4. Security & TSA
  5. Lounges
  6. Amenities
  7. Ground transport
  8. Parking
  9. Can I leave?
  10. FAQ

Quick answer

  • Terminals: 2 terminals
  • Minimum connection time: 1 hr domestic, 1 hr international to domestic
  • Arrive: Follow your airline's check-in deadline
  • To London: about 30 min one-way
  • Free WiFi: Yes · Showers: Yes · Sleep pods: Yes

Map

Open in OpenStreetMap

Terminals & connections

London Gatwick Airport has 2 terminals. Transfer system: Free inter-terminal shuttle (about 2 minutes, every few minutes, 24/7). OAG airport standard is a flat 60 minutes for every sector. Every international connection clears UK border control landside, then re-clears security. Gatwick's own published advice is 60 min same terminal, 90 min between terminals. easyJet files no exception (uses 60); Ryanair and Norwegian file 120 min.

North Terminal

1 airline: easyJet

easyJet's largest base. TUI flights numbered 'TOM' also depart here.

South Terminal

6 airlines: British Airways, Vueling, Wizz Air, Norse Atlantic Airways, Ryanair, Jet2

Rail and inter-terminal shuttle station is here. Jet2 based here from March 2026; TUI 'BY' flights depart here.

Minimum connection times

Domestic to domestic
1 hr
Domestic to international
1 hr
International to domestic
1 hr
International to international
1 hr
Transfer system
Free inter-terminal shuttle (about 2 minutes, every few minutes, 24/7)
Airside connected
Not published
Check your connection time at LGW

Layover helper

Find how long to plan for a connection at LGW: the official minimum connection time, plus a comfortable time of 30 minutes more, or 60 more when you clear customs or go through security again after a terminal change. Adjust trip type, terminal change, and checked-bag assumptions to match your itinerary.

Minimum connection at LGW

60min

Comfortable

90+ min

The shortest connection airlines usually sell here. Includes the walk between gates. Source: OAG

Comfortable is our guidance, not a rule.

Flying British Airways both ways?British Airways is a hub carrier here, with its own same-airline minimums
Both flights on British Airways?
ConnectionBritish AirwaysAirportvs airport
Domestic → Domestic75'60'+15'
Domestic → International75'60'+15'
International → Domestic75'60'+15'
International → International75'60'+15'

British Airways's same-airline minimums (OAG). Mixed-airline connections use the airport standard.

Based on:
Connection times are estimates. Verify with your airline.Powered by Travel VientTerms

Writing about LGW? Embed this connection time calculator on your site

Security & TSA

Security waits at LGW vary by time of day and checkpoint. We have not confirmed a standard arrival time published by LGW, so follow your airline's check-in and bag-drop deadlines.

TSA PreCheck
Not available
CLEAR
Not available
Global Entry
Not available

No US TSA programs. UK Border Force eGates handle immigration for eligible passports (UK, EU/EEA, US, CA, AU, JP, NZ, SG, KR). CT scanners mean liquids up to 2 litres and electronics stay in the bag.

Lounges

3 notable lounges at LGW, including airline-branded clubs and third-party options accessible via Priority Pass or day-pass. Check your credit card benefits (Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Capital One Venture X) before paying a day-pass fee.

No1 Lounge

North and South Terminals

Independent

Access: Pay-per-use, Priority Pass

Amenities: Hot food, Bar, WiFi

Club Aspire Lounge

South Terminal

Independent

Access: Pay-per-use, Priority Pass

Amenities: Buffet, Bar, WiFi

Plaza Premium Lounge

North Terminal

Independent

Access: Pay-per-use, Priority Pass

Amenities: Buffet, Bar, WiFi

Amenities

6 of 7 core amenities available at LGW: showers, sleep pods, free WiFi, nursing rooms, chapel, pharmacy. Free WiFi quality is rated good.

Showers

Available

Arrive & Refresh arrivals lounge (North Terminal) and pay-per-use lounges

Sleep pods

Available

YOTELAIR (South Terminal, landside)

WiFi

Free (good)

Free WiFi throughout the terminals.

Nursing rooms

Available

Feeding and changing rooms throughout both terminals (check-in, routes to gates, transfer areas, and after passport control in arrivals)

Chapel

Available

Multi-faith chapel and prayer rooms in both North and South Terminals, open 24/7

Pet relief areas

Not available

Ground transport to London

LGW is about 30 min from downtown London by the fastest transit option.

OptionCostTime
Gatwick Express
Train
Non-stop to London Victoria, twice an hour, from the South Terminal station.
Variesabout 30 min
Thameslink
Train
To London Bridge, Blackfriars, Farringdon and St Pancras; also Brighton and Luton.
Variesabout 35 min
Uber/Bolt
Rideshare
Ride-hailing and taxis run to central London; the fare and ride time depend on traffic.
VariesVaries

Parking

LGW on-airport parking runs £32 (~$42) to £70 (~$92) per day depending on the lot. Gatwick prices parking in pounds (shown here in GBP with an approximate USD conversion). Roll-up rates are the same at the North and South Terminals: Short Stay GBP 70 a day; Long Stay GBP 38 for the first day and GBP 32 for each day after, with the first two hours free. Premium Short Stay is GBP 87.50 a day. Mid Stay and Valet are pre-book only, and booking ahead is cheaper than rolling up.

Short-term
£70 (~$92)/day
Long-term
£32 (~$42)/day
Economy
Not published
Valet
Not published

Can I leave LGW during a layover?

With a 3-hour layover, stay inside LGW. With 6+ hours, you have time to see part of London. Round-trip to the city center is about 1 hr plus re-screening on return.

Central London is 30 min on the Gatwick Express to Victoria. Treat a layover shorter than four hours as too tight for a city trip, and note you will have cleared UK border control as a connecting passenger but must re-clear security on return.

Overnight layover hotels

  • Sofitel London Gatwick
    On-airport North Terminal
    $$$
  • BLOC Hotel Gatwick
    On-airport South Terminal
    $$

Frequently asked questions

How early should I arrive at LGW?

We have not confirmed a standard arrival time published by London Gatwick Airport, so follow your airline's check-in and bag-drop deadlines. Security waits vary by time of day and checkpoint, so add buffer at busy times.

What is the minimum connection time at LGW?

LGW requires at least 60 minutes for domestic-to-domestic connections and 60 minutes for international-to-domestic connections. Transfer system: Free inter-terminal shuttle (about 2 minutes, every few minutes, 24/7).

How long does it take to get between terminals at LGW?

We have no officially published terminal-to-terminal transfer time for LGW, so plan around the minimum connection time and add time for the terminal change.

Can I leave LGW during a 6-hour layover?

With 3 hours you should stay inside LGW. A 6-hour layover is enough to leave the airport briefly. Round-trip to the city center is about 60 minutes plus re-screening. Central London is 30 min on the Gatwick Express to Victoria. Treat a layover shorter than four hours as too tight for a city trip, and note you will have cleared UK border control as a connecting passenger but must re-clear security on return.

Does LGW have showers?

Yes, LGW has showers at Arrive & Refresh arrivals lounge (North Terminal) and pay-per-use lounges. Shower facilities in lounges and the arrivals lounge.

Does LGW have sleep pods?

Yes. YOTELAIR (South Terminal, landside) offers private sleep rooms.

Is WiFi free at LGW?

Yes. LGW offers free WiFi throughout the airport. Free WiFi throughout the terminals.

What is the cheapest way to get from LGW to London?

See the ground transport section for all options from LGW to London.

Is there TSA PreCheck and CLEAR at LGW?

LGW does not support TSA PreCheck and does not have CLEAR. Security waits vary by time of day and checkpoint. No US TSA programs. UK Border Force eGates handle immigration for eligible passports (UK, EU/EEA, US, CA, AU, JP, NZ, SG, KR). CT scanners mean liquids up to 2 litres and electronics stay in the bag.

How much does parking cost at LGW?

LGW parking rates: £70 (~$92)/day short-term, £32 (~$42)/day long-term. Gatwick prices parking in pounds (shown here in GBP with an approximate USD conversion). Roll-up rates are the same at the North and South Terminals: Short Stay GBP 70 a day; Long Stay GBP 38 for the first day and GBP 32 for each day after, with the first two hours free. Premium Short Stay is GBP 87.50 a day. Mid Stay and Valet are pre-book only, and booking ahead is cheaper than rolling up.

Is there a hotel at LGW for overnight layovers?

Yes. Sofitel London Gatwick is on-airport (On-airport North Terminal) in the $$$ price band. This is the easiest option for overnight layovers or early-morning departures since you can reach the terminal on foot without a shuttle or rideshare.

Which terminal does my airline use at LGW?

LGW has 2 terminals. Major airline assignments: North Terminal: easyJet; South Terminal: British Airways, Vueling, Wizz Air. Confirm with your boarding pass before arrival since a few airlines operate from multiple terminals depending on route.

Is there a chapel or prayer room at LGW?

Yes. Multi-faith chapel and prayer rooms in both North and South Terminals, open 24/7. Permanent rooms before security in both terminals plus a temporary one after security in the North Terminal.

Compare LGW to other airports

See how LGW ranks against the other 111 airports in our dataset.

Best for layoversLGW is workable for 6h+ layoversWith sleep podsLGW has YOTELAIR (South Terminal, landside)Shortest MCTLGW dom-to-dom: 1 hr · intl-to-dom: 1 hr

More on London and LGW

Go deeper on connecting through LGW and on visiting London.

Airlines operating at LGW

Look up baggage policies for any airline flying out of LGW.

Compare other airports

Sources & verification

Connection times, security, ground transport, parking and sleep pods verified Oct 2026 against the sources above. Amenities, lounges and nearby hotels without a listed source are not yet verified. Always confirm with London Gatwick Airport before flying.

If a figure looks wrong, email hello@vient.org, see how we handle corrections, or browse past fixes in our public changelog.