Holiday Inn Express London Gatwick – Crawley: the complete traveller's guide
The cheapest parking in the Gatwick belt at £9 a night, with breakfast included and kids staying free — but it's a Crawley town-centre hotel, and it has no airport shuttle at all. Here's the honest picture, and how to actually get to your terminal.
Hotel overview
Let's be clear about what this hotel is, because the name misleads. The Holiday Inn Express London Gatwick – Crawley is a 138-room budget hotel in Crawley town centre, not beside the airport. It's a seven-minute walk from the Hawth Theatre, ten minutes from Three Bridges station, and close to County Mall, Tilgate Park and the Manor Royal business district.
What it does exceptionally well is value. Parking is just £9 a night — by a distance the cheapest of any hotel in the Gatwick area — with long-stay included in Park, Stay & Go rates. The Express Start breakfast is included in the room rate, and one child up to 17 stays free per paying adult, breakfast included. Rooms are compact but well-equipped for the money: pillow menu, individual temperature control, blackout curtains, power shower and free WiFi.
The catch is significant and needs stating plainly: there is no airport shuttle — free or paid. IHG's own site confirms it. If you're flying, you must plan your own transfer. That doesn't rule the hotel out — the train from Three Bridges or a pre-booked car both work well — but it does mean you can't just turn up and expect a bus.
| Official website | ihg.com |
|---|---|
| Location | Crawley town centre, West Sussex |
| Star rating | 3-star (budget / limited service) |
| Rooms | 138, ~210 sq ft |
| Parking | ~£9 per night — the cheapest in the Gatwick area; ANPR-controlled |
| Breakfast | Included in the room rate (6:30–9:30 AM) |
| Airport shuttle | None — no free or paid hotel shuttle |
| Guest rating | ~8.2 / 10 |
The no-shuttle problem — read this before booking
This is the most important thing to know about this hotel, and it's frequently misrepresented online.
IHG states plainly that there is no shuttle to Gatwick Airport. The hotel's own directions page lists the airport with "Shuttle not available", and IHG separately confirms there is no complimentary local-area shuttle. This isn't a case of a paid bus that people mistake for free — there is no hotel bus at all.
Despite that, at least one park-and-stay reseller advertises this hotel with "secure parking and a free shuttle to LGW Airport". That directly contradicts the hotel operator. If you book through a third party promising a shuttle, confirm it with the hotel before you travel — because IHG says it doesn't exist.
| Option | How it works | Rough cost |
|---|---|---|
| Train from Three Bridges | ~10-min walk to the station, then a short direct train to Gatwick Airport station (South Terminal) | Low single-figure rail fare |
| Pre-booked private car | Door to door, any hour, fixed fare, no per-person charge | Fixed fare |
| Local taxi | Arranged on the day | Metered, varies |
| Drive & park at the airport | Defeats the £9 hotel parking saving | Airport rates |
The practical verdict: the £9 parking makes this hotel excellent value for drivers leaving a car — but budget for a transfer, since walking and a hotel bus are both off the table. For an early flight with luggage or family, a pre-booked fixed-fare car is the simplest option; for solo travel in daylight, the Three Bridges train is cheap and quick.
Star rating and what it means
A limited-service budget hotel — comfortable, clean and well-priced, with breakfast included but few extras.
| Level | What it broadly means in the UK |
|---|---|
| ★★★★★ / ★★★★ | Luxury / upscale: extensive facilities, full-service restaurants, room service |
| ★★★ Three-star / limited service (this hotel) | Budget comfort: en-suite rooms, café-bar, breakfast included — value is the point |
| ★★ Two-star | Ultra-budget: functional rooms, minimal extras |
| ★ One-star | Very basic accommodation |
Guests rate it around 8.2/10. The praise centres on value, the included breakfast, the bar staff and the convenient town-centre position. The criticisms are consistent enough to flag: rooms are small, and several reviewers report inconsistent front-desk service and slow room turnover leading to late check-in. Restaurant and bar staff, by contrast, are frequently praised.
Brand, ownership & business profile
A Holiday Inn Express — IHG's limited-service budget brand.
- Holiday Inn Express — smaller rooms and fewer facilities than a full Holiday Inn, but breakfast is included in the rate and the essentials are reliable.
- IHG One Rewards — earn and redeem points; free to join.
Disambiguation — this matters here. IHG operates several similarly named hotels around Gatwick and Crawley:
| Hotel | Where | Key difference |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday Inn Express London Gatwick – Crawley (this one) | Crawley town centre | £9 parking, breakfast included, no shuttle |
| Holiday Inn London Gatwick – Airport | Povey Cross, Horley | Full service, paid Hoppa shuttle, 5–10 min drive from terminals |
| Holiday Inn London Gatwick – Worth | Crawley (Worth) | ~5 miles out; Park, Stay & Go; no free shuttle |
| Crowne Plaza London – Gatwick Airport | Langley Drive, Crawley | 4-star, ~3.5 miles out |
Check the exact hotel name on your booking. "Gatwick" in an IHG hotel name around here does not reliably mean "near the terminals" — and only some of these offer any kind of airport transfer.
Rooms, beds & prices
138 rooms of around 210 sq ft — compact, which reviewers do note, but sensibly equipped. All have a pillow menu, blackout curtains, individual temperature control, a power shower, a flat-screen TV with digital channels, a kettle and a laptop-friendly workspace. Rooms with a sofa bed are available for families, and cots are free. Ranges below are indicative.
| Room type | Size | Beds | Sleeps | From (indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Double | ~210 sq ft | 1 double | 2 | ~£60 |
| Standard Twin | ~210 sq ft | 2 singles | 2 | ~£65 |
| Family Room | ~210 sq ft | Double + sofa bed | 2 adults + children | ~£75 |
| Accessible Double | ~210 sq ft | 1 double | 2 | ~£60 |
Prices are per room, per night and include breakfast, which materially changes the comparison against hotels charging £15–£17 a head. The honest caveat: rooms are small — fine for a night before a flight, tighter for a longer stay. The pillow menu and individual temperature control are genuinely good touches at this price, and individual climate control beats the no-air-conditioning problem found at some budget rivals nearby.
- Families: one child up to 17 stays free per paying adult, breakfast included; free cots and children's books.
- Comfort: blackout curtains, pillow menu, individual temperature control.
- Work: laptop-friendly desk and chair in every room; 24-hour business centre.
What's in every room
| Category | Included in every room |
|---|---|
| Entertainment | Flat-screen LCD TV with satellite / digital channels |
| Connectivity | Free in-room WiFi; laptop-friendly workspace and desk chair |
| Hot drinks | Electric kettle with tea & coffee |
| Sleep | Pillow menu, blackout curtains, individual temperature control, heating |
| Bathroom | Private bathroom with power shower, hairdryer, free toiletries |
| Family | Free cots / infant beds; children's books; sofa beds in some rooms |
| Practical | Iron & ironing board |
Solid budget spec with two above-par touches — the pillow menu and individual temperature control. The latter is worth noting if you've been comparing with nearby budget hotels that have no air conditioning at all.
Dining & breakfast
The Express Café & Bar serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and light meals, with a lounge bar showing Sky Sports. The headline is that breakfast is included in the room rate.
| Venue / meal | What to expect | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| Express Start breakfast | Included — buffet with hot items (scrambled eggs, sausages, baked beans), continental options, pastries; 6:30–9:30 AM | Free |
| All-day dining | Classic pub-style meals and light bites | £10–£18 mains |
| Lounge bar | Licensed bar with Sky Sports | £4–£10 |
| Vending & lobby | Drinks, snacks, ice machine; coffee/tea in reception | Varies |
| Children | Free breakfast for one child (up to 17) per paying adult | Free |
Breakfast is well-reviewed for its range, with the honest caveat that some guests find it repetitive over a multi-night stay — a fair criticism of the Express format, though hard to argue with when it's free. Note the 9:30 AM finish: it's not an early-flight breakfast in the way Premier Inn's 3:30 AM service is, so for a dawn departure you'll be eating at the airport.
Parking — the cheapest around Gatwick
The single strongest reason to book this hotel if you're driving.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Nightly rate | ~£9 per night — well below the £20–£27 charged by hotels closer to the airport |
| Long-stay | Included in Park, Stay & Go rates — book in advance |
| Availability | Ample on-site parking |
| Control system | ANPR cameras — you must register your full, correct vehicle registration on arrival |
| EV charging | POLAR network charging point on site |
Two things to get right. First, the car park is ANPR-controlled, so register your plate correctly at reception — an incorrect or missing registration is the classic cause of an unexpected charge. Second, remember the trade-off: you save meaningfully on parking here, but you'll spend some of it on the transfer to the terminals, since there's no shuttle. For a longer trip, the saving still comes out well ahead.
Facilities & services
| Parking | ~£9 per night; long-stay via Park, Stay & Go; ANPR-controlled; EV charging point |
|---|---|
| Airport transfer | None — no hotel shuttle to Gatwick, free or paid |
| Dining | Express Café & Bar (breakfast, lunch, dinner, light fare); lounge bar with Sky Sports; vending |
| Breakfast | Express Start breakfast included in the rate, 6:30–9:30 AM |
| Connectivity | Free WiFi throughout; 24-hour business centre; free newspapers |
| Business | 1 meeting room for up to 25 people |
| Rail | Three Bridges station ~10-min walk — direct trains to London Victoria, Gatwick & Brighton |
| Nearby | Hawth Theatre ~7-min walk; County Mall, Tilgate Park & Nature Centre, Manor Royal; Brighton ~30 min drive |
| Services | 24/7 front desk, express check-out, luggage storage, dry cleaning & laundry, front-desk safe, multilingual staff, access to a nearby health club |
| Pool / pets | No swimming pool; pet policy varies by source — confirm before booking |
Accessibility & suitability for elderly guests
A modern low-rise budget hotel with accessible rooms and level parking, in a walkable town-centre location — though the lack of any airport transfer needs planning.
Accessible strengths:
- Accessible rooms available (Standard Double, Accessible) — bookable directly
- Ample on-site parking with level access to the entrance
- 24-hour front desk; lifts; luggage storage
- Breakfast included and served on site, so no need to go out in the morning
- Individual temperature control in rooms
Worth confirming first:
- Rooms are compact (~210 sq ft) — confirm the accessible room layout suits your needs
- No airport shuttle — arrange a door-to-door car in advance
- Some guests report slow check-in at busy times; call ahead if you need an early room
Suitability verdict for elderly & less-mobile guests: reasonable — accessible rooms, level parking at the door, breakfast included and everything on one site. The significant planning point is transport: with no shuttle and a ten-minute walk to the station, a pre-booked door-to-door car is effectively essential for the airport leg.
Insider details
£9 parking is the reason to book — do the full sum
At around £9 a night, parking here undercuts every other hotel in this guide series — some charge £25–£27. Over an eight-day Park, Stay & Go package that's a substantial saving. Just do the whole calculation: add a return transfer to the terminals, since there's no shuttle. Even then, for anything longer than a couple of days, this usually comes out cheapest.
Register your number plate at reception
The car park runs on ANPR cameras, and the hotel asks guests to register their full and correct vehicle registration on arrival. Get one character wrong, or forget entirely, and you risk a penalty notice for a stay you'd paid for. Ask reception to read it back — it takes seconds.
Breakfast is free, but it stops at 9:30
Two things to plan around. The Express Start breakfast is included in your rate, which is genuinely valuable — a family of four saves perhaps £50 versus hotels charging per head, and one child up to 17 eats free per paying adult. But service runs 6:30–9:30 AM, so it's no help for a 5am departure. If you're on a dawn flight, plan to eat at the airport instead.
It's a town hotel, not an airport hotel — which has upsides
Being in Crawley town centre rather than beside a runway brings real advantages if you have time: Three Bridges station is a ten-minute walk with direct trains to London Victoria and Brighton, the Hawth Theatre is seven minutes away, and County Mall, Tilgate Park and the Nature Centre are all close. It also puts you next to the Manor Royal business district. If your trip involves more than just a flight, that's genuinely useful.
Service is the weak spot — and it's uneven
Worth setting expectations honestly. Reviewers repeatedly praise the restaurant and bar staff as helpful and attentive, while a number report the opposite at the front desk — including unhelpful check-in experiences and slow room turnover causing late check-in. If you're arriving after a flight and need your room promptly, call ahead to flag it.
WiFi coverage & signal strength
Free WiFi is provided in rooms and throughout, with a 24-hour business centre for work. Signal-strength-by-area detail isn't published — confirm with hotel, or share guest reviews and we'll add specifics.
General guidance for a modern Express-format hotel: WiFi is typically fine for browsing, email and streaming. IHG One Rewards enrolment usually includes free WiFi as a member benefit.
Practical information
| Check-in / check-out | Standard afternoon check-in / midday check-out — confirm exact times when booking |
|---|---|
| Location | Crawley town centre, West Sussex (~5 min drive from the M23) |
| Parking | ~£9/night; ANPR-controlled — register your plate on arrival; EV charging available |
| Airport shuttle | Not available — plan the train from Three Bridges or a pre-booked car |
| Breakfast | Included; 6:30–9:30 AM |
| WiFi | Free in rooms and public areas |
| Children | One child up to 17 stays and eats breakfast free per paying adult |
| Smoking / pool | Designated smoking area on site; no swimming pool |
Getting to Gatwick
With no hotel shuttle, this is the part to arrange before you travel.
| To… | Best way | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gatwick (either terminal) | Pre-booked private car — door to door, any hour | ~10–15 min | Fixed fare |
| Gatwick South Terminal | Walk to Three Bridges (~10 min) then direct train | ~20–25 min total | Low rail fare |
| Between terminals | Free 24/7 inter-terminal shuttle at the airport | ~2 min | Free |
| London Victoria / Brighton | Direct trains from Three Bridges | ~40 min / ~30 min | Rail fare |
The train is cheap and quick if you're travelling light in daylight — but it means a ten-minute walk to the station with your luggage, then a change at the airport if you're heading to the North Terminal. For an early departure, a late landing, or a family with bags, a fixed-fare RushXO car collects you at the door and takes you straight to your terminal, 24/7.
Customer reviews
Guests rate it around 8.2/10, praising the value, included breakfast, bar and restaurant staff and the town-centre location; small rooms, front-desk service and slow check-in are the recurring complaints.
| Theme | What guests say |
|---|---|
| Value | Strong — cheap parking, breakfast included, kids stay free |
| Breakfast | Good selection, though repetitive on longer stays |
| Bar & restaurant staff | Frequently singled out as helpful and attentive |
| Rooms | Clean and adequately equipped, but small |
| Common gripe | Front-desk service inconsistent; slow room turnover and late check-in |
Confirm current ratings on your preferred platform. Share specific reviews and I can add a scored breakdown.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Parking at ~£9 a night — by far the cheapest in the Gatwick area
- Breakfast included in the room rate
- One child up to 17 stays and eats breakfast free per paying adult
- Pillow menu, blackout curtains and individual temperature control
- Free WiFi, 24-hour front desk and 24-hour business centre
- Ten-minute walk to Three Bridges station — direct trains to London, Gatwick & Brighton
- Town-centre location: theatre, shops, parks and Manor Royal all close
- EV charging point; free cots; laundry service; luggage storage
Cons
- No airport shuttle at all — you must arrange your own transfer
- Not an airport hotel despite the name — it's in Crawley town centre
- Rooms are small (~210 sq ft)
- Breakfast ends at 9:30 AM — no use for a dawn flight
- Front-desk service inconsistent; slow check-in reported
- No swimming pool; pet policy unclear between sources
Best way to book online
| Book via | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Official site (ihg.com) | Best rate, IHG One Rewards points, Park Stay & Go rates | Confirm it's the Crawley Express, not the Airport or Worth hotels |
| Park-and-fly specialists | Bundling room with long-stay parking | Some advertise a "free shuttle" that IHG says doesn't exist — verify |
| Major OTAs | Comparing dates & deals | Check whether breakfast is included in the rate shown |
In short: book direct with IHG for the best rate and Park, Stay & Go parking, register your number plate at reception, and — most importantly — arrange your airport transfer separately, because there's no shuttle whatever a third-party listing may claim. A fixed-fare RushXO car covers both terminals 24/7.
Book your transfer → · Call the 24/7 team
FAQs
Is there a shuttle to Gatwick Airport?
No. IHG confirms there is no shuttle to the airport from this hotel — neither free nor paid. Some third-party booking sites advertise a "free shuttle" here, which contradicts the hotel operator, so verify before relying on it. Plan the train from Three Bridges station (a ten-minute walk) or a pre-booked car instead.
How much is parking?
Around £9 per night — the cheapest of any hotel in the Gatwick area — with long-stay parking included in Park, Stay & Go rates. The car park is ANPR-controlled, so register your full and correct vehicle registration at reception on arrival.
Is breakfast included?
Yes — the Express Start breakfast is included in the room rate, served 6:30–9:30 AM, with hot items like scrambled eggs, sausages and baked beans plus continental options. One child up to 17 also eats free per paying adult. Note the 9:30 finish is no use for a very early flight.
Is this hotel near the airport?
Not really — despite the name it's in Crawley town centre, not beside the terminals. That's fine if you're driving and parking, or using the train, but don't book expecting to walk to your gate.
Do children stay free?
Yes — one child up to 17 years old stays free with each paying adult, and that includes free breakfast. Rooms with a sofa bed are available, and cots are free.
Are the rooms big?
No — rooms are around 210 sq ft and reviewers do describe them as small. They're well-equipped for the price, with a pillow menu, blackout curtains and individual temperature control, but they're compact.