Langshott Manor: the complete traveller's guide
A 16th-century Elizabethan manor house with 22 individually designed rooms, four-poster beds, an award-winning restaurant and free parking — eight minutes from Gatwick. Easily the most characterful hotel near the airport, with one honest caveat about the countryside around it.
Hotel overview
Langshott Manor is not an airport hotel that happens to be old — it's a genuine 16th-century Elizabethan manor house on Ladbroke Road in Horley, set in three acres of award-winning grounds, that happens to be eight minutes from Gatwick. With just 22 rooms and suites, it's the smallest hotel in this entire series and the only one carrying a 4 Red Star rating — an award for quality, not merely facilities.
Rooms are individually designed and named after Tudor figures, with features varying room to room: four-poster and canopy beds, fireplaces, private patios and balconies, corner baths, Egyptian cotton sheets and bathrobes. Brasserie Dining is award-winning, serving Modern European food using produce grown in the hotel's own gardens. Parking and WiFi are free, bike rentals are free, and unusually for this set, pets are welcome.
Guests rate it 8.2/10 across nearly 900 reviews, describing it as a hidden gem with warm, attentive service. There is one recurring complaint worth knowing before you book, covered honestly below: the surrounding farmland can smell strongly of manure, which some guests say affects sitting outside.
| Address | Ladbroke Road, Horley, Surrey RH6 9LN |
|---|---|
| Phone | +44 1293 786680 |
| Rating | 4 Red Star luxury; 8.2/10 guest score (898 reviews) |
| Rooms | 22 rooms and suites, individually designed |
| Building | 16th-century Elizabethan manor house |
| Grounds | 3 acres of award-winning gardens |
| Distance to Gatwick | ~7 km — sources say 8 minutes' drive; a guest reports a 10–15 min taxi at £23 |
| Check-in / check-out | 3:00 PM / 11:00 AM |
| Parking & WiFi | Both free; free bike rentals too |
| Pets | Welcome — rare near Gatwick |
What "4 Red Star" actually means
Worth explaining, because it's a different thing from the four stars on a chain hotel.
| Rating type | What it measures |
|---|---|
| Standard star rating | Largely facilities — does the hotel have a restaurant, room service, a lift, and so on |
| Red Star (this hotel) | An award for quality and hospitality — given to hotels judged outstanding within their star level |
In practice: a 4-star chain hotel near Gatwick may have more facilities than Langshott Manor — a gym, a pool, 200 more rooms. What the Red Star recognises is how well the hotel does what it does. That's why a 22-room manor house with no gym can rate above much larger properties. Guest scores back this up at 8.2/10 from 898 reviews, with service and food singled out repeatedly.
Rooms, beds & prices
Just 22 rooms, all individually designed — so unlike every chain hotel in this series, no two are alike, and features vary meaningfully between them. Several are named after Tudor figures; the Jane Seymour room has a private balcony overlooking the pond and fountain, and the Anne Boleyn Suite is among the superior rooms. Ranges below are indicative.
| Room type | Features | From (indicative) |
|---|---|---|
| Cosy Double | Double bed, window, private bathroom — the entry-level room | ~£90 |
| Standard Room | Individually designed; Egyptian cotton sheets, bathrobes, safe | ~£115 |
| Luxury / Superior Room | May include four-poster or canopy bed, fireplace, corner bath | ~£130 |
| Junior Suite / Suite | Queen bed, more space; some with private patio or balcony | ~£150+ |
| Apartment | Kitchenette with microwave, coffee/tea makers and a washing machine | On request |
Because rooms differ so much, choose deliberately rather than booking the cheapest. If you want a four-poster, a fireplace, a corner bath, a patio or a view over the pond, ask for it by name when booking — these features aren't distributed evenly and the entry-level Cosy Double is a simpler room. Several guests report being warmly upgraded on arrival, but don't rely on it.
What's in the rooms
| Category | Typically included |
|---|---|
| Bed | Egyptian cotton sheets, premium bedding; four-poster or canopy beds in some rooms |
| Entertainment | Large flat-screen TV with satellite channels |
| Connectivity | Free WiFi |
| Comfort | Individual climate control; fireplaces in some rooms |
| Bathroom | Bathrobes, bath sheets, shower; corner or soaking baths in some rooms |
| Practical | In-room safe, tea & coffee facilities, ironing facilities |
| Some rooms | Private patio or balcony; mini-kitchen and dining area |
Egyptian cotton sheets, bathrobes and individual climate control put this well above the chain standard nearby. The trade-off is scale: with 22 rooms there's no gym, no pool and no 24-hour room service — room service runs limited hours only.
Dining
Brasserie Dining is an award-winning restaurant serving Modern European food, with an extensive wine list and — a genuinely nice detail — some produce grown in the hotel's own gardens. Afternoon tea is popular, and there's a comfortable interior lounge where you can eat informally.
| Venue / meal | What to expect | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Brasserie Dining | Award-winning Modern European; extensive wine list; garden produce | Book ahead — it's small |
| English breakfast | Served daily 7:00–9:00 AM | Charged separately; narrow window |
| Afternoon / high tea | Popular with guests and non-residents alike | Reserve in advance |
| Lounge | Drinks and informal dining — well suited after a long flight | Praised in reviews |
| Room service | Available limited hours only | Not 24-hour |
Watch the breakfast window. Breakfast runs 7:00–9:00 AM and is charged separately — considerably tighter than the 3:30 AM start at Premier Inn Gatwick North or 6:30 AM at the Copthorne Effingham. If your flight leaves early, you'll miss it entirely. One reviewer described exactly that: left too early for breakfast, but still rated the stay wonderful.
The farmland smell — an honest note
This comes up often enough in reviews that you should know before booking rather than after arriving.
Several guests report strong manure odours from the surrounding farmland, describing it as pervasive enough to affect sitting outdoors — including during afternoon tea on the terrace. One aggregated review summary notes the sharp contrast between glowing feedback on weddings, service and food and these complaints about the smell, and suggests a winter visit may be a safer bet.
| What we can say | Detail |
|---|---|
| The cause | Working farmland surrounding the hotel's rural setting — not the hotel itself |
| When it's worst | Reports centre on warmer months, when muck-spreading is common and guests sit outside |
| What it affects | Mainly outdoor spaces — the terrace, gardens and afternoon tea |
| Mitigation | Winter and colder months reportedly less affected; indoor spaces less exposed |
Our read: this is a genuine rural hotel in working countryside, and agricultural smells come with that territory — it isn't a maintenance failure or something the hotel can fix. But if you're booking specifically to sit in the gardens or take afternoon tea outdoors in summer, it's worth asking the hotel directly what conditions are like on your dates. It appears not to affect most guests' overall verdict, given the 8.2/10 score.
Parking & the free extras
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Parking | Free private parking on site; guests describe a large car park with plenty of space |
| WiFi | Free in rooms and public areas |
| Bike rentals | Free — unique in this series |
| Airport shuttle | None found — one guest reports a taxi costing around £23 |
| Rail | Horley station ~2 km; Gatwick Airport station ~4.7 km |
Free parking plus a large car park is a real advantage against the £20–£27 nightly charges at hotels closer to the terminals — and unlike the Holiday Inn Worth, guests here describe plenty of space rather than a scramble. Confirm long-stay park-and-fly terms directly, since free overnight parking doesn't automatically mean free parking for a fortnight.
Facilities & services
| Dining | Brasserie Dining (award-winning), lounge, afternoon tea; room service limited hours |
|---|---|
| Parking | Free private on-site parking |
| Connectivity | Free WiFi in rooms and public areas |
| Grounds | 3 acres of award-winning gardens, pond and fountain, summer terrace |
| Recreation | Free bike rentals; golf listed nearby (Horne Park Golf Club ~4.8 km) |
| Services | 24-hour front desk, concierge, luggage storage, laundry service |
| Events | Conference and multi-function rooms; a popular wedding venue |
| Pets | Pet-friendly accommodation available |
| Not available | No pool, no gym, no airport shuttle, no 24-hour room service |
| Nearby | Langshott Pond ~5-min walk; Langshott Wood ~600 m; Archway Theatre ~4-min drive; Gatwick Aviation Museum close by |
Accessibility & suitability for elderly guests
A 16th-century listed manor house brings real constraints, and published accessibility detail is limited — so this needs a direct conversation more than most.
Helpful points:
- Free on-site parking close to the building, with plenty of space
- 24-hour front desk and a concierge — genuine assistance available
- Small scale means staff know guests and can respond personally
- Level grounds and gardens for gentle walking
- Luggage storage and laundry service
- Individual climate control in rooms
Significant cautions:
- A 16th-century building — expect uneven floors, narrow doorways, staircases and possibly no lift; confirm before booking
- Rooms are individually designed, so accessibility varies room to room — describe your needs and let them recommend
- Room service is limited hours, not 24-hour
- Breakfast window is narrow (7–9 AM)
- No shuttle — arrange a door-to-door car
Suitability verdict for elderly & less-mobile guests: potentially excellent on service, but you must phone first. With 22 individually designed rooms in a Tudor building, the right room could be very comfortable and the wrong one difficult. The 24-hour front desk and personal attention are genuine advantages — describe your requirements in detail and ask them to allocate accordingly.
Insider details
Ask for a specific room — they're all different
The single most useful tip here. With 22 individually designed rooms, what you get varies enormously: four-poster or canopy beds, a working fireplace, a corner bath, a private patio, or the Jane Seymour room's balcony overlooking the pond and fountain. Booking the cheapest rate gets you the Cosy Double, which is a simpler proposition. Name the features you want when you book.
Breakfast is 7–9 AM only, and charged
Plan around this. Unlike the airport-belt hotels serving from 3:30 or 6:30 AM, breakfast here runs a narrow two-hour window and costs extra. For an early departure you'll miss it — one reviewer left before breakfast and still loved the stay, but factor it into what you're paying for.
The rural setting has a smell in warmer months
Covered fully above, but worth repeating in short: working farmland surrounds the hotel, and guests report manure odours strong enough to affect outdoor afternoon tea. Colder months are reportedly better. It's a genuine countryside hotel, and this is what genuine countryside sometimes smells like.
It can be tricky to find
A practical warning from guests: the hotel is tucked away in a quiet residential area and reportedly awkward to locate first time. If you're driving in after dark or after a long flight, have the postcode ready — and note that one listing shows a different postcode, so use the one on your confirmation and call if unsure.
Pets are welcome — rare near Gatwick
Worth flagging because so few nearby hotels allow it: pet-friendly accommodation is available here, whereas the Copthorne and the Ramada both refuse pets outright. If you're travelling with a dog before or after a flight, options near Gatwick are thin, and this is one of the better ones.
Free bikes and three acres of gardens
A nice touch nothing else in this series offers: bike rentals are free, and the grounds run to three acres of award-winning gardens with a pond and fountain. If you've got an afternoon before a flight, that's a considerably better way to spend it than a chain hotel lobby.
WiFi coverage & signal strength
Free WiFi is provided in rooms and public areas. Signal-strength-by-area detail isn't published, and in a 16th-century building with thick stone and timber walls coverage can vary noticeably between rooms — confirm with hotel, or share guest reviews and we'll add specifics.
Practical information
| Address | Ladbroke Road, Horley, Surrey RH6 9LN — confirm postcode on booking |
|---|---|
| Phone | +44 1293 786680 |
| Check-in / check-out | 3:00 PM / 11:00 AM |
| Parking | Free private parking, ample space |
| WiFi / bikes | Both free |
| Breakfast | English breakfast 7:00–9:00 AM, charged separately |
| Room service | Limited hours |
| Shuttle | None — taxi reported at ~£23 |
| Pets | Welcome; smoke-free property |
Getting to Gatwick
No shuttle, and sources differ on the journey — booking platforms say eight minutes, while a guest reported a 10–15 minute taxi ride costing around £23.
| To… | Best way | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gatwick (either terminal) | Pre-booked private car — door to door, any hour | ~8–15 min | Fixed fare |
| Gatwick — taxi | Arranged locally or via reception | ~10–15 min | ~£23 reported |
| Between terminals | Free 24/7 inter-terminal shuttle at the airport | ~2 min | Free |
| Horley / rail | Horley station ~2 km; Gatwick Airport station ~4.7 km | Varies | Rail fare |
With a £23 taxi as the reported benchmark, a fixed-fare pre-booked car is worth comparing — you get a known price, a driver who can find a hotel that guests say is hard to locate, and no scramble at 5 AM when breakfast isn't even open yet.
Customer reviews
Well rated at 8.2/10 across 898 reviews, with a higher 8.5/10 on a smaller sample. Guests describe it as a hidden gem; service and food draw the strongest praise.
| Theme | What guests say |
|---|---|
| Service | Warm greeting, polite and attentive staff; upgrades reported on arrival |
| Character | Beautiful historic property, uniquely European feel, "hidden gem" |
| Grounds | Beautiful gardens, pond and fountain; lovely interior lounge |
| Food | Excellent breakfast; popular afternoon tea; award-winning restaurant |
| Rooms | Comfortable rooms, beds and showers |
| Main complaint | Manure odours from surrounding farmland; hotel tricky to find at first |
Pros & cons
Pros
- 4 Red Star — an award for quality and hospitality, not just facilities
- Genuine 16th-century Elizabethan manor house with real character
- 22 individually designed rooms — four-posters, fireplaces, corner baths, private patios
- Egyptian cotton sheets, bathrobes, individual climate control
- Award-winning restaurant using produce from the hotel gardens
- Free parking with plenty of space, free WiFi and free bike rentals
- Three acres of award-winning gardens with pond and fountain
- Pet-friendly — unusual near Gatwick
- 24-hour front desk and concierge despite the small scale
Cons
- Manure odours from surrounding farmland reported, especially in warmer months
- Breakfast only 7–9 AM and charged — no good for early flights
- Room service limited hours; no pool, no gym
- No airport shuttle; taxi reported at ~£23
- Reportedly tricky to find first time; postcode listings vary
- 16th-century building — accessibility constraints likely
- Rooms vary greatly, so the cheapest rate is a simpler room
Our honest verdict
If you want somewhere memorable rather than merely convenient near Gatwick, this is the clear choice in our series. Nothing else nearby offers a genuine Tudor manor, individually designed rooms with four-posters and fireplaces, an award-winning kitchen growing its own produce, and three acres of gardens — with free parking and free bikes on top.
It suits a relaxed arrival night, a post-holiday decompression, a special occasion, or anyone travelling with a dog. It suits an early-morning departure considerably less well: breakfast doesn't start until 7 AM, room service is limited, and there's no shuttle.
Two things to do when booking: ask for a specific room by feature — a four-poster, a fireplace, a patio, or the balcony over the pond — since rooms vary so much; and if you're visiting in summer and plan to sit outside, ask about the farmland conditions on your dates. For a very early flight, the Premier Inn Gatwick North serves breakfast from 3:30 AM and sits opposite the terminal.
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FAQs
Is Langshott Manor worth it near Gatwick?
If you want character rather than convenience, yes — it's a genuine 16th-century manor with 22 individually designed rooms, an award-winning restaurant, three acres of gardens, and free parking and WiFi, rated 8.2/10 by nearly 900 guests. For a very early flight it's less practical, as breakfast only starts at 7 AM and there's no shuttle.
What's the smell guests mention?
The hotel sits in working countryside, and several guests report strong manure odours from surrounding farmland — enough to affect sitting outside, including afternoon tea on the terrace. Reports centre on warmer months, with winter said to be better. It's a feature of the rural setting rather than a fault of the hotel, but worth asking about for your dates.
Are all the rooms the same?
No — all 22 are individually designed and vary a lot. Some have four-poster or canopy beds, fireplaces, corner baths, private patios or balconies; the Jane Seymour room overlooks the pond and fountain. The entry-level Cosy Double is simpler. Ask for the features you want by name when booking.
Is parking free?
Yes — free private parking on site, and guests describe plenty of space rather than a scramble. WiFi and bike rentals are free too. Confirm long-stay park-and-fly terms directly if you're leaving the car while you travel.
Can I bring my dog?
Yes — pet-friendly accommodation is available, which is unusual near Gatwick where several hotels refuse pets outright. Confirm the details and any charges when you book.
Is there an airport shuttle?
No shuttle was found. Booking platforms put Gatwick at around eight minutes' drive, while one guest reported a 10–15 minute taxi costing about £23. A pre-booked fixed-fare car is the more predictable option, particularly as guests say the hotel is tricky to find.