Oldlands Farm, Gatwick: the complete traveller's guide
A 16th-century farmhouse B&B barely a mile from Gatwick, rated 9.0/10 — the highest score anywhere in our series — with free parking, four-poster beds and a £2 bus stopping at the end of the driveway. But there are only four rooms, so read this before you plan around it.
Overview
Oldlands Farm — also listed as Oldlands Farmhouse Gatwick — is a family-run bed and breakfast on Radford Road in Tinsley Green, in a farmhouse dating from the 16th century. Guests describe it as "a beautiful family home with a gorgeous wing on the side for guests", and it sits barely a mile or two from Gatwick — closer than several hotels with "airport" in their name.
It is rated 9.0/10, with cleanliness, amenities, location and service all scoring 9.0 — the highest-rated stay anywhere in our Heathrow and Gatwick series. Rooms are large, with four-poster beds, Sky Q television and what one guest called an "old British feel". Parking and WiFi are free, there's a garden, a sun room and a picnic area, and a pub across the road serves excellent food.
The single best practical detail: the No. 3 local bus stops directly outside the property, costs £2 per person, and takes about five minutes to Gatwick South Terminal. That's the cheapest airport connection we've found anywhere in this series. The trade-off is scale — there are only four rooms, and none of the services a hotel provides.
| Address | Radford Road, Tinsley Green, Crawley, West Sussex RH10 3NR |
|---|---|
| Type | Family-run B&B / guesthouse — 4 rooms only |
| Building | Farmhouse dating from the 16th century |
| Guest rating | 9.0 / 10 (66 reviews); 8.3 on another platform |
| Distance to Gatwick | ~1.2 miles / ~2.5 km — very close |
| Bus to airport | No. 3 stops outside — £2 pp, ~5 min to South Terminal |
| Parking & WiFi | Both free; long-stay parking for a small charge |
| Check-in / check-out | 4:00 PM / 10:00 AM (early) |
Rating — the highest in our series
Worth showing in context, with the important caveat that this is a four-room B&B being compared with full hotels.
| Property | Rating | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Oldlands Farm | 9.0 / 10 | 4 rooms |
| Stanhill Court | 8.8 / 10 | 56 rooms |
| Langshott Manor | 8.2 / 10 | 22 rooms |
| Travelodge Gatwick Central | 8.0 / 10 | Large |
| Gatwick White House | 7.0–7.4 / 10 | Mid-size |
How to read this fairly. Small guesthouses often score higher than hotels because personal service is easier to deliver across four rooms than four hundred — and because guests choose them knowing what they are. Reviews here are unusually warm: "there was nothing to dislike", "first class service", and one guest wrote that if they fly from Gatwick again they won't look anywhere else. The owner is repeatedly singled out as helpful and easy-going about departure arrangements.
The £2 bus — the cheapest airport link we've found
This deserves its own section because it changes the economics of staying here.
| Detail | What guests report |
|---|---|
| Service | No. 3 local bus |
| Stop | Directly outside the property — one guest says it drops you at the driveway |
| Fare | £2 per person |
| Journey | About 5 minutes from Gatwick South Terminal |
Compare that with the rest of our series: the Travelodge Gatwick Central shuttle is £4.50 per person each way; the Gatwick White House shuttle was reported at around £22 each way. At £2, this is by some distance the cheapest connection near the airport. Two sensible caveats: check the timetable, since a local bus won't run as frequently through the night as a hotel shuttle, and with luggage, an early flight or a late landing, a door-to-door car is still the more reliable option.
Rooms & prices
Only four guestrooms, in a period farmhouse with a guest wing. Guests describe them as large, comfortable and full of character — one mentioned a beautiful view from the window and an "old British feel". Ranges below are indicative.
| Room | Features | From (indicative) |
|---|---|---|
| Double Room | Double bed, private bathroom, flat-screen TV, free WiFi | ~£65 |
| Four-poster Room | Four-poster bed, historical character | ~£85 |
| Guest wing rooms | Private entrance for added privacy | Varies |
In the rooms: flat-screen TVs with Sky Q (one guest called it "a nice surprise"), tea and coffee facilities with a kettle, complimentary bottled water, towels and linen, private bathrooms with showers, toiletries and hairdryers, and irons available on request.
With only four rooms, book early — there's no flexibility if they're full, and no chance of walking in. One minor guest suggestion: the shampoo and shower gel could be better. If you're particular about toiletries, bring your own.
Free parking and park-and-fly
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Overnight parking | Free self-parking on site; guests report plenty of space |
| Long-stay parking | Available for a small charge if you leave the car after checking out |
| Type | Off-road parking; accessible parking listed |
| WiFi | Free in rooms and common areas |
Free overnight parking plus cheap long-stay parking within two miles of Gatwick is a strong combination — hotels closer to the terminals commonly charge £20–£27 a night. Confirm the extended-parking rate and maximum duration directly when you book, since a four-room B&B will have limited capacity for cars left for a fortnight.
Breakfast & eating nearby
Breakfast is charged separately, and descriptions vary — worth clarifying when you book.
| Source | What it describes |
|---|---|
| Booking platforms | Continental breakfast daily, 7:00–10:00 AM, for a fee |
| One directory | Cooked English and continental breakfasts, served with china, crystal and silverware, with a fireplace in the dining room |
| A recent guest | A pre-ordered box delivered to the room, noting cafés nearby for a full English |
| The pub across the road | Serves excellent food — guests walk over for dinner before early flights |
Ask what breakfast actually involves for your dates, as the format appears to have changed and sources disagree. Either way, the practical answer for most guests is the same: the pub across the road is repeatedly praised, and one guest described a lovely walk there for a meal the evening before an early flight. There's no restaurant on site.
The honest limits of a four-room B&B
The 9.0 rating is real, but this is not a hotel and shouldn't be booked as though it were.
| Consideration | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Availability | Only 4 rooms — book well ahead; no walk-ins |
| Reception | No 24-hour desk. Arrange arrival and departure times with the owner in advance |
| Check-out | 10:00 AM — earlier than most hotels here |
| Payment | One listing states cash only — confirm accepted payment methods before arriving |
| Common areas | A sun room and garden are listed, but one guest found nowhere to sit and eat a takeaway — clarify if that matters |
| Pets | Sources contradict each other — one says no pets, another dog-friendly, another by prior agreement. Ask directly |
| Facilities | No restaurant, no bar, no pool, no gym, no lift mentioned, no hotel shuttle |
None of these are faults — they're what a small family B&B is. But they're the difference between a delighted guest and a frustrated one. The single most important item is payment: if the cash-only note is current and you turn up expecting to tap a card, that's a genuine problem. One phone call resolves all of the above.
Facilities & services
| Parking | Free self-parking; long-stay available for a small charge; accessible parking listed |
|---|---|
| Connectivity | Free WiFi in rooms and common areas |
| In-room | Sky Q television, kettle, tea and coffee, free bottled water, iron on request |
| Outdoors | Well-kept garden, outdoor seating, picnic area |
| Indoors | Sun room for leisure use; fireplace in the dining room |
| Services | Luggage storage; room service during limited hours; hosts assist with local transport and restaurant recommendations |
| Privacy | Private entrance to the guest wing |
| Transport | No. 3 bus outside — £2 pp to Gatwick South; no hotel shuttle |
| Nearby | Pub across the road; Manor Royal Business Park ~3-min walk; go-karting ~0.5 mi; Copthorne Golf Club ~5-min drive |
| Not available | No restaurant, bar, pool or gym; rooms non-smoking (smoking area outside) |
Accessibility & suitability for elderly guests
Published accessibility information is limited, as is common for small B&Bs — so this needs a direct conversation.
Helpful points:
- Free off-road parking right at the property, with accessible parking listed
- Private entrance to the guest wing
- Large rooms with more space than typical budget hotel rooms
- Owner described repeatedly as helpful, welcoming and flexible about arrangements
- Bus stop directly outside — no walk to public transport
- Quiet, level rural setting; garden and sun room
- Luggage storage and limited room service
Cautions:
- A 16th-century farmhouse — expect uneven floors, low beams, narrow doorways and stairs; no lift is mentioned
- No 24-hour reception — arrange arrival and departure times in advance
- Confirm payment methods, as one source indicates cash only
- Check-out is 10:00 AM
- No on-site restaurant — the pub is across the road
Suitability verdict for elderly & less-mobile guests: promising on service, uncertain on the building. The hosts' flexibility is the strongest asset here, and a bus stop at the driveway removes a common difficulty. But a period farmhouse with no published step-free information means you should phone, describe your needs, and ask which room they'd recommend before booking. If you need guaranteed step-free access and a lift, the Travelodge Gatwick Central is the safer option.
Insider details
The No. 3 bus is the cheapest way to the airport we've found
Guests are emphatic about this: the No. 3 stops outside the property, costs £2 per person, and reaches Gatwick South Terminal in about five minutes. One reviewer called the B&B "a great alternative to staying in the immediate vicinity of the airport" precisely because of it. Check timetables for early or late flights, though — a local bus won't match a shuttle for frequency at 4 AM.
Book early — there are only four rooms
The most practical constraint. Four rooms near a major airport with a 9.0 rating means it sells out. If your dates are fixed, book as far ahead as you can, and have a backup in mind.
Confirm how you'll be paying
One listing states that payment is by cash only. That may be out of date, but it's exactly the kind of detail that ruins an otherwise excellent stay if you arrive assuming otherwise. Ask when you book, and draw cash if needed.
The pub across the road is part of the appeal
With no restaurant on site, this matters — and guests are consistently positive, describing a lovely walk to the local pub for a meal before an early flight, and calling the food excellent. It turns a functional overnight into a pleasant evening.
Ask the owner — they're the best resource here
A recurring theme in reviews: the owner is described as helpful and friendly on arrival, with laid-back, easy-going arrangements for departure, and guests mention being supported with local transport advice and restaurant recommendations. If you need an unusual departure time or have a question, ask — the answer appears to be yes more often than not.
Four-poster beds and Sky Q in a 16th-century farmhouse
An unusual combination worth knowing about: rooms are large with four-poster beds and period character, but also Sky Q television, which one guest flagged as a pleasant surprise. Request the four-poster room specifically if that appeals — with only four rooms, they differ.
WiFi coverage & signal strength
Free WiFi is provided in rooms and common areas. Signal-strength-by-area detail isn't published, and in a 16th-century farmhouse with thick walls coverage can vary — confirm with hotel, or share guest reviews and we'll add specifics.
Practical information
| Address | Radford Road, Tinsley Green, Crawley, West Sussex RH10 3NR |
|---|---|
| Also listed as | Oldlands Farmhouse Gatwick |
| Check-in / check-out | 4:00 PM / 10:00 AM |
| Parking | Free; long-stay for a small charge |
| WiFi | Free |
| Breakfast | Charged; 7:00–10:00 AM; confirm format |
| Bus | No. 3 outside the property, £2 pp, ~5 min to Gatwick South |
| Payment | Confirm accepted methods — one source indicates cash only |
| Pets | Sources conflict — ask directly |
Getting to Gatwick
| To… | Best way | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gatwick South Terminal | No. 3 bus from outside the property | ~5 min | £2 pp |
| Gatwick — any hour, with luggage | Pre-booked private car, door to door | ~5–10 min | Fixed fare |
| Between terminals | Free 24/7 inter-terminal shuttle at the airport | ~2 min | Free |
| Crawley / rail | Gatwick Airport station ~3.5 km; local buses | Varies | Rail / bus fare |
For a daytime flight with light luggage, the £2 bus is unbeatable. For a pre-dawn departure, a late arrival, or a family with cases, the calculation changes — bus frequency drops, and there's no 24-hour reception to fall back on. That's where a fixed-fare car with flight tracking earns its place.
Customer reviews
9.0/10 from 66 reviews, with cleanliness, amenities, location and service all scoring 9.0. Couples rate it particularly highly.
| Theme | What guests say |
|---|---|
| Hosts | Owner "so helpful and friendly"; easy-going departure arrangements; "first class service" |
| Rooms | Large, comfortable, characterful; four-posters; Sky Q "a nice surprise" |
| Location | Bus outside the door; quiet and rural; "a great alternative to staying in the immediate vicinity of the airport" |
| Value | Free parking; plenty of it; "I will not look anywhere else" |
| Nearby | Pub across the road praised for excellent food; lovely walks |
| Minor gripes | No common area to sit and eat a takeaway; toiletries could be better |
Pros & cons
Pros
- 9.0/10 — the highest-rated stay in our entire series, scoring 9.0 across every category
- No. 3 bus outside the door: £2 pp, ~5 min to Gatwick South
- Free parking with plenty of space, plus cheap long-stay parking
- Free WiFi and free bottled water
- 16th-century farmhouse with four-poster beds and large, characterful rooms
- Sky Q television; private entrance to the guest wing
- Owner repeatedly praised for warmth and flexibility
- Excellent pub across the road; garden, sun room and picnic area
- Barely a mile or two from the airport, yet quiet and rural
Cons
- Only 4 rooms — books out; no walk-ins; no flexibility
- One source states cash only — must be confirmed
- Pet policy contradicts across sources — must be confirmed
- Breakfast charged, and its format is described inconsistently
- Check-out at 10:00 AM; no 24-hour reception
- No restaurant, bar, pool or gym on site
- Period farmhouse — limited published accessibility information
- One guest found nowhere to sit and eat food brought in
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FAQs
How do I get to Gatwick from Oldlands Farm?
The No. 3 local bus stops directly outside the property, costs £2 per person, and takes about five minutes to Gatwick South Terminal — the cheapest airport link we've found in this series. For early departures, late arrivals or heavy luggage, a pre-booked car is more reliable, as bus frequency drops overnight and there's no 24-hour reception.
Is parking free?
Yes — free self-parking on site, and guests report plenty of space. Long-stay parking is also available for a small charge if you want to leave the car while you fly. Confirm the extended-parking rate and maximum duration when booking, since a four-room B&B has limited capacity.
How many rooms are there?
Just four. That's why service scores so highly, but it also means the property books out well in advance and there are no walk-ins. Book early and have a backup in mind if your dates are fixed.
Can I pay by card?
Confirm before you arrive. One listing states payment is cash only. That may be out of date, but it's worth a phone call rather than a surprise at checkout.
Is breakfast included?
No, it's charged separately, served 7:00–10:00 AM. Descriptions vary between sources — one describes cooked and continental breakfasts served with china and silverware by a dining-room fireplace, while a recent guest described a pre-ordered box delivered to the room. Ask what applies to your dates. The pub across the road is well regarded for meals.
Are pets allowed?
Sources contradict each other — one says no pets, another describes dog-friendly accommodation, and a third says pets are accepted by prior arrangement. Contact the owner directly rather than relying on a listing.