Premier Inn London Gatwick Airport (A23 Airport Way): the complete traveller's guide
The Gatwick Premier Inn that actually has its own car park — 220 rooms about 500 metres from the North Terminal, with a restaurant, big breakfasts and cheaper rates than its sibling. An honest rundown: the parking costs, the paid shuttle, and the two things reviewers consistently flag.
Hotel overview
This is the Gatwick Premier Inn for drivers. Unlike its sibling right by the North Terminal, the A23 Airport Way hotel has its own on-site car park — 98 spaces — which makes it the practical choice if you're arriving by car and want to leave it somewhere while you fly, or simply park overnight without paying airport short-stay rates.
It's a straightforward three-floor budget hotel with 220 rooms about 500 metres from the North Terminal, set back from London Road. You get the reliable Premier Inn package: a comfortable bed with blackout curtains, a powerful shower, free WiFi, an on-site restaurant and bar, and a generous all-you-can-eat breakfast served early for morning flights. Rates are typically cheaper than the North Terminal Premier Inn, and family rooms often cost the same as a room for two.
Guests rate it 8.3/10, praising the location, cleanliness and notably friendly staff. Two honest caveats recur strongly enough that you should factor them in: there's no air conditioning, which matters in summer, and while you can walk to the North Terminal, some guests advise against it — the hotel's own shuttle is chargeable, so budget for it or plan a car.
| Official website | premierinn.com |
|---|---|
| Address | Longbridge Way, Airport Way, Gatwick, West Sussex RH6 0NX |
| Star rating | 3-star (budget) |
| Rooms | 220 rooms over 3 floors |
| Distance | ~500 m / under 10-min walk to North Terminal |
| Parking | On site — 98 spaces, £27/night or £12.50 for 12 hours (Horizon) |
| Shuttle | Hotel shuttle chargeable (~£3.50 North / £4.50 South per adult) |
| Guest rating | 8.3 / 10 (265 reviews) |
Which Gatwick Premier Inn is this?
There are two Premier Inns very close together at Gatwick, both branded "London Gatwick Airport", and booking the wrong one is a common and costly mistake. Here's the difference in one table.
| A23 Airport Way (this hotel) | North Terminal | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Longbridge Way, set back from London Road — usually the second one you reach | Directly opposite the North Terminal |
| Walk to North Terminal | ~500 m, under 10 min | ~4–5 min |
| On-site parking | Yes — 98 spaces, £27/night | No — airport short stay opposite |
| Typical price | Usually cheaper | Usually dearer |
| Breakfast start | Early, all-you-can-eat | Continental from 3:30am |
| Best for | Drivers; value; families | Shortest possible walk; very early flights |
Simple rule: driving → book this one (A23 Airport Way); want the shortest walk → book the North Terminal one. Check the exact hotel name and postcode (RH6 0NX for this one) on your confirmation. See our North Terminal guide for the comparison.
Star rating and what it means
A budget 3-star with a restaurant and bar — comfortable and reliable rather than luxurious.
| Level | What it broadly means in the UK |
|---|---|
| ★★★★★ / ★★★★ | Luxury / upscale: multiple restaurants, room service, extensive facilities |
| ★★★ Three-star / budget (this hotel) | Budget consistency: comfy beds, en-suite rooms, restaurant & bar, big breakfast — value is the draw |
| ★★ Two-star | Ultra-budget: functional rooms, minimal extras |
| ★ One-star | Very basic accommodation |
Guests score it 8.3/10 overall — cleanliness 8.5, location 8.4, service 8.3, amenities 7.9. That amenities score is the tell: the rooms and staff are good, but the hotel is dated in places and lacks air conditioning. Reviewers repeatedly single out friendly, attentive restaurant and reception staff.
Rooms, beds & prices
220 rooms across three floors — Double, Twin, Family, Single and Accessible. The Premier Inn formula applies: a super-comfy bed, blackout curtains, a powerful shower, free WiFi, a flat-screen TV, tea and coffee facilities and an en-suite bathroom. Family rooms have a double bed plus sofa beds, and are often priced the same as a room for two — a real saving for families. Ranges below are indicative.
| Room type | Beds | Sleeps | Off-peak from | Peak from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Double | Double | 2 | ~£60 | ~£120 |
| Twin | Double + sofa bed | 2–3 | ~£65 | ~£125 |
| Family | Double + 2 sofa beds | 2 adults + 2 children | ~£70 | ~£135 |
| Accessible Double | Double | 2 | ~£60 | ~£120 |
Prices are per room, per night, room-only (breakfast charged separately). Rooms are consistently described as clean, quiet and comfortable with excellent beds and powerful showers. Two honest points: there's no air conditioning — worth knowing for a summer stay, as rooms can get warm — and some rooms face the entrance or road, so ask for a quieter room away from the front if you're a light sleeper. Decor is dated in parts.
- Bed quality: the usual Premier Inn strength — comfy beds and blackout curtains.
- Families: family rooms sleeping two adults and two children, often at the price of a double.
- No air conditioning — rooms have openable windows instead.
What's in every room
| Category | Included in every room |
|---|---|
| Entertainment | Flat-screen TV |
| Connectivity | Free WiFi |
| Hot drinks | Tea & coffee making facilities |
| Sleep | Super-comfy bed, blackout curtains — no air conditioning |
| Bathroom | En-suite with a powerful shower, hairdryer, private toilet |
| Practical | Wardrobe; non-smoking throughout; housekeeping on request |
Reliable budget essentials, with the powerful shower and comfortable bed the standouts. The absence of air conditioning is the one specification gap worth planning around — if you're travelling in warm weather, request a room away from direct sun and open the window at night.
Dining & breakfast
There's an on-site restaurant and bar serving a varied menu for dinner, plus a generous all-you-can-eat breakfast with both cooked and continental options, served early for flights. A petrol station next door covers late-night snacks and sandwiches.
| Venue / meal | What to expect | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited breakfast | All-you-can-eat cooked & continental; early service for flights | ~£10–£12 pp |
| Restaurant (evening) | Varied menu; hearty pub-style dishes | £10–£18 mains |
| Bar | Light snacks & drinks | £4–£9 / drink |
| Petrol station next door | Snacks, sandwiches & essentials | Varies |
Breakfast gets consistently good feedback — "small but delicious" per one review summary, and generous as an all-you-can-eat. As at other Premier Inns, up to two children typically eat breakfast free when an adult orders a Premier Inn Breakfast — confirm the current offer when booking. Breakfast is charged separately from the room.
Parking & the shuttle — the real costs
This is the section that decides whether this hotel is right for you, since parking is its main advantage but the shuttle is not free.
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| On-site parking (overnight) | ~£27 per night | 98 spaces, managed by Horizon; availability varies |
| On-site parking (12 hours) | ~£12.50 | Useful for a short stay before an early flight |
| Long-stay / holiday parking | Package rates | Via Premier Inn's partners — much better value if you're flying away |
| Hotel shuttle — North Terminal | ~£3.50 per adult | Every 20 min, 4am–midnight; half-hourly midnight–4am |
| Hotel shuttle — South Terminal | ~£4.50 per adult | Children discounted or free depending on the current policy |
| Inter-terminal shuttle | Free, 24/7 | Runs between North and South once you're at the airport |
| Early check-in | ~£15 | Subject to availability |
Two things to note. First, hotel parking is only for the duration of your stay — if you want to leave the car while you fly, book a proper long-stay package rather than assuming you can leave it in the hotel car park. Second, published parking prices have moved over time (older listings quote £15 or £25), so confirm the current rate when you book. For a family of four, the paid shuttle both ways adds up — a fixed-fare car is often comparable.
Facilities & services
| Parking | 98 on-site spaces, £27/night or £12.50 for 12 hours (Horizon); accessible bays; long-stay packages via partners |
|---|---|
| Terminal transfer | Paid hotel shuttle to both terminals (every 20 min 4am–midnight, half-hourly overnight); free 24/7 inter-terminal shuttle at the airport |
| Dining | Restaurant & bar; all-you-can-eat breakfast; petrol station next door |
| Connectivity | Free WiFi in public areas and rooms |
| Services | 24-hour front desk; luggage storage; express check-in/out; fax/copying |
| Rail & coach | Gatwick Express and coaches serve the airport; take the hotel shuttle from there |
| Comfort | No air conditioning; non-smoking throughout |
| Pool / pets | No swimming pool or gym; pets not allowed |
Accessibility & suitability for elderly guests
Accessibility here is a genuine strength — the hotel is fully step-free with well-specified accessible rooms, and having parking on site makes arrival much easier than at the North Terminal sibling.
Accessible strengths:
- Step-free access, ramps and lifts to all floors
- Accessible parking bays in the on-site car park
- Accessible rooms with a wet room or roll-in bath, grab rails in the bathroom, assistance cords, wider doors and a lowered bed
- Restaurant, bar and 24-hour front desk on site
- Ground-level arrival by car — no airport car park walk
Worth confirming first:
- Request an accessible room when booking (specify wet room or roll-in bath)
- No air conditioning — ask about room position in warm weather
- The terminal shuttle is chargeable; confirm accessibility of the shuttle vehicle if needed
Suitability verdict for elderly & less-mobile guests: very good — full step-free access, lifts, accessible parking and properly equipped accessible rooms, with the big practical advantage of parking at the door. Since the walk to the terminal isn't ideal, plan the paid shuttle or a door-to-door car for the airport leg.
Insider details
The parking is the point — but read the terms
This hotel exists in the comparison set for one reason: it has 98 on-site parking spaces when its North Terminal sibling has none. At around £27 a night (or £12.50 for 12 hours) it's cheaper than airport short-stay for an overnight. The catch: parking is only for the duration of your stay, so it's not a holiday park-and-fly solution by itself — for that, book a long-stay package through Premier Inn's parking partners.
The walk to the terminal — an honest warning
It's about 500 metres and Premier Inn describes it as under a 10-minute walk, and plenty of guests do walk it, including with luggage. However, some reviewers specifically advise against walking, as the route runs along an airport approach road rather than a pleasant pedestrian path — particularly in the dark, in bad weather or with heavy bags. The hotel's own shuttle is the alternative, but it's chargeable (about £3.50 to the North Terminal, £4.50 to the South, per adult). Decide in advance rather than at 4am.
No air conditioning — the most common complaint
The single most repeated criticism in reviews: the rooms have no air conditioning. In cooler months it's a non-issue, but in summer rooms can get warm, and guests placed near the entrance or facing the road also report noise when windows are open. If you're staying in warm weather, mention it at check-in and ask for a quieter, cooler room away from the front.
Cheaper than its sibling — and family rooms are great value
Two money points worth knowing. This hotel is usually cheaper than the Premier Inn at the North Terminal, and family rooms are often priced the same as a room for two, sleeping two adults and two children on a double plus sofa beds. Combined with the all-you-can-eat breakfast (where kids typically eat free with an adult breakfast), it's one of the better-value family options around Gatwick.
WiFi coverage & signal strength
Free WiFi is available in rooms and public areas. Signal-strength-by-area detail (which floors are strongest) isn't published — confirm with hotel, or share guest reviews and we'll add specifics.
General guidance for a three-floor budget hotel: WiFi is usually fine for browsing and messaging, with a paid upgrade available at some Premier Inns for faster speeds. Ask reception if you need reliable speed for work.
Practical information
| Check-in | From 3:00 PM (early check-in ~£15, subject to availability) |
|---|---|
| Check-out | By 12:00 noon |
| Address / postcode | Longbridge Way, Gatwick RH6 0NX (M23 junction 9, follow airport signs) |
| Parking | On site: £27/night or £12.50 for 12 hours; duration of stay only |
| Shuttle | Paid: ~£3.50 North / ~£4.50 South per adult; every 20 min 4am–midnight |
| WiFi | Free in rooms & public areas |
| Breakfast | All-you-can-eat cooked & continental, charged; early service |
| Pool / pets / air-con | No pool or gym; no pets; no air conditioning |
Getting to the terminals
Close to the North Terminal, but the transfer needs planning — the hotel shuttle isn't free.
| To… | Best way | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Terminal | Paid hotel shuttle (or walk ~500 m, with the caveats above) | ~15 min by shuttle; ~10 min walk | ~£3.50 pp; free on foot |
| South Terminal | Paid hotel shuttle direct, or shuttle to North + free inter-terminal transit | ~10 min | ~£4.50 pp |
| Between terminals | Free 24/7 inter-terminal shuttle at the airport | ~2 min | Free |
| Central London / Brighton | Trains from Gatwick Airport station (South Terminal) | ~30 min | Rail fare |
The hotel shuttle runs every 20 minutes from 4am to midnight and half-hourly overnight — reliable, but chargeable per person, so for a family it can cost more than you'd expect both ways. For a guaranteed door-to-door pickup with luggage, at any hour and with no per-person charge, a fixed-fare RushXO car covers both terminals 24/7.
Customer reviews
Guests rate it 8.3/10, with the location, cleanliness, comfortable beds, powerful showers, early breakfast and notably friendly staff the main positives; no air conditioning, dated decor, some maintenance issues and the extra charges are the recurring complaints.
| Theme | What guests say |
|---|---|
| Location & parking | Handy for the North Terminal; on-site parking a big plus for drivers |
| Rooms & sleep | Clean, quiet, comfortable beds, powerful showers — but dated in places |
| Staff | Repeatedly praised: friendly, attentive reception and restaurant teams |
| Breakfast | Good quality, generous, served early for flights |
| Common gripe | No air conditioning; some road/entrance noise; extra charges; some advise against walking to the terminal |
Scores break down as cleanliness 8.5, location 8.4, service 8.3, amenities 7.9 — confirm current numbers on your preferred platform. Share specific reviews and I can add a scored breakdown.
Pros & cons
Pros
- On-site parking (98 spaces) — the main advantage over the North Terminal Premier Inn
- Usually cheaper than its sibling; family rooms often priced like a double
- Comfy beds, blackout curtains and powerful showers; clean rooms
- All-you-can-eat cooked & continental breakfast, served early
- Restaurant, bar, 24-hour front desk and luggage storage on site
- Excellent accessibility — step-free, lifts, accessible bays & well-equipped rooms
- Frequent shuttle to both terminals (every 20 min from 4am)
Cons
- No air conditioning — the most common complaint, especially in summer
- Hotel shuttle is chargeable (~£3.50 North / £4.50 South per adult)
- Some guests advise against walking to the terminal (airport approach road)
- Parking only covers the duration of your stay — not a park-and-fly solution alone
- Dated decor and occasional maintenance issues; some road/entrance noise
- No pool or gym; no pets; early check-in chargeable (~£15)
Best way to book online
| Book via | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Official site (premierinn.com) | Best rates, saver/flexible options, add parking | Confirm it's A23 Airport Way (RH6 0NX), not the North Terminal hotel |
| Phone (accessible rooms) | Specifying wet room or roll-in bath | Not always selectable online |
| Park-and-fly specialists | Long-stay parking packages while you fly | Hotel parking alone only covers your stay |
| Major OTAs | Comparing dates & deals | Several Premier Inns serve Gatwick/Crawley/Horley — match the exact name |
In short: book direct with Premier Inn, checking the postcode RH6 0NX so you get the A23 Airport Way hotel rather than the North Terminal one. Add parking if you're driving overnight, or a proper long-stay package if you're leaving the car. Then book your airport transfer separately with RushXO for a fixed fare with no per-person shuttle charges.
Book your transfer → · Call the 24/7 team
FAQs
Does this hotel have parking?
Yes — this is the key difference from the North Terminal Premier Inn. There are 98 on-site spaces, charged at around £27 per night or £12.50 for 12 hours, managed by Horizon. Note that parking is only for the duration of your stay, so for a holiday you'll need a separate long-stay package.
How is this different from the other Gatwick Premier Inn?
This is the A23 Airport Way hotel (RH6 0NX), set back from London Road, about 500 metres from the North Terminal, with on-site parking and usually cheaper rates. The North Terminal Premier Inn is directly opposite the terminal — a shorter walk — but has no car park. Choose based on whether you're driving.
Is the shuttle free?
No — the hotel shuttle is chargeable, at roughly £3.50 per adult to the North Terminal and £4.50 to the South, running every 20 minutes from 4am to midnight and half-hourly overnight. The inter-terminal shuttle between North and South at the airport is free and runs 24/7.
Can I walk to the North Terminal?
You can — it's about 500 metres and under a 10-minute walk, and many guests do it with luggage. However, some reviewers advise against walking because the route follows an airport approach road rather than a proper pedestrian path, particularly in the dark or bad weather. Plan the shuttle or a car if you'd rather not.
Do the rooms have air conditioning?
No — this is the most common complaint in reviews. Rooms have openable windows and blackout curtains, but no air conditioning, so they can get warm in summer. Ask for a room away from the entrance and road if you want it quieter with the window open.
Is it good for families?
Yes — family rooms sleep two adults and two children on a double plus sofa beds, and are often priced the same as a room for two. The all-you-can-eat breakfast is generous, and children typically eat breakfast free when an adult orders a Premier Inn Breakfast.