Booking one of the Gatwick airport hotels with parking can make the start of a family holiday much easier — particularly if you have an early flight or a long drive to the airport.
Instead of leaving home in the middle of the night, you can travel to Gatwick the day before, check into your hotel and start the holiday feeling considerably less rushed.
Many Gatwick hotels can also be booked together with airport parking, which can sometimes work out surprisingly well compared with booking a hotel and parking separately.
In this guide, we’ll explain the different Gatwick hotel and parking options, which areas are most convenient for the North and South terminals, what families should look for and how we’d choose the best package.
Best Gatwick Airport Hotels with Parking: Quick Answer
For most families, we’d choose a Gatwick hotel and parking package based on three things: which terminal you’re flying from, how early your flight departs and whether you want maximum convenience or the lowest price.
🏆 Best for convenience: A hotel within or directly connected to your Gatwick terminal
👨👩👧 Best for families: A family-friendly hotel with breakfast options and an easy terminal transfer
🚗 Best value: An off-airport hotel and parking package with transfers included
✈️ Best for very early flights: Stay as close to your departure terminal as possible
💷 Best money-saving tip: Compare the combined hotel + parking price against booking the same hotel and airport parking separately
💡 Holiday Blueprint Pick
For an early morning flight with children, we’d happily pay a little more for a hotel that’s directly connected to the terminal.
Being able to wake up, have breakfast and walk into the airport without waiting for a transfer bus can make the first morning of the holiday considerably easier.
Gatwick North vs South Terminal Hotels
The first thing to check before booking a Gatwick airport hotel is which terminal your flight departs from.
Gatwick has North and South terminals. Although they’re connected by a free shuttle, staying at or close to the correct terminal is much more convenient — particularly when travelling with children and luggage.
Gatwick North Terminal Hotels
If you’re flying from North Terminal, we’d prioritise hotels that let you walk directly or very quickly to departures.
This can be especially useful for early flights because you won’t need to allow extra time for hotel transfer buses or travelling between terminals.
Gatwick South Terminal Hotels
South Terminal also has hotels within easy walking distance of departures, making it possible to stay overnight and simply walk into the terminal the following morning.
Again, we’d normally favour convenience over saving a small amount of money if the flight is particularly early.
Can You Stay at the Wrong Gatwick Terminal?
Yes. Gatwick’s free inter-terminal shuttle connects North and South Terminal, so staying near the opposite terminal isn’t a disaster.
However, given a similar price, we’d always choose a hotel convenient for the terminal we’re actually flying from.
💡 Holiday Blueprint Tip
Check your departure terminal before booking the hotel — and then check it again closer to departure.
Airlines can use different terminals, and operational arrangements can change. Don’t choose a hotel purely because you’ve previously flown from a particular Gatwick terminal.
Best Gatwick North Terminal Hotels with Parking
If you’re flying from Gatwick North Terminal, there are three hotels we’d look at first. All are extremely convenient for departures, but they suit slightly different budgets and types of family.
Hampton by Hilton London Gatwick Airport — Best for Families
Hampton by Hilton is one of our favourite options for families using North Terminal because it’s directly connected to the terminal by a covered walkway.
Breakfast is included with stays, which can be particularly useful before an early flight, and family-friendly features include connecting rooms and cots.
For us, this is a very strong balance between convenience and family practicality.
🏆 BEST FOR FAMILIES
Sofitel London Gatwick — Best Premium Option
Sofitel is another excellent choice if convenience is the priority.
It’s located at North Terminal and connected by a covered walkway, with family rooms available as well as more premium accommodation.
We’d consider Sofitel when we wanted the night before the flight to feel like the beginning of the holiday rather than simply somewhere to sleep.
✨ BEST PREMIUM OPTION
Premier Inn Gatwick North Terminal — Best for Value
Premier Inn is directly opposite North Terminal and is less than a five-minute walk from the terminal.
It won’t offer the same premium experience as Sofitel, but for families who mainly want a comfortable night’s sleep in an extremely convenient location, it can make a lot of sense.
We’d always compare its total hotel and parking cost against the other packages rather than assuming Premier Inn will automatically be cheapest.
💷 BEST VALUE OPTION
💡 Holiday Blueprint Pick
For most families we’d compare Hampton by Hilton and Premier Inn first.
If Hampton isn’t much more expensive, the direct terminal connection and included breakfast could make it worth paying the difference.
For a special trip or when convenience matters more than budget, we’d also check Sofitel.
Best Gatwick South Terminal Hotels with Parking
Families flying from Gatwick South Terminal also have some excellent hotel options, including hotels within the terminal itself and others just a short walk away.
Hilton London Gatwick Airport — Best for Families
Hilton London Gatwick Airport is our first hotel to check for families flying from South Terminal.
It’s connected to the terminal by a covered walkway and offers family rooms, restaurants and other facilities that make it particularly practical when travelling with children.
It’s also available with different parking packages, making it a strong option if you want to combine the overnight stay and airport parking into one booking.
🏆 BEST FOR FAMILIES
BLOC Hotel Gatwick — Best for Terminal Convenience
It’s difficult to beat BLOC if your priority is getting as close to South Terminal as possible.
The hotel is actually inside South Terminal, with Gatwick describing it as just a one-minute covered walk from security.
Rooms are compact, so it won’t suit every family, but the location is exceptional for an early flight.
✈️ BEST FOR TERMINAL CONVENIENCE
Courtyard by Marriott London Gatwick Airport — Best for More Hotel Space
Courtyard by Marriott is around a 15-minute walk from South Terminal and offers more of a conventional full-service hotel experience.
There’s an on-site restaurant, fitness centre and outdoor terrace with a bar.
We’d consider it when we’d rather have a traditional hotel stay and don’t mind being slightly further from the terminal.
🛏️ BEST FOR A TRADITIONAL HOTEL STAY
💡 Holiday Blueprint Pick
For most families we’d check Hilton first because of its combination of family accommodation, terminal access and hotel-and-parking options.
For a very early South Terminal departure, we’d also price BLOC. Being virtually inside the terminal could be worth sacrificing some room space for one night.
Best Gatwick Airport Hotels with Parking Compared
| Hotel | Terminal | Best for | Terminal access | Our rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hampton by Hilton | North | Families | Covered walk | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Sofitel | North | Premium stay | Covered walk | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Premier Inn North | North | Value | Short walk | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Hilton | South | Families | Covered walk | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| BLOC | South | Early flights | Inside terminal | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Courtyard by Marriott | South | Traditional hotel | Walk/transfer | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
💡 Holiday Blueprint Pick
Hampton by Hilton would be our first hotel to price for a North Terminal family departure, while Hilton would be our starting point at South Terminal.
But don’t choose on hotel price alone. Once parking is included, a more expensive hotel can sometimes produce the better overall package.
🏨 Compare Gatwick Hotel + Parking Packages
Staying at Gatwick the night before your flight can make an early departure much easier. Compare Gatwick airport hotels with parking through Holiday Extras and check whether booking your hotel and parking together could save money compared with arranging them separately.
Affiliate link: We may earn a commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you.
How Do Gatwick Airport Hotel and Parking Packages Work?
Gatwick airport hotels with parking can work in several different ways. The best option depends on how much you value convenience compared with getting the lowest overall price.
Hotel with On-Site or Nearby Parking
Some packages allow you to park at or close to the hotel.
You may leave your car there for the duration of your holiday or move it to another car park before flying, depending on the package.
This can be convenient, but always check exactly what happens to your car after your hotel stay.
Hotel + Park & Ride
With a Park & Ride package, you’ll normally stay at the hotel and use a separate airport car park with a shuttle transfer to the terminal.
These packages can offer excellent value, particularly for longer holidays.
However, check whether transfers are included and how frequently they run. A cheaper package isn’t necessarily better value if you then have additional transfer costs or a longer journey to the terminal.
Hotel + Meet & Greet Parking
For maximum convenience, we’d also compare hotel packages that include Meet & Greet parking.
You’ll typically drive to a designated drop-off point near the terminal, hand over your keys and walk into the airport while your car is parked for you.
This can be particularly attractive for families travelling with children, suitcases and pushchairs.
Which Would We Choose?
💷 For the lowest price: Hotel + Park & Ride
👨👩👧 For families: Hotel + convenient terminal parking
✨ For maximum convenience: Hotel + Meet & Greet
💡 Holiday Blueprint Tip
Compare the total journey, not just the headline price.
A package that’s £15 cheaper but requires an earlier start, additional transfer charges and moving several suitcases onto a shuttle bus wouldn’t necessarily be our choice.
With young children or a very early flight, we’d happily pay a reasonable amount extra to make the morning easier.
Not sure which parking type to choose? Read our Gatwick Airport Parking Guide for our full comparison of Park & Ride, Meet & Greet and other Gatwick parking options.
Is It Cheaper to Book a Gatwick Hotel with Parking?
Sometimes — but not always.
Booking your Gatwick hotel and airport parking together can offer better value than arranging them separately, particularly when you’re staying overnight before an early flight.
However, we’d always compare both options before booking.
What We’d Compare
Check the total cost of:
- Hotel + parking package
- Hotel booked separately + airport parking
- Any transfer charges
- Breakfast, if you want it
- Meet & Greet upgrades
- Cancellation or amendment options
Don’t assume the package with the lowest headline price is automatically the best deal.
For example, we’d happily pay a little more for a hotel connected to the terminal if the cheaper alternative meant getting the family up earlier and taking a transfer bus with all the luggage.
💡 Holiday Blueprint Tip
Do two searches before booking.
First, price the hotel and parking as one package. Then check roughly what the same hotel and suitable parking would cost separately.
It only takes a few minutes and gives you a much better idea of whether the package is genuinely good value.
Is a Gatwick Airport Hotel Worth It Before Your Flight?
For us, the biggest reason to book a Gatwick airport hotel isn’t luxury — it’s making the start of the holiday easier.
We’d Seriously Consider a Hotel If:
- Your flight leaves very early in the morning
- You have a long drive to Gatwick
- You’re travelling during busy school holidays
- You’re travelling with children and lots of luggage
- Bad traffic on the morning of the flight would cause unnecessary stress
- A hotel + parking package isn’t much more expensive than parking alone
Arriving at Gatwick the evening before means you can check in, get some sleep and start the following morning already at the airport.
When We’d Probably Skip the Hotel
If we lived reasonably close to Gatwick, had an afternoon flight and could comfortably drive to the airport on the day, we’d probably save the hotel cost.
The same applies if adding a hotel makes the overall parking package considerably more expensive.
💡 Holiday Blueprint Pick
For a family with a 6am or 7am flight and a long drive to Gatwick, we’d choose the hotel.
Starting a holiday with a middle-of-the-night drive, tired children and a motorway delay isn’t our idea of saving money.
When Should You Book a Gatwick Hotel with Parking?
We’d normally start comparing Gatwick airport hotels with parking as soon as our flights are confirmed.
You don’t necessarily need to book immediately, but leaving it until the last minute can mean fewer hotel and parking combinations to choose from — particularly around school holidays and other busy travel periods.
Book Earlier If:
- You’re travelling during the school holidays
- You need a family room
- You want a hotel directly connected to the terminal
- You specifically want Meet & Greet parking
- Your flight is very early in the morning
Family rooms can be more limited than standard rooms, so that’s one area where we’d be particularly reluctant to leave booking too late.
Should You Book a Flexible Rate?
If your plans could change, we’d compare the cancellation and amendment terms rather than automatically choosing the cheapest package.
Paying slightly more for flexibility can be worthwhile when you’re booking several months ahead.
💡 Holiday Blueprint Tip
Once you’ve found a hotel, parking option and price you’re happy with, we’d be inclined to book rather than repeatedly waiting for a cheaper deal.
The perfect price isn’t much use if the family room or parking option you wanted has sold out.
Gatwick Airport Hotels with Parking FAQs
Can You Leave Your Car at a Gatwick Hotel While You’re Away?
Yes, some Gatwick hotel and parking packages allow your car to remain at or near the hotel while you’re away.
Other packages use a separate airport car park, so always check exactly where your car will be parked before booking.
Which Gatwick Hotels Are Closest to North Terminal?
Hampton by Hilton and Sofitel are connected to North Terminal by covered walkways, while Premier Inn North Terminal is just a short walk away.
For an early North Terminal flight, these would be among the first hotels we’d compare.
Which Gatwick Hotels Are Closest to South Terminal?
BLOC is inside South Terminal, while Hilton London Gatwick Airport is connected by a covered walkway.
Both are particularly convenient when you have an early South Terminal departure.
Can You Book Gatwick Hotels with Meet & Greet Parking?
Yes. Hotel packages can be available with Meet & Greet parking, allowing you to combine your overnight stay with a more convenient parking option.
We’d particularly consider this when travelling with children and lots of luggage.
Do Gatwick Hotel and Parking Packages Include Airport Transfers?
It depends on the package.
Some hotels are within walking distance of the terminals, while other packages require a shuttle or transfer. Check whether transfers are included, how frequently they operate and whether there’s an additional charge.
Can You Stay at Gatwick the Night After Your Holiday?
Yes. Hotel and parking packages aren’t only useful before your flight.
A hotel after your return can make sense if you land very late at night and face a long drive home, particularly if you’d otherwise be driving while tired.
💡 Holiday Blueprint Tip
Always read what’s included in the specific package you’re booking.
Two deals for the same hotel can use completely different parking arrangements, so don’t assume the cheapest package works in exactly the same way as the others.
Best Gatwick Airport Hotels with Parking: Our Verdict
For families, we’d choose a Gatwick hotel and parking package based on convenience as much as price.
For North Terminal, Hampton by Hilton would be one of our first options to compare, particularly for families who value the direct terminal connection and included breakfast. Premier Inn is worth checking for value, while Sofitel is our more premium choice.
For South Terminal, we’d start with Hilton for its combination of family accommodation and convenient terminal access. BLOC is particularly attractive for a very early departure when being as close to the terminal as possible matters most.
The parking arrangement can be just as important as the hotel itself. Park & Ride may offer the lowest price, while Meet & Greet can make the morning considerably easier when travelling with children and luggage.
💡 Holiday Blueprint Pick
Don’t book the hotel first and think about parking afterwards.
Compare the complete hotel + parking package against booking everything separately, then decide whether any extra cost is worth paying for a smoother start to your holiday.
🏨 Compare Gatwick Hotel + Parking Deals
Ready to make the start of your holiday easier? Compare Gatwick airport hotels with parking, including Park & Ride, Meet & Greet and hotel parking packages, and find the option that works best for your family.
Affiliate link: We may earn a commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you.
Continue Planning Your Gatwick Trip
🚗 Need Gatwick Airport Parking?
Compare Park & Ride, Meet & Greet and other parking options in our complete Gatwick Airport Parking Guide.
Read our Gatwick Airport Parking Guide →
✈️ Want a More Relaxing Start to Your Holiday?
We’ve compared the best Gatwick Airport lounges for families at both North and South Terminal.
