Budget Hotels at Gatwick Airport

Gatwick’s hotel prices spread more widely than at most airports, because the range runs from a compact cabin rented by the hour to a full-service hotel attached to the terminal. The useful question is not which is cheapest but which unit of accommodation you actually need.

The entry point

Premier Inn London Gatwick Airport North Terminal is the least expensive of the eight and the easiest to recommend on value: directly opposite the airport, a five-minute walk from the North Terminal, with its own restaurant and car park. For a family or a group needing a straightforward bed before a morning flight, nothing here beats it on price.

Pay for hours, not a night

If your stop is short, the cheapest real rest at Gatwick is not a room at all. YOTELAIR London Gatwick Airport rents cabins from a four-hour minimum inside the South Terminal, which on a six-hour layover costs far less than a full night and saves the transfer at both ends. See day rooms and layovers.

Mid-range without the premium

• Holiday Inn London Gatwick Airport: five minutes away by road with its own car park; the shuttle is charged, so factor that in for two or more people.
• Courtyard by Marriott London Gatwick Airport: a five-minute walk from the South Terminal, with a restaurant, bar and gym.
• Hampton by Hilton London Gatwick Airport: connected to the North Terminal by covered walkway, usually well under the Sofitel next door.
• BLOC Hotel London Gatwick Airport: inside the South Terminal at a mid-range rate, because the rooms are small and there is no restaurant. For a night that is only a night, that trade is a bargain.

What the premium buys

Sofitel London Gatwick and Hilton London Gatwick Airport cost more because they combine a covered walk to the terminal with the things the compact hotels leave out: several restaurants, bars and a fitness centre. Before a dawn departure that is usually worth paying for; for a six-hour stop in the middle of the day it rarely is.

Ways to save

Driving and away for a week or more? A park, sleep and fly package generally beats paying at the barrier. Heading into town? Southern or Thameslink instead of the Gatwick Express saves around £5 to £7 each way: see Gatwick to central London. Just need a wash and a seat? A lounge pass can undercut any room.

Related guides

Family and pet-friendly hotels, North vs South Terminal, and if you are weighing a room against a terminal bench, sleeping in Gatwick Airport.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest hotel at Gatwick Airport?

Premier Inn London Gatwick Airport North Terminal is the entry point among the eight hotels in this guide: directly opposite the airport, a five-minute walk from the North Terminal, with a Thyme restaurant on site.

Is it cheaper to stay in London and travel out to Gatwick?

Rarely, for an early flight. The cheapest rail fare is around £12.40 and takes about 39 minutes, but the first trains do not run early enough for a 06:00 departure, so you pay for a taxi instead. For a late arrival with a lie-in the next day, a London room can work out cheaper.

How do I keep the cost down at Gatwick?

Three levers: book a cabin by the hour rather than a full night if your stop is short, pre-book parking rather than paying at the barrier if you drive, and take Southern or Thameslink rather than the Gatwick Express if you are heading into London.

Information last verified: August 5, 2026