Sleeping in Gatwick Airport - Overnight at LGW & Hotels

Gatwick’s terminals stay open all night, so sleeping in the airport is possible. Whether it is sensible depends on how much rest you actually need, and on one detail many travellers miss: security does not stay open, so an airside night is not on offer.

Overnight in the terminals

Both the North and South Terminals are open 24 hours landside. Security closes for a few hours overnight, roughly 01:00 to 04:00 in the South Terminal and 01:00 to 04:30 in the North, reopening in time for the first departures. That means an overnight stay happens in the public landside areas, whatever your ticket says.

There are no dedicated quiet areas or rest zones in either terminal. Padded seating exists if you hunt for it, but most benches have fixed armrests, and overnight cleaning, announcements and the early check-in rush start well before dawn. Of the two, the North Terminal is generally the calmer choice.

The cabins inside the airport

Two properties sit inside the South Terminal itself. YOTELAIR London Gatwick Airport rents compact, soundproofed cabins by the hour, from a four-hour minimum, or overnight, and is landside next to arrivals so no boarding pass is needed. BLOC Hotel London Gatwick Airport is on Level 3 of the same terminal, before security, with proper rooms rather than cabins and some looking out over the runway.

For the North Terminal, Sofitel London Gatwick and Hampton by Hilton London Gatwick Airport are both joined to it by a covered walkway, which matters in a British winter.

Hotels a short walk or ride away

Hilton London Gatwick Airport connects to the South Terminal by covered walkway. Courtyard by Marriott London Gatwick Airport is a five-minute walk from the South Terminal and Premier Inn London Gatwick Airport North Terminal a five-minute walk from the North. Holiday Inn London Gatwick Airport is a five-minute drive with a paid 24-hour shuttle.

The free inter-terminal shuttle runs 24 hours and takes two to three minutes, so a hotel at “the wrong terminal” is rarely a problem: see the terminal guide.

If your stop is in daylight rather than overnight, see day rooms and layovers. To freshen up between flights without a room, see showers and lounges at LGW. For what does and does not exist in the way of pods, see sleep pods and rest zones.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sleep overnight inside Gatwick Airport?

Yes. Both terminals stay open around the clock landside and resting passengers are generally left alone. Comfort is another matter: seating is firm, cleaning and announcements continue all night, and security closes for a few hours (roughly 01:00 to 04:00 in the South Terminal and 01:00 to 04:30 in the North), so you cannot wait airside through the small hours.

Which Gatwick terminal is better for sleeping?

The North Terminal is usually the quieter of the two. The South Terminal carries more overnight foot traffic and more announcements, largely because the rail station and the inter-terminal shuttle both feed into it.

Does Gatwick have sleep pods?

In effect, yes: YOTELAIR in the South Terminal rents soundproofed cabins by the hour, from a four-hour minimum, or overnight. It is landside before security, so you can use it without a boarding pass. There are no free pods or dedicated rest zones anywhere in either terminal.

Information last verified: August 5, 2026