Travelling with kids can be tough, jet lag, hours on the road and early starts make for a less than perfect start to any holiday. We recently booked a flight from Gatwick at 6am, so instead of waking up super early or just not bothering to sleep at all, we spent the night at the Sofitel London Gatwick indulgent but oh so convenient!
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The Sofitel in Gatwick would also make a great choice if you have a late night arrival and want to get some rest before heading out to explore London. It’s really easy to get into the city on the Gatwick Express train in the morning and will only take you half an hour. If you’re looking for inspiration for when you arrive in London then take a look at this fantastic post by Kids Are A Trip all about things to do in London with a teen
The Location of the Sofitel London Gatwick
The hotel is rather brilliantly within walking distance to the North Terminal at Gatwick Airport through indoor walkways – perfect for the English weather and when you’re traveling with kids and suitcases. If you’re flying from South Terminal, its just a couple of minutes on the free monorail.
We paid extra to leave our car, parking is also just a two minutes’ walk from the hotel in a safe multi story, perfect for arriving and leaving after you return to Gatwick.
The Rooms and Hotel
The room was clean and bright and plenty big enough for an overnighter. We booked a triple and the sofa bed had been ready made for us.
The view wasn’t anything special – we were looking out onto a car park but we weren’t overlooked.
The room has a fridge with plenty of complimentary water, coffee and tea making facilities and plenty of storage space (not that we unpacked!).
The bathroom has a bath – pretty rare for a London hotel and a great shower.
There were also some lovely complimentary ESPA toiletries, which was a nice treat.
The reception is huge and open plan with some cute design touches such as a fresh herb garden and some comfy chairs to relax in. Rooms and restaurants surround the contemporary atrium making it feel both spacious and cosy.
This is a busy hotel, we were visiting over the Easter weekend so it felt packed with families and business travelers but the rooms were quiet and service everywhere apart from the tapas restaurant was superb.
Special Features for Kids
When we arrived we were given a kids pack which was a cute touch. It contained an activity sheet, crayons and a mask making kit, Piper loved it and it was a nice start to the holiday.
Disappointingly there’s no pool so not really much else to do for kids other than TV or reading.
The Food at the hotel
We arrived early evening so needed to eat at the hotel. After a quick drink in their lovely 1st floor bar, Le Ciel we decided which restaurant to eat at.
We tried to get in the Urban Cafe, tapas style restaurant and were given a buzzer for when the table was ready. However after waiting for half an hour and returning to find several tables free we decided to eat elsewhere at La Terrasse. And shared some fish and chips and a carbonara. Food was good but pretty expensive.
There’s also an upscale French brasserie on site which looked lovely.
Is the Sofitel at Gatwick value for money?
The stay and parking for a week cost around £200, it’s a lot to add onto the cost of a holiday but it really was a lovely start and took pretty much all of the stress out of the flight. We also paid for a priority airport pass so flew through customs and even had time for breakfast before boarding – this would never have happened if we were driving down in the morning and hunting for parking.
The food and drink at the hotel is pretty expensive and there’s not much else in the area. There’s a fridge in the room so you could always bring your own snacks and drinks.
Have you stayed at the Sofitel at London Gatwick Airport or do you love airport hotels? You can check out the latest prices on Tripadvisor by clicking on this link Sofitel Gatwick Airport
What you need to know
North terminal Gatwick Airport
West Sussex, Crawley, RH6 0PH
(+44)1293/567070
CHECK-IN / CHECK-OUT
14:00 / 12:00
If you’re looking for a hotel in London then you might like to check out my review of Hotel Indigo in Tower Hill.
If you need an airport hotel at Manchester airport then we highly recommend the Radisson Blu, a brilliantly family friendly hotel right in the airport.
Make sure to pin for later for when your next choosing a hotel at Gatwick Airport.
