The Best Hotels Near London Gatwick Airport

Whether you book a cosy attic room, a comfy king or a lavish spa suite with oversized bathtub for two, you’re guaranteed a tranquil night’s sleep here, deep in the West Sussex countryside 9mi (14.5km) from Gatwick. Decor is serene – shades of mauve, pink, green and blue, with pretty wallpaper – and the food is delectable. We recommend the champagne bar and drawing room for afternoon tea including rosé with poached salmon and watercress sandwiches, or homemade lemon curd and clotted cream scones. You can also relax in the spa, which has its own garden, sauna and private hot tubs.

Hidden amid acres of rustic woodland with peaceful views of Surrey Hills, you wouldn’t know you were a nifty 10-minute drive from Gatwick Airport. Dating from 1881, it is resplendent with period features: carved panelling and stained glass carry the original Scottish landowners’ coat of arms. Standard rooms are attractively individual, some with restored fireplace, others with rolltop bath. Go bigger and you’ll have a romantic four-poster bed and countryside views. The restaurant is a treat, with a globe-trotting menu taking in halloumi fries with sweet chilli sauce and spicy Punjabi chicken masala.

We love the location of this coaching in Dorking, between the North Downs and the Denbies Wine Estate, an easy 20mi (32km) from Gatwick. Heritage painted walls and rich textiles add character to rooms (pick cosy, comfy or spacious). Suites look the part with panelled walls and sitting areas. Top tip: ask for the one with an ornate bathtub and views across the high street. Hang around to eat – there’s irresistible homemade cake to go with your freshly brewed coffee in the bar-restaurant. Or try the thin-and-crispy pizza topped with earthy truffle.

Warning: this 16th-century country house is so cocooning, you may not make your flight. Mind you, it’s in Horley, and Gatwick is mere minutes away if you oversleep. Choose a cosy beamed double with a fireplace or a Splendid room, with individual character – perhaps a four poster, or a private balcony overlooking the medieval moat. Suites with private gardens nod to royal figures linked to the hotel’s Tudor heritage. Don’t miss afternoon tea in the glorious grounds, or dinner in the hushed Mulberry dining room, for classics such as juicy rump of spring lamb, followed by rich dark chocolate fondant.

This boutique bolthole, a 10-minute drive from the airport on the Crabbet Park estate, is a smart two-storey bungalow with wraparound lawns. The decor is soothing, almost spa-like – all neutral shades, statues, scented candles and Buddha heads. There are just five softly styled rooms, named after flowers, for a peaceful night’s slumber: book Lily for the freestanding bath, or Orchid for the four-poster bed and garden views. Make sure you’re up in time for breakfast – perhaps the delicately creamed mushrooms on ciabatta, or classic creamy eggs benedict.

This good-looking pub in Copthorne, 7mi (11km) from Gatwick airport, has rooms that walk the fine decorative line between soft and bland. Choose a superior double, deluxe or superking – the difference is essentially down to bed size. If you’re hungry, the pub-grub menu is a treat, ranging from crispy calamari to traditional pie of chicken, ham hock and peas with thyme-roasted heritage potatoes. It’s comfort food to match the easygoing interiors: duck-egg-blue panelling, caramel-coloured leather, chairs covered in rich fabrics and well-worn floorboards.

A super-convenient five-minute transfer from Gatwick, this red-roofed residence is full of character. Plane-spotters love it for its aviation-club history, as well as the runway views of jets taking off. If you’re travelling en famille, consider one of the Oak Suites – these come with separate twin rooms and space for a cot. There are other room sizes to suit different budgets, including single, accessible and superking. Whichever you opt for you’ll have the same reliable, relaxing decor of silver-grey and cream. As an added bonus, the bathroom potions are all by the desirable White Company. Do lunch or dinner in the rustic dining space; pub classics include fish and chips, juicy steaks and creamy moules marinière.

Four miles (6km) from Dorking – and a paltry 20-minute drive from Gatwick – the Plough Inn does what it suggests on the tin. It’s a good old no-nonsense pub serving drinks seven days a week from noon until 11pm, as well as lunches, and dinner from Monday to Saturday. It’s unbeatable for Sunday roasts and it even has its own microbrewery on site. (Try the vegan-friendly Surrey Puma stout for a 4.9% ABV frisson.) For B&B, six individually decorated rooms complete the picture, attractively wallpapered, some with wrought-iron bedheads, and two that are perfect for families.