Home to one of London’s major international airports, Gatwick is a small town positioned directly south of the English capital. While it’s largely encompassed by the airport, it’s on the doorstep of urban green spaces, fascinating museums and family-friendly attractions in the neighbouring towns of Horley, Copthorne and Crawley.
Things to do in Gatwick
On the western edge of Gatwick Airport is the Gatwick Aviation Museum, which was established in 1987 as a private collection and has grown to include over 500 aircraft. Get up close to planes used during the Cold War and learn about the “golden age” of British aircraft manufacture or coincide your visit with an engine run of the museum’s Avro Shackleton MR3 and Blackburn Buccaneer S1.
You can challenge your family and friends to a thrilling game at the Gatwick Escape Rooms, which features five themed experiences requiring you to solve puzzles and unlock riddles. Stop a deadly virus from destroying the world in “Patient Zero”, retrieve stolen gold in “Rob the Bank” or find the missing felines in “The Crazy Cat Lady” escape room.
Want to stretch your legs? Enjoy a stroll through Riverside Garden Park, which hugs the banks of the Gatwick Stream. Originally part of Horley Common, it also features a picturesque lake and several benches framed by shady trees. Alternatively, you can head north to the Horley Recreation Ground and enjoy the children’s playground, tennis courts and a multi-use games area.
Getting around Gatwick
The town of Gatwick encompasses Gatwick Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Central London is just over an hour’s drive from Gatwick while London Heathrow Airport is 45 minutes away. Regular trains connect to the Gatwick Airport railway station and shuttle buses are available from central London.