What to Expect at Premier Inn Gatwick North Terminal
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The Premier Inn at Gatwick’s North Terminal offers a comfortable and convenient place to stay — but is it actually worth the price?
In this review, we’ll cover everything you need to know, from the location and facilities to our own experience staying there in February 2023.
Let’s find out if this is the airport hotel for you.
5 Quick Tips: Premier Inn Gatwick North Terminal
- Check-in from 3pm | Check-out by 12 noon
- Less than 100 metres from Gatwick North Terminal
- Costa Coffee located inside the hotel
- Bar and restaurant on site with typical Premier Inn prices
- Wi-Fi is painfully slow
Affordable & Convenient
Here’s where you really get the value — the Premier Inn at Gatwick North Terminal is directly across from the terminal.
The official website says it’s a five-minute walk. In reality, it’s closer to two. If that.
You literally cross the road.
Once you’re over the zebra crossing, escalators and lifts take you straight up into the terminal building.
Top Tip: If you need supplies without paying airport prices, there’s a petrol station opposite the hotel — about a one-minute walk away.
You’ll often see pilots and cabin crew wandering past the hotel, grabbing a sausage roll or bake before duty.
If you get lost, just follow the trail of sausage rolls.
Checking In
Your check-in experience at Premier Inn Gatwick will most likely involve a self-service computer terminal.
Our attempts at flattery didn’t work on the robot. Instead of granting us a room with a nice view, it simply demanded payment.
So if you’re planning to charm your way into a cheeky upgrade at the desk… good luck with that.
Once you’ve paid, the machine spits out your key card with your room number, and you’re good to go.
Budget Room
We booked the cheapest room available for our early morning wake-up call at 4am.
There are a few things you can reliably expect from any Premier Inn: a tidy room, a comfortable bed, and if you’re around in the morning, their unlimited breakfast does a solid job of filling a gap.
It costs extra, but compared to airport prices, we’d say it’s worth adding.
The room itself was spacious, and the shower had one of those fancy rainfall attachments — a nice touch for a budget hotel.
What impressed us most, though, was the lighting. Premier Inn avoided the usual dim, depressing hotel lighting and went for a properly well-lit room instead.
We’re easily pleased.
Tea and coffee facilities are also included, although supplies are limited — expect roughly one brew each.
Posh Rooms
IIf you fancy pushing the boat out, you can upgrade to a Premier Plus room.
These come with a few extras, including a Nespresso machine, upgraded workspace, Ultimate Wi-Fi, and a mini fridge.
Prices start at around £125, but usually sit somewhere between £145–£160 per night.
Personally, we’re not convinced it’s worth the extra money if you’re booking Premier Inn specifically for a budget airport stay near Gatwick.
Facilities at Premier Inn Gatwick North Terminal
You’ll find the usual bar and restaurant setup you’d expect from a Premier Inn. There’s also a Costa Coffee inside, which Russ was all over.
Twice.
We didn’t use the restaurant ourselves, but if you’ve been to one Premier Inn restaurant, you’ve pretty much seen them all.
Football fan?
All the live games are shown on multiple TVs in the bar.
We stopped in for one drink… which I didn’t finish. My beer was lukewarm, flat, and tasted stale.
So yes, I basically paid £6 to drink sewage water.
Smokers and candy-floss-smelling vapers can head to the courtyard outside near the Costa.
Top Tip: If you want food without paying airport prices, walk over to the South Terminal, head towards the Hilton, and follow the path.
You’ll find McDonald’s and KFC there. It’s only fast food, but options around Gatwick are pretty limited.
Or whack out the old Uber Eats. They’ll deliver.
The WI-FI is Terrible
Due to the almost unusable Wi-Fi, we ended up relying on 4G.
If you manage to connect, you’ll be offered the chance to upgrade to “Super Wi-Fi” for £5.
After trying the free version, I’d sooner eat my hat than pay for that.
We get that this is a budget hotel, but in the 21st century — especially in an airport hotel — decent internet should really be standard. Boarding passes, check-ins, emails… people actually rely on it.
This is even more frustrating for travellers on layovers or visitors from abroad who might be dealing with expensive roaming charges.
If you’re planning to get any work done, this probably isn’t the place.
Top Tip: There’s an Ethernet port in the room if you carry a cable with you.
Which raises the obvious question…
Who travels with an Ethernet cable?
Was Premier Inn Gatwick Value for Money?
If your flight requires an airport stayover and convenience is the priority, this is where Premier Inn really delivers.
Being right next to the terminal removes a lot of the usual travel stress — no worrying about taxis, traffic, or public transport at stupid o’clock in the morning.
The disappointing bar and painfully slow Wi-Fi were definite downsides, but the location is the hotel’s biggest selling point.
Overall, it’s hard to find a better combination of price and convenience this close to Gatwick.
Anxiety Easer: There’s very little point saving £10 or £20 by staying further away. You’ll likely spend it on a taxi anyway and miss out on twilight check-in if that’s an option (well worth it) — and still lie awake wondering if it’s actually going to show up.
I always picture myself running down the motorway at 4am with a suitcase, wheels snapping off, rain pouring down… wondering why I didn’t just stay next to the airport.
Mini Price Guide: 2025
- Rooms: £80 – £170 per night
- Costa Coffee: Large Caramel Latte ~ £5.20
- Pint of Beer: Around £6.60
- Wi-Fi Upgrade: From £5
Premier Inn Gatwick North Terminal FAQs
Is it easy to walk from Premier Inn Gatwick to the North Terminal?
Yes. The hotel is directly opposite the terminal and takes around 2 minutes to walk once you cross the road.
How close is Premier Inn to Gatwick North Terminal?
It’s less than 100 metres away, making it one of the closest hotels to the terminal.
What time can you check in at Premier Inn Gatwick Airport?
Check-in usually starts from 3pm.
What time is check-out at Premier Inn Gatwick Airport?
Standard check-out is 12 noon.
Premier Inn Gatwick North Terminal: Our Verdict
Premier Inn is a solid choice if you’re looking for a comfortable and affordable stay right next to Gatwick’s North Terminal.
Rating 3/5
Pros
• Only a couple of minutes’ walk to Gatwick North Terminal
• Easy access to the South Terminal via the free monorail
• Costa Coffee located inside the hotel (there’s also one in the terminal)
Cons
• Wi-Fi is painfully slow
• The beer in the bar tasted flat and warm
Final Thoughts on our stay at Premier Inn Gatwick
Would we stay here again?
If we were sticking to a budget airport stay, then yes — although next time I’d probably bring my own beers.
That said, it’s always worth checking the price of the Sofitel next door before you book.
Sometimes the basic rooms aren’t that much more expensive, and that hotel definitely gives you more “holiday has started” vibes before you even get on the plane.
Overall, Premier Inn Gatwick North Terminal is exactly what it says on the tin — simple, convenient, and decent value for money if location is your priority.
Just please fix the Wi-Fi and the beer.
Both should really be considered 21st-century necessities.
Especially the beer.
More Gatwick. More Travel Tips
- Sofitel Gatwick North Terminal Review
- Can You Walk Around Gatwick: Pubs, Big Tesco & Hotels
- Fee-Free Spending Abroad
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