Gatwick Airport is the second busiest airport in the United Kingdom, seeing many thousands of travellers arriving and departing every day. For those who find themselves in transit here, it is also located in a beautiful and bustling area with plenty of things to do and places to visit whether you are only stopping down for a few hours or a few days.
Bordering on West Sussex and Surrey, Gatwick Airport has some stunning natural landscapes on its doorstep, as well as thriving market towns with a variety of tourist attractions, eateries, and bars. Many of these attractions—from vineyards to manor houses, castles, and villages—are readily accessible by train and by car. And, if you are staying a little longer, there are many wonderful hotels in the area, like Alexander House, which you can read about in our list. Below you will find plenty of things to keep you busy during your visit to the southeast or your next layover at Gatwick Airport.
Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens, West Sussex
For those with only a limited amount of time to spend sightseeing, Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens is a beautiful place to visit only ten miles southwest of Gatwick Airport. This Victorian woodland garden is most spectacular in the spring when its stunning flower gardens are in bloom. Here you will find rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, magnolias, and bluebells bringing vibrant bursts of colour to the many walking trails and beauty spots. You can also see deer wandering through the estate, and even wallabies—these were first introduced by Sir Edmund Loder, who collected rare wild animals and owned the estate between 1889 and 1920. There is also a doll house museum and a lovely tea room in Leonardslee House, an Italianate mansion.
Alexander House and Utopia Spa, West Sussex
This beautiful spa is only a fifteen-minute drive from Gatwick Airport, the perfect place to relax and unwind in between flights. Alexander House is a five-star luxury hotel and spa located in a Jacobean manor house with 120 acres of gorgeous gardens. The house was once home to famed Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley and his wife, the celebrated writer Mary Shelley. Utopia Spa is award-winning and boasts 25 treatment rooms, including three couple's treatment rooms. During your visit you can make use of the beautiful indoor pools, the outdoor barrel sauna, and tranquil hot tubs. The spa offers a range of luxury treatments and is well-appointed with a bar, restaurant, and relaxation lounges.
Roebuck Estates, West Sussex
Roebuck Estates is the passion project of two friends with a deep love for great wine. Tucked away in the picturesque Sussex countryside near the market town of Petworth, Roebuck Estates is a small vineyard named for the wild deer that roam in the neighbouring fields and woods. The vineyard specialises in sparkling wines made from top-quality grapes, tended by a dedicated team of wine experts. Roebuck Estates offers a vineyard tour and tasting experience where you will be guided around the vineyard and then treated to a tutored tasting of the Estate's award-winning wines. It is also possible to arrange private guided tours and personalised events. On a Friday evening, the vineyard hosts Sunset Sipping, an event where you can enjoy a variety of wines over a spread of gourmet pizza while watching the sun go down.
British Wildlife Centre, Surrey
Home to over 40 species of wildlife, this wonderful family attraction is only fifteen minutes from Gatwick Airport and is open year-round. At the British Wildlife Centre, you can see animals such as badgers, otters, red squirrels, and red deer in stunning enclosures that reflect their natural habitats. Every half hour there are Keeper Talks, hosted by the expert staff who care for the animals. Here you can learn all about the special animals that make up Britain's wildlife. There is also a free-flying owl show held daily and for those with a special interest in nocturnal animals there is a brilliant Nocturnal House where you can catch a glimpse of creatures you might not usually get the chance to see. The Wildlife Centre has a cafe, gift shop, and picnic areas.
Pooh Corner
This delightful gift shop is the perfect place for those with young children or lovers of the Winnie-the-Pooh book series by A. A Milne. Pooh Corner has the largest selection of Winnie-the-Pooh-related gifts in the world and is located in a very charming 300-year-old building with an original timber frame. From the shop, you can collect a free map and make your way around all of the local sites that appear in the beloved books, including Poohsticks Bridge, the Enchanted Place, and the Sandy Pit. The walks take you through the beautiful Ashdown Forest and are suitable for younger children. This is an especially lovely outing on a sunny day.
Day trip to Guildford, Surrey
Set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Guildford, within a stone's throw of Gatwick Airport, is a delightful place to stretch your legs and soak up some medieval history. The Medieval Castle Keep looks over the town and the exceptional countryside that surrounds it. Once you have taken in the views, you can head back down into the cobbled streets of the village to shop and explore the historic sites. Here, local landmarks such as the black and gold clock on the Tudor Guildhall make for some wonderfully interesting distractions.
If the weather outwits you, at the Guildford Museum nearby you can learn all about Lewis Carroll, the author of Alice in Wonderland, and the connections he had with the town. There are also walking tours of the town available for those keen to learn more about its history and about Carroll and his time there. For a quick meal or an afternoon drink, there are plenty of restaurants and bars, including the gorgeous Kingham's Restaurant or Drummond at Albury.
A flying visit to the Gatwick area may just lead to you making it part of your travel itinerary in the future. Our guide demonstrates how a quintessential part of the UK is never far away, no matter where in the world you are coming from.
