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Home / Destination / Europe / UK / Elsewhere / Hampton by Hilton London Gatwick Park and Fly

Hampton by Hilton London Gatwick Park and Fly

April 27, 2015 by Gretta Schifano 22 Comments

Hampton by Hilton London Gatwick bedroom. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Hampton by Hilton London Gatwick bedroom. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Our flight from London Gatwick to Dubrovnik was scheduled to leave at 6.50am. That would mean waking the kids up up far too early in order to reach the airport and check in at 4.50am. I wasn’t looking forward to a pre-dawn start to our Easter trip to Croatia.

Hampton by Hilton London Gatwick Park and Fly package

So I was pleased to be invited to review Hampton by Hilton London Gatwick’s Park and Fly package. This would mean that we could drive to the airport the night before our flight, get the dull airport parking business out of the way and sleep for as long as possible before our cruelly early awakening.

Hampton by Hilton hotel

The Hampton by Hilton hotel is right next to Gatwick’s North Terminal – which is where our BA flight was leaving from. We arrived at the hotel at about 9.30pm the night before our flight – the Teen had been working an evening shift at her supermarket job or we would have got there earlier. It took us a couple of goes around the North Terminal’s one-way system but once we’d spotted the brown ‘Hampton by Hilton’ signs we found our way to the hotel car park and parked about 20 metres away from the hotel building. In the dark the hotel loomed above us and it was hard to tell if it was a hotel or not. We took the lift up to the hotel reception to check in and to collect a car park permit showing the date of our return. The reception area was bright, spacious and modern. The friendly receptionist told us to leave the permit on the dashboard. Our car was to stay exactly where we’d left it for the duration of our week-long trip.

Reception at Gatwick Hampton by Hilton hotel. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Reception at Gatwick Hampton by Hilton hotel. Copyright Gretta Schifano

The receptionist gave us some key cards for our room and explained that breakfast would be served from 5am the next morning. He also offered to prepare breakfast-to-go bags if we didn’t have time to stop for breakfast at the hotel. We decided that we’d prefer to sit and eat breakfast for a few minutes at 5am instead of taking a breakfast bag to eat on the move.

Our room

We took the lift up to the sixth floor and found our room – number 605, officially known as a Queen Corner Room With Sofa Bed. As its name suggests, the room had a queen bed and a sofa bed. It also had a large flat-screen TV, a desk, bedside cupboards, a wardrobe, tea and coffee making things and an en-suite bathroom with a walk-in shower. The room had windows on two sides and overlooked the airport but we couldn’t see much as we were only there in the dark. The room didn’t feel cramped, even though the four of us were sharing it. Just inside the room entrance there was an empty area where we left our luggage. We each had a large suitcase and a cabin bag ready for our trip to Croatia and we just needed to take out our overnight things.

Queen Corner Room With Sofa Bed, Gatwick Hampton by Hilton hotel. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Queen Corner Room With Sofa Bed, Gatwick Hampton by Hilton hotel. Copyright Gretta Schifano

The beds

The last time that we all shared a room there was much tedious discussion over who would sleep where. But this time the Teen was so desperate to go to sleep that she opened up the sofa bed, declared that she didn’t mind which member of the family she shared it with as long as it wasn’t her brother and was asleep before I’d found my toothbrush. I joined her a few minutes later. The sofa bed was comfortable if a little compact for the two of us but we’re quite small (I’m 5’2″ tall and my daughter will overtake me soon) and it was fine for one night. All of us were soon asleep.

Next morning

After what felt like a few minutes the alarm sounded on my iPhone. Even though it was 4.30am I had a quick shower in a vain attempt to try to wake up. My husband made us both a coffee. Our son was awake instantly, chattering with excitement as he dressed. Meanwhile our daughter was very grumpy and tired and not at all in the mood for engaging with her 12 year-old sibling.

Breakfast

We and our luggage were downstairs for breakfast by 5am. I didn’t feel like eating anything but chose a chocolate muffin and some orange juice from the selection on offer. There was also fruit, cereal, toast, tea and coffee. The hotel offers a full breakfast buffet with hot food from 6am. We ate in silence apart from my son who was very awake. I was pretending that I was still in bed sleeping.

Breakfast at Gatwick Hampton by Hilton Hotel. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Breakfast at Gatwick Hampton by Hilton Hotel. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Getting to the airport

Breakfast over, we walked from the hotel through a corridor to the North Terminal. I counted my steps as I walked: from leaving the hotel to reaching the lift to the departures hall took just 115 steps.

On our return

When we arrived at Gatwick after a week in Croatia we walked back to the hotel reception from the terminal, collected our car keys and a car park ticket and were loading our luggage into our car a couple of minutes later.

Verdict

The Hampton by Hilton London Gatwick is comfortable, practical and its location couldn’t be more convenient. Our room was perfect for what we needed for one night. It was great not having to worry about arriving at the airport on time for our flight and I love the fact that we barely had to wake up in order to get to the check-in desk. I also like the fact that we parked our car right next to the hotel rather than leaving it in a car park and catching a bus to the airport with all of our luggage.

The lowdown

We reviewed Hampton by Hilton London Gatwick’s Park and Fly package. Park and Fly prices start from £149.00 for two adults and two children under the age of 18 sharing a room.  The price includes parking for 8 days along with breakfast and wifi at the hotel.



Disclosure: We were guests of London Gatwick’s Hampton by Hilton hotel for the purposes of this review but all opinions are my own.

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Related

Categories: Elsewhere, Room reports, The journey
Tags: airport hotels, Airport parking, Gatwick, Hilton, park and fly

About Gretta Schifano

I'm a freelance journalist and blogger specialising in family travel with teenagers, trips when parents manage to travel without their kids, and 50+ travel. I also write about vegetarian travel, parenting teenagers, adoption, SEN, ADHD and anxiety. My work's been published by the Financial Times, Guardian, Independent, National Geographic Traveller, Lonely Planet and others. I've lived and worked in Italy and Spain and am now based in rural south-east England with my husband, adoptive and birth kids and our dog. I previously worked as a social action radio producer for the BBC.

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Comments

  1. Sara-Jayne says

    May 19, 2015 at 12:59 pm

    We stayed here last year and it was brilliant – just what we needed to night before our flight with the boys.
    Sara-Jayne recently posted…SLUGS AND SNAILS…AND BULBS IN THE MAILMy Profile

    Reply
  2. Shell Louise says

    May 18, 2015 at 7:13 am

    That is an excellent price for everything you get. I expected it to be much higher.
    Shell Louise recently posted…Project 365 – Week 4My Profile

    Reply
  3. Jaime Oliver says

    May 16, 2015 at 9:22 pm

    what an utterly amazing start or even end to a holiday! .. we would love to stay somewhere like this before we fly!
    Jaime Oliver recently posted…Gorgeous Garden Grass – Stage OneMy Profile

    Reply
  4. ninjacat says

    May 14, 2015 at 8:55 pm

    I love stopping before I fly it helps us to more relaxed as a family
    ninjacat recently posted…How To Make Apple CrispsMy Profile

    Reply
  5. Kara says

    May 14, 2015 at 10:39 am

    That is a really good price – do they do larger rooms for bigger families though? I couldn’t find one when I looked
    Kara recently posted…The Hidden Costs of a Holiday AbroadMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      May 14, 2015 at 11:20 am

      How many of you are there? There would be room for an extra bed or cot in the room which we had.

      Reply
  6. Sarah Bailey says

    May 13, 2015 at 10:47 pm

    This sounds like a really useful hotel if you happen to be flying our or into Gatwick and need to stop over.
    Sarah Bailey recently posted…Magic Glitter Wine Glasses: Review and CompetitionMy Profile

    Reply
  7. Jen aka Muminthemadhouse says

    May 13, 2015 at 7:18 pm

    I am a big fan of park and fly We used a similar system last time we flew from Manchester, perfect for early flights
    Jen aka Muminthemadhouse recently posted…A tour of The Mad House – Living with kidsMy Profile

    Reply
  8. Nell@PigeonPairandMe.com says

    May 13, 2015 at 5:31 pm

    Your post made me smile – siblings, eh? Shame you didn’t get to see the airport from your vantage point. I bet that would ramp up the holiday excitement even further.
    Nell@PigeonPairandMe.com recently posted…Bugsy Malone at the Lyric, HammersmithMy Profile

    Reply
  9. Globalmouse says

    May 13, 2015 at 1:43 pm

    We stayed at this hotel before we flew to Russia – I thought it was great and you literally can’t get closer to the departure hall can you?!
    Globalmouse recently posted…Visiting the tulip gardens of the Keukenhof, Lisse, The NetherlandsMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      May 14, 2015 at 9:37 am

      Absolutely – it’s literally next door!

      Reply
  10. Rachel says

    May 13, 2015 at 10:52 am

    I have always wondered what this hotel was like inside and now I know x
    Rachel recently posted…Win a custom designed Handbag with Cooper & HillMy Profile

    Reply
  11. Carolynne @ Mummy Endeavours says

    May 12, 2015 at 9:11 pm

    Ooh that room looks lovely – It’s always nice staying in a comfortable hotel, even if it is just so you can catch the early flight!
    Carolynne @ Mummy Endeavours recently posted…3 Rules for dressing young childrenMy Profile

    Reply
  12. Hannah Staveley says

    May 12, 2015 at 8:29 pm

    We did this years ago and work very well for us.

    Reply
  13. Sam Thurley says

    May 12, 2015 at 5:22 pm

    Love a good airport stay and have used it many times. So handy for those early morning flights and makes you think you have started your holiday a day early. Great review xx

    Reply
  14. Cass@frugalfamily says

    May 12, 2015 at 3:32 pm

    That’s a great location so close to the airport and I bet it makes mornings much easier knowing you’re so close and don’t have to travel to the airport x
    Cass@frugalfamily recently posted…{Free Printable} Find out what your children really want to do in the school holidays…..My Profile

    Reply
  15. angela hamilton says

    May 12, 2015 at 1:47 pm

    sounds like a great way to start the holiday x
    angela hamilton recently posted…Access To Mental Health Services And My Experience.My Profile

    Reply
  16. Erica Price says

    May 12, 2015 at 1:14 pm

    We are thinking of doing this for our next holiday because it looks like a lot less hassle.
    Erica Price recently posted…Holiday ReadsMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      May 12, 2015 at 1:34 pm

      It does work really well if you have a horribly ear;y flight.

      Reply
  17. Phoebe @ Lou Messugo says

    May 12, 2015 at 11:41 am

    Staying the night before an early departure at an airport hotel is a great way to start the holiday, there’s nothing worse than having to get up at 3am and then feeling wrecked for the rest of the day.
    Phoebe @ Lou Messugo recently posted…Wild spring gardenMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      May 12, 2015 at 1:34 pm

      Absolutely.

      Reply
  18. Cathy (MummyTravels) says

    April 27, 2015 at 6:30 pm

    I definitely think airport stays can be great for early flights – parking alone is usually a fair chunk of the cost and I’ll happily pay not to have to get up at 3am (or wake my daughter) to drive to Gatwick.
    Cathy (MummyTravels) recently posted…Map mural wallpaper – and one worth £250 to give awayMy Profile

    Reply

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This is a personal blog written and edited by me, Gretta Schifano. Sometimes I’m given products or sent on trips to review, but I always make this clear and give my honest opinion. See my About page for full details.

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