Home to one of the UK's main international airports, Gatwick is an ideal base from where you can easily pop into London for arts, culture and nightlife or head south to experience Brighton's alternative scene. It's in the county of Surrey, which is famed for pretty towns and lush green landscapes. There are lots of places to go hiking, and you can get a feel for English country life with a trip to an old village for scones in a teashop.
Hostels near Gatwick Airport include friendly, family-run guest houses and Victorian homes. Look for places that have free transfers to Gatwick Airport for a hassle-free departure. You can stay in a historic building that has en-suite rooms and a delicious free breakfast, with sizzling full English or vegetarian options. There's also a peaceful Gatwick Airport hostel with its own on-site pub, and a place with free Wi-Fi and handy extras like hairdryers.
There are lots of areas to explore near Gatwick, including bustling towns, the rolling hills of the South Downs and plenty of historic attractions. Horley, a five-minute drive away, is a small town packed with restaurants where you can try global cuisine, like Indian, Chinese and Italian; you'll also find local boutiques and a theatre there. The large, lively town of Crawley is four minutes from Gatwick by train. It has a sprinkling of ancient buildings, including a Saxon church, alongside vast woodlands and parks to picnic in.
You can get a taste of old England by visiting historic houses within an hour's journey time, like the medieval deer park at Knole in Sevenoaks or the 16th-century Oakhurst Cottage. Stretch your legs in Surrey's many parks and downs before stopping in an old pub for a local ale. If you're heading into London, you'll find café culture and famous drinking dens in Soho, while Shaftesbury Avenue is lined with theatres, and Trafalgar Square is home to the free-to-enter National Gallery.
Gatwick has excellent connections to London. The Gatwick Express train takes you from Gatwick Airport (South Terminal) to London Victoria in 30 minutes. From Victoria, it's an 11-minute walk to Buckingham Palace for selfies with the guards, and 10 minutes on the Underground to Covent Garden. Gatwick is also an easy base for a trip to Brighton, where you'll find a pebble beach, LGBT-friendly bars and quirky shops. The Gatwick Express gets you there in about half an hour, or you can take a coach for about 50 minutes.
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