Hotel Review: Sofitel London Gatwick – The Airport Hotel That Redefines Expectations

Who says airport hotels have to be boring? We kicked off our latest getaway, a milestone birthday celebration for Sam (hello, 30!), with an overnight stay at the Sofitel London

Gatwick, and let’s just say... our expectations were pleasantly turned on their head.

A truly good airport hotel is hard to find but we definitely found one in the Sofitel London Gatwick

Let’s be honest: airport hotels are a gamble. Some surprise you (looking at you, Sama-Sama at Kuala Lumpur International), while others... well, let’s not talk about The Thistle at Heathrow. But Sofitel London Gatwick? This one is firmly in the win column.

Arrival Experience: From Terminal to Tranquillity

After hopping off the monorail from Gatwick’s South Terminal (yet again we got the train because Virgin Points, of course), we were immediately greeted by something unexpected, serenity. The scent of citrus and something delightfully exotic lingered in the air, a welcome contrast to the tired hustle of the terminals.

The entrance to the hotel is close to the North Terminal inter-terminal shuttle station

Walking into the hotel’s grand, art-deco-style atrium, we were struck by how calm and bright everything felt. Think towering ceilings, gleaming floors, and streams of natural light.

The hotel atrium was an impressive space filled with light

Check-in was quick and friendly, handled at a sleek black-and-white marble desk, framed by elegant orchids that subtly hinted: you're not in your average airport hotel anymore.

Our Room: Stylish, Comfortable, and Thoughtfully Equipped

We stayed in a Classic Double Room, which faced the atrium rather than the runway, no view of planes, but an incredibly peaceful sleep. The curtains were very good black out ones!. The room was spotless and stylish, with:

• A super-comfy king-size bed. This bed was huge and comfy with lovely quality bed linen. The pillows were not quite to my taste as two was too many and one wasn’t enough!

• A chaise longue. This would be ideal for lounging or reading however we used it for storing an open suitcase for easy access.

• A cosy work table and armchair. Really useful for working, and the wingback chair was particularly comfy.

• A large smart TV with Google Chromecast. Sometimes, when you’re traveling, you just want to watch your stuff. Whether it is Netflix or Youtube, Chromecast allows you this luxury which is always appreciated.

• Wi-Fi options. There is standard Wi-Fi which is great and also a faster option for Accor members, which Sam had. I utilised both and were impressed with the quality and speed of them. Even the standard Wi-Fi passed the test of “Can I upload a big Instagram Reel via it?”

The room was spacious and light, with a good King Size bed

The entrance to the room with the bathroom on the left and an open closest, mini bar and safe

There was also and ironing board, iron, hairdryer.

There was a chaise longe and tv, complete with our luggage

Another angle of the bed

The bedroom has a lovely view from the atrium

But the real star? The bathroom.

The bathroom was impressively good

It was not only totally spotless but really nicely designed. It was fitted with luxe Balmain products and a rainfall shower with perfect water pressure. Just what you need when the weather has been roasting in the UK.

The shower was great too

We were on floor three, easily accessible by the four lifts, two on each side of the atrium. We did, however, have an amusing moment on our way down to the lobby for checkout at 5:20am, in that the lifts by our rooms were out of order so we had to quickly zip round the floor to the opposite side of the atrium to get to the other lifts. At least we got our steps in before our flight!

The lifts on the morning of departure were out of order

Dining & Drinks: A Culinary Surprise at Gatwick

Who knew an airport hotel could offer a dining line-up worth coming back for? Sofitel London Gatwick boasts four restaurants and two bars, making it a destination in its own right.

La Brasserie – Modern British Elegance

An airy, all-day lounge overlooking the atrium. Perfect for an easy dinner with British and European dishes served in a fairly chic yet relaxed setting. We opted to eat here and both had a burger! Mine looked exactly like a Krabby Patty, but was delicious. The service was good with friendly and attentive staff who struck that difficult balance of pushing you to have more food or drink but without being too abrasive with it!

My vegan burger was delicious

Vivre – Mediterranean Comfort

Vivre serves everything from fresh pizza to hearty pasta, any Mediterranean lovers dream! If we hadn’t have been going to the Mediterranean for our trip, this would have been a great shout! But we knew we were going to be stuffing our faces with Souvlaki and Hummus for the next six days!

One of the restaurants "Vivre" which serves Mediterranean food

Vanda – Pan-Asian Perfection

Craving curry or stir-fry before your flight? Vanda delivers elegant Asian fusion in a stylish setting, ideal for quieter, more intimate dinners. This space looked incredible and any other time we would have eaten here however Sam had eaten nothing but plane food for the 4 days prior to this trip so wanted something a little stodgier!

Good menu on Vanda, the Asian fusion restaurant

Vanda's entrance

More food options at Vanda

Le Petit Rêveur – The Breakfast Spot

Fuel up before take-off with a generous buffet spread. We left the hotel at 5:20am so missed this particular experience, but if the other food is anything to go by I have no doubt this would have been a great spread.

Bars & Lounges: Where to Unwind

La Terrasse

This was where we had dinner but you could also utilise it just for a drink. Great for a glass of wine, or catching up on emails with a cocktail in hand. Or in our case, a glass of wine, a pint of beer, a burger each and writing up posts for the website!

Club Millésime (for Executive Guests)

A private lounge with runway views, complimentary drinks, canapés, and a peaceful breakfast option, perfect for travellers who prefer an extra touch of luxury. This however is for Executive Guests only, which we were not.

Amenities

While we didn’t hit the gym this time (too busy enjoying the wine and the Wi-Fi), we scoped it out. It’s well-equipped and clean, ideal for anyone sticking to a fitness routine, even on travel days.

A well stocked hotel gym

An area with towels, water and apples

The gym also had a TV in there but it wasn't on

The machines were all Pure Gym

Something interesting we noted was that there was still Covid signage around the hotel saying "Safety Is The New Chic" and "Avoid handshakes and hugs when saying hello" as well as encouraging you to use hand sanitiser they had throughout the hotel. Now, I am all for cleanliness as well as keeping healthy, however it did feel a little odd to still see signage for this.

Covid signage was interesting to see

Final Verdict: Worth Booking, 100%

Sofitel London Gatwick manages something really quite spectacular. It straddles the line between being an airport hotel and not just a place to crash before a flight. It really is a place to enjoy. From the warm welcome and stunning atrium to the high-end dining and restful rooms, this hotel combines a little bit of luxury with location better than most airport stays ever attempt.

If you’re flying out of Gatwick’s North Terminal, this is the hotel you want. I would stay here again in a heartbeat.

Helena

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