Flying into, or out of, London Gatwick Airport? The UK’s second-largest airport is located in Sussex, meaning that you can step straight off the plane into one of England’s most beautiful regions.
Within a few miles of London Gatwick, you can be sipping sparkling wine in one of England’s finest vineyards, travelling through the countryside on a heritage steam railway, or wandering through wonderful botanical gardens.
Whether you just have a few hours to spare or you want to make the most of an extended stopover or stay, London Gatwick Airport provides a surprising gateway directly into Sussex.
Visit Wakehurst, Kew's wild botanic garden
Distance from London Gatwick: 10 miles
Travel time from London Gatwick: 15 minutes by car or taxi
Time to explore: half day to full day
Wakehurst, the wild Sussex sister of Kew Gardens, is located just 10 miles from London Gatwick Airport, making it a wonderful place to spend time in the beautiful outdoors before or after a flight.
Wakehurst spans over 500 acres of landscaped gardens, woodland, lakes, and nature trails centred around an Elizabethan Mansion. Don’t miss the fascinating Millennium Seed Bank – a huge conservation project holding a collection of over 2.4 billion seeds from around the world, helping to protect the future of wild plant biodiversity.
More gardens near London Gatwick Airport
Take a nostalgic steam train journey on the Bluebell Railway
Distance from London Gatwick: 10 miles
Travel time from London Gatwick: 30 minutes by car or Route 500 bus to East Grinstead
Time to explore: half day to full day
Puffing its way through the Sussex countryside just east of London Gatwick Airport, the Bluebell Railway is one of Britain’s most famous heritage steam railways.
The railway travels for 11 scenic miles between East Grinstead (where it connects to the national rail network) and Sheffield Park, stopping at Kingscote and Horsted Keynes stations, the latter of which doubled as the railway station in Downton Abbey.
The journey takes 40 minutes each way, and it’s worth hopping off to see Sheffield Park Station, which has been restored to its 1880s splendour and has an interactive museum.
Visit the vineyards of England’s finest wine region
Distance from London Gatwick: from 10 miles
Travel time from London Gatwick: from 20 minutes by car
Time to explore: half day to two days
London Gatwick happens to be in the same county as the heartland of English wine, making it an ideal hopping-off point to explore some of Europe’s finest vineyards, many of which are just minutes away from the airport.
Visit a local vineyard for a pre or post-flight tour and tasting, or spend longer exploring the flourishing scene of one of the world’s most exciting wine destinations.
Great British Wine Tours’ Fly & Vine service will take you directly from London Gatwick Airport to a local vineyard for a tour, wine tasting, and lunch, before transporting you onwards to your accommodation.
10 miles from Gatwick (20 minutes by car), Kingscote Estate is set in tranquil countryside, providing relaxed tastings, woodland walks, and a welcoming introduction to Sussex wine. A visit to Kingscote Estate, which is a 15-minute walk from Kingscote Station, can also be combined with a trip on the Bluebell Railway.
15 miles south of London Gatwick Airport (20 minutes by car, or 10 minutes by train to Haywards Heath station then 15 minutes by taxi), Bolney Wine Estate (pictured) was one of England’s first vineyards, established over 50 years ago. Join a guided vineyard tour or enjoy the views with a glass of sparkling on the balcony of The Eighteen Acre restaurant.
20 miles south of London Gatwick (30 minutes by car, or 20 minutes by train to Burgess Hill station then 5 minutes by taxi), Ridgeview Wine Estate is a family vineyard committed to sustainability. Ridgeview’s contemporary vineyard restaurant, The Rows & Vine, has outstanding views true to its name.
A stone’s throw from Ridgeview, also 20 miles south of London Gatwick, Artelium is an artisanal wine producer integrating wine with art and sculpture. Look out for Artelium’s seasonal events, including summer feasting, artist collaborations, and contemporary exhibitions.
Explore the South Downs National Park
Distance from London Gatwick: from 20 miles
Travel time from London Gatwick: from 25 minutes by car
Time to explore: one to two days
The beautiful South Downs National Park sweeps along the UK’s coast, just south of London Gatwick, making it the most accessible stretch of unspoilt English countryside to visit directly from the airport.
A great base from which to explore the South Downs from Gatwick is around the historic Sussex town of Lewes (40 minutes by car, or 30 minutes by train), from where you can step out straight into the National Park on foot or by bike. The town itself is steeped in history, with its own Norman castle and the timber-framed Anne of Cleves House.
To see the dramatic coastal section of the South Downs, take a 50-minute direct train (or 1 hour 15-minute drive) from London Gatwick to the seaside town of Eastbourne, from where you can walk up to Beachy Head, the highest chalk sea cliff in Britain, and on to Birling Gap for incredible views of the iconic Seven Sisters cliffs.
Best of the Sussex South Downs: your guide to visiting the National Park
Follow in the footsteps of Winnie-the-Pooh
Distance from London Gatwick: 15 miles
Travel time from London Gatwick: 30 minutes by car, or 5 minutes by train to Three Bridges then 1 hour on the 291 bus to Hartfield
Time to explore: one day
Within Sussex’s High Weald National Landscape, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty filled with ancient woodland and gorgeous countryside, Ashdown Forest, the home of Winnie-the-Pooh, is just 15 miles east of Gatwick.
100 years ago, author A. A. Milne brought Winnie-the-Pooh and his endearing friends to life in his first book about the bear, filled with adventures in the Hundred Acre Wood, inspired by Ashdown Forest.
Visitors to the area can take a trip to Pooh Corner – a delightful museum, tea room, and shop in the village of Hartfield, showcasing the life of A. A. Milne and his endearing characters – and explore Hundred Acre Wood to find lovable locations like Pooh Sticks Bridge and the Heffalump Trap.
Winnie-the-Pooh at 100: visit the Sussex locations of the beloved books
Have a taste of Sussex in Horsham
Distance from London Gatwick: 15 miles
Travel time from London Gatwick: 30 minutes by car, or 20 minutes by train
Time to explore: one to two days
Just 20 minutes by direct train from London Gatwick Airport, Horsham makes for a convenient and cultured Sussex stopover. With a little bit of everything nearby, including an exceptional food and drink scene, Horsham is the perfect place to get a taste of Sussex near Gatwick.
Horsham itself is a historic market town with a bustling market, traditional pubs, and independent shops.
Within a short distance of Horsham, the 240-acre Leonardslee Lake & Gardens is a magnificent Grade I listed garden with a sculpture Park showcasing the works of local artists.
Also nearby, Knepp is trailblazing a 3,500-acre rewilding project, which runs a variety of walking and Landcruiser safaris to explore the estate and its wildlife.
