London's second airport, south of the city in Sussex. Two terminals, one very busy runway, a second one on the way, and three train companies on the same tracks. How to choose the right train and avoid the £10 drop-off.
Gatwick Airport station is right next to the South Terminal. From the North Terminal, take the free shuttle train first.
Gatwick is easier than Heathrow for many visitors to London, and Thameslink makes it surprisingly well connected. The weak points are summer delays and the high price of the Gatwick Express, which most people don't need.
The future: Gatwick's existing standby runway will be moved 12 metres north so that it can be used for departures alongside the main runway. The government approved the £2.2 billion project in September 2025, and the Court of Appeal threw out the last legal challenge in August 2026. Routine use is still some years away.
Gatwick has fewer direct flights to Africa than Heathrow, but many holiday flights to North Africa, the Canary Islands and beyond. Connecting flights through Istanbul, the Gulf and Europe are common.
Before you book, check the rules on our UK visa and entry from Africa page, and the routes on flights from Africa to the UK. For Ghana in particular, our partner site GhanaFlights.info lists the airlines, the airports and the routes.
Day trips from London to the south coast, Brighton, Canterbury and the white cliffs of Dover. Entrance fees are included in the tour price; tips are not included but are always welcome.
Every major airport in Britain, and how to choose.
Visa or ETA for every nationality, checked against GOV.UK.
The Tube, buses, river boats and fares.
The cathedral and the white cliffs.
Money, contactless fares and the unwritten rules.
Other airport guides: Heathrow · Stansted · Luton · London City · Manchester · Birmingham · Bristol · Cardiff
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