V-Flyer

Hi, Later this year, I'll be flying into Gatwick North late afternoon, staying overnight at the BLOC hotel (South) and flying out the next morning to MCO. Two adults and an 18month toddler.

My question is this - Where can we get something to eat for dinner that evening, that is family friendly. Have to be cautious of the before/after security options!

Thanks, Stevey

Options are fairly limited landside unfortunately: there's a Giraffe (family friendly) and a Wetherspoons (not so family friendly) upstairs in the South Terminal. Or there are hotel restaurants: the Sofitel in the North Terminal and the Hilton in the South Terminal, both of which are connected to the airport by walkways so don't require faffing about with shuttles.

Or if you're feeling really adventurous the bright lights of Crawley are only 10 minutes away in a cab, plenty of chain restaurants there.

Thanks Gumshoe. If it were just me and my wife, I'd head into Crawley, but would be more difficult lugging the child around. Thanks for the options!

In the room at bloc you'll find a booklet with discounts for guests at many of the restaurants in the terminal. Giraffe is probably the closest and most family friendly and cafe nero is opposite reception for the early morning caffeine boost!

There is a Chinese restaurant in the Sofitel. We have eaten there and it was fine from what I recall. I have eaten at the main Sofitel restaurant also and again, was decent enough.

Thanks everyone for the help and replies

There's also the Nicholas Culpeper, landslide at North Terminal. It's really good - family friendly, great selection of food (burgers very popular) and if you like a G&T they have their own gin distillery! Great reviews too https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restauran ... gland.html

The Nicholas Culpeper looks lovely. If I'm airside at North (after landing), can I get landside to have dinner there, and somehow transfer to South easily?

just thinking I will have a buggy and 3 suitcases to lug around! (not to mention a wife and child lol)

North & South terminals are linked by shuttle, only 3 mins between the two. So if you check into to your hotel in south it's only a few minutes back to north for dinner - with no luggage to carry

Thank you Vegas Crazy!

sjcraythorne wrote:The Nicholas Culpeper looks lovely. If I'm airside at North (after landing), can I get landside to have dinner there, and somehow transfer to South easily?

just thinking I will have a buggy and 3 suitcases to lug around! (not to mention a wife and child lol)

Personally I don't use the twilight check in but you may want to consider it. Drop you cases in the South and head over to the North for dinner. I believe it opens at 5 pm.

Dick D

Sorry folks one more Gatwick query - Thinking it might be best to leave wife and child in North, while I take luggage to South and get checked in.

Can you take the airport trolleys on the little tram thing between terminals? No way I could manage 3 suitcases, albeit wheely ones by myself.

Thanks, Stevey

Unfortunately all travellers have to be present at check in.

Hi Stevey, yes trolleys are allowed.

I'd assumed that you'd be wanting to check into Bloc and dump all your bits & pieces, allowing for an easy amble back to North Terminal for dinner. That way you can kill two birds with one stone, i.e. twilight check-in with Virgin then hop up the escalator & checkin to Bloc. Then you're only 5 mins back to North Terminal on the shuttle with no bags at all in tow!

If it were me (and it has been me in the past) I'd get checked into the hotel first and leave the luggage there. You never know how many changes of clothes you need for a toddler so best not to use the twilight check in.

I'd then go back into one of the terminals for something to eat (the wee one will love the monorail) or head outside. The problem with the terminals are they're expensive and don't actually give views of planes from landside so you're just paying for the convenience and it's a busy place you can't take the eyes off the wee one. I'd probably jump into a taxi and head off to a pub/restaurant with a beer garden where you can sit and watch planes take off, there are a few suitable looking on Google Maps, the Black Horse in Horley for example.

Thanks, yes, I meant to check in at the hotel, not for flight.

Next question (SORRY!) can I do twilight check-in but do the bag drop the following morning. As I have an infant, I can't check in online, and am scared that if I wait until the morning, I will be bumped from UC?

Yes, if you so wish.

Thanks gumshoe!