Local Attractions in and Around Gatwick

It's probably fair to say that the typical Gatwick Airport taxi driver will get more fares to the environs of London than anywhere else. Even so, the attractions of the local Sussex area shouldn’t be underestimated. So, if you’ve got some hours to kill before your business engagements, why not hold off jumping in that Gatwick Airport taxi to London and heading instead to one of the following close-by sites.

• Horley (Sussex). This is very close to the airport and an ancient town with roots going back over 1,000 years. It’s a genteel place with some nice timber framed buildings, good pubs and some pretty good ‘country-feel’ shops on the high street. It’s a good place to get a feel for rural England even though you’re close to London.
• Crawley Museum Centre (Goff’s Park). Crawley is another modestly-sized town close by and it has a very interesting museum. It's well worth a visit and a stroll around town.
• The Gatwick Aviation Museum. They have some fantastic historic aircraft here. Stroll around and be amazed!
• The Archway Theatre, Horley. This is a tiny theatre occupying a space underneath old railway arches. It only seats about 95 people but puts on a wide range of well-regarded productions. If you need to pass time the night before a flight, this could be a real alternative to just propping up a bar somewhere.
• Brighton. Ok, at 30 miles or 48 kilometres this is a little farther away, but it’s an architectural gem by the sea. You must see the ‘lanes’, which are old narrow streets full of antiques and eccentric shops, and the Indian-Styled Royal Pavilion is another wonderful attraction.
• Lewes and its castle. This is about 20 miles or 33 kilometres away. It’s a beautiful castle started in 1066 set in a very picturesque and ancient town. The castle is impressive but so are the ancient buildings of the town – some of which were laid out during the time of King Alfred the Great in the 9th century.
• Arundel town and castle. A little bit further away than Brighton, this is another impressive castle and equally pretty town. Strolling around its streets and using a little imagination, you’ll get a real feeling of what life in the Medieval period might have been like – at least for a while.

These are just a few ideas but they show that if you have time and a Gatwick Airport taxi, London isn’t your only option! A Gatwick Airport taxi will get you to any of the above destinations quickly and for a price that’s likely to be a lot less than you might imagine.

Lukas Johannes is a driver for Shuttle Direct. If you’re looking for a Gatwick airport taxi, Shuttle Direct provide pre-booked shuttles to major destinations all over Europe. Wherever you travel, Shuttle Direct can make sure that you don’t miss your car on your holiday abroad.