Review: the Hampton by Hilton London Gatwick Airport hotel

This is our review of the Hampton by Hilton London Gatwick Airport hotel.

The last time HfP wrote about this hotel was in 2016 so it could do with a refresher. The opportunity to revisit came when I met up with two German girlfriends in Gatwick as our starting point for a southeastern England road trip.

We wanted a comfortable overnight stay without frills but in an appealing environment and with good sized rooms. The Hampton ticks these boxes, as well as giving you the opportunity to earn and redeem Hilton points.

I paid cash for my stay and the hotel didn’t know that I would be reviewing it. The hotel website is here.

The hotel is based in Gatwick’s North Terminal which is primarily used by easyJet. I arrived by train from London at the South Terminal (where BA is based) and took the transit over to North. Follow the ‘Hotel’ signs in the terminal and it can’t be missed.

The image above is a PR picture. As the hotel is directly connected to the terminal, you won’t see it from the outside.

Below is the entrance from the terminal. It was very busy when we arrived but check-in was efficient. The design is similar to other Hamptons I have visited in the UK (see Rob’s Hampton Stansted review here) and is open-plan, modern, clean and inviting.

There is plenty of seating in the lobby if your flight is delayed or you arrive early:

Just around the large check-in desk is the bar which was more popular in the evening than my photo suggests!

…. and some more space opposite the bar to hang out:

Around the corner from the bar is the very large restaurant. If you don’t fancy venturing into Gatwick in the evening to find food there is no need.

The bar offers a very reasonably-prized menu which we tried out. Whilst not pictured, we had a tomato soup, a burger and salad between us and – whilst not a culinary highlight by any means – it was all perfectly satisfactory. In the morning this becomes the breakfast area.

My room at Hampton by Hilton Gatwick Airport

I had booked a Queen Room. As is standard with a Hampton, free hot breakfast and free WiFi is included in all rates.

Not many people know that Hampton is one of nine Hilton brands which do not upgrade elite guests. That said, most Hampton properties don’t have a lot of premium rooms to upgrade you to, and if a property is busy it may still happen.

Coming in to the room there is a short corridor with an open wardrobe:

The room is relatively large – good if you come with plenty of luggage – and has a desk and a very comfy bed.

We also had one Twin Room which I show here. Apart from the beds the rooms were identical.

The bathroom isn’t that big and is best described as functional. The wide washstand is very practical, letting you spread out the contents of your toiletry bag.

The toilet is tucked into a corner. Shower gel, shampoo, conditioner and body lotion are available in big dispensers.

Underneath the TV is a simple coffee and tea station but no mineral water was provided, at least not to a Gold member like me. (EDIT: as per the comments, this needs to be selected as your ‘My Way’ benefit at a Hampton.)

My view was over a lower airport building towards the runway. On the roof was a breakout area for airport staff.

The hotel is fully sound-proofed and I didn’t hear any runway noise in my room.

Breakfast at Hampton by Hilton Gatwick Airport

As is usual with modern Hampton hotels, the buffet space is really generous, allowing people to spread out. It was a simple selection but offered a good variety of hot, cold and fresh items.

This is the hot food counter with the usual suspects:

Here are continental options and fresh fruit which I always appreciate on a buffet.

Breakfast rolls, pastries, muffins and various spreads are laid out on the centre counter. Porridge, which I usually have, is available in prepared pots with hot water or milk to be added.

It seems that most Hamptons have rotating Belgian waffle makers on their breakfast buffet these days. The waffles turn out thicker and were tasty. They added a special touch to an otherwise standard breakfast but require a little bit of practice to get them perfect:

Here is what one of my friends assembled from the buffet which is a good representation of what you can get:

Conclusion

My friends and I had a pleasant stay at Hampton by Hilton London Gatwick Airport.

The rooms were very spacious with very comfortable beds and large windows. We had a simple bar meal in the evening and a good breakfast before picking up our car and starting our Kent tour the next morning.

It ticked all our boxes for a short stay and – as testament to how good budget hotels are these days – was a massive improvement on the holiday flat in Tunbridge Wells where we ended up staying the next night!

Rates tend to start at around £130 per night or 50,000 Hilton Honors points, making cash the better choice given our 0.33p value of a Hilton Honors point. We paid £140 per room and benefited from the current Hilton / American Express cashback offer.

You can find out more, and book, on the Hilton website here.