After long travels or a pit-stop business meeting, experience the comfort of a luxury bed at Sofitel London Gatwick. Amelia Walker checks in.
If you or your boss travels regularly, the last thing you need to deal with on top of organising everything else is a long haul to and from your hotel.
Well then, if you are flying in or out of Gatwick Airport the brilliantly situated Sofitel London Gatwick is definitely one for your little black book. Just a quick 30 minutes on a Gatwick Express train from London Victoria and I’m here. It’s a Thursday evening and tomorrow morning I’m flying to Morocco on a 5am flight – so it really is a flying visit.
The hotel is connected to Gatwick Airport’s North Terminal, and is also only a two-minute journey by free monorail to the South Terminal. Convenience-wise the location is excellent.
The lobby is bustling upon arrival and I’m met with a long queue. To my delight though it moves swiftly and I’m greeted by a smiley and efficient gent on reception. And this is seemingly just the start of the friendly and helpful service that is bestowed on me throughout my stay.
I’m checked in quickly and my card details taken – so as to ensure come early morning when I’m heading to catch my flight I can simply hand in my room card and leave – and not be delayed having to settle anything. They have my card details and will charge me this way; there’s no form or receipt signing needed.
I drop my bags off and head to grab a late dinner at La Brasserie, which serves local, seasonal British and European cuisine. It’s stylish, relaxed and boasts two Rosettes. Award-winning Executive Chef David Woods is at the helm, magicking up a thoroughly modern Brit menu with a sprinkling of French. In spite of the late hour I take one look at the fantastic menu and opt for scallops to start and fillet for main. Both are fantastic in taste and presented beautifully. The restaurant also has an extension to the main dining area for private dining experiences – ideal for business lunches. The hotel is also home to two other restaurants. You can choose the Gatwick Oriental, which features an Asian menu of traditional Chinese fare. For a less formal option, eat at the Urban Café, a lunch and dinner spot offering salads, fish and chips and pizzas.
Two courses and a large Malbec later and I’m ready to roll into bed. I’m booked into a Classic room and am pleasantly surprised by the size of the bed; it’s big and dangerously comfortable (don’t be tempted to press snooze when your alarm goes off). I’m informed that the beds are such a hit with regular guests that many even actually order them for their home. I get it, I want to put my name down for one too.
Floor-to-ceiling, triple-glazed windows welcome in plenty of natural light and I have an impressive view of the runway – it’s a great perch for plane spotters.
Interiors are simple, unfussy and elegant. It is lacking in those more personal touches, granted, but then that’s to be expected from an airport hotel. Superior, Luxury Room Club Sofitel, Junior Suites and Prestige Suites are other room options available. The Luxury Club rooms and Prestige Suites have access to the Sofitel Club Lounge and this is open 24/7, offering complimentary tea, coffee and soft drinks, along with breakfast and evening canapés. It’s a great spot for business professionals to take their laptop and work overlooking the runways, and have attentive service from a dedicated team of staff and butlers on hand, should one require anything.
There are 11 different meeting rooms also available, unlimited wifi, on-site car parking, which can be used for the duration of your trip, and a 24-hour fitness studio.
My checkout the following morning was so quick I didn’t even realise I had checked out. You can be eating breakfast one minute and at the check-in desks moments later.
Double rooms start from £119; sofitel.com
