The Best Hotels in Crawley

Crawley Hotels

It’s hard to think of a better location for a town than Crawley’s spot between London and the beautiful, wild heathland of Ashdown Forest – and next door to Gatwick Airport. It’s a modern, planned town, with a pleasant open square in the centre and a lively shopping scene. The vast expanse of forest nearby offers a host of outdoor adventures for the whole family. There’s plenty to entertain, whether you’re on a short airport layover or a longer leisure break.

Things to see

The Crawley County Mall Shopping Centre, located right at the heart of the town, is one of the largest in the area. Set around a lively square, bustling with cafés, the mall contains over 90 shops, as well as children’s play areas and a food court, full of popular restaurants. South of the city centre, the K2 Crawley Leisure Centre is the town’s premier leisure and entertainment venue. In the day, it’s the ideal place to take the children, with bowling, swimming and ice skating, while in the evening, the best touring theatre, comedy and musical performances hit the stage. For outdoor adventure, Ashdown Forest is limitless and beautiful, whether you choose to go horse riding, mountain biking or just for a gentle country walk. The forest is also the fabled home of Winnie the Pooh, and little ones will delight in playing Poohsticks on the bridge at Pooh Corner.

Hotels in Crawley

Crawley has an excellent selection of hotels, from large, contemporary airport hotels, to characterful country guesthouses and budget inns. Most hotels are set up to cater for both leisure and business travellers. In the larger hotels, you’ll find spacious rooms and family suites, fitted with the latest mod-cons, including flat-screen TVs, WiFi access and premium bedding. These hotels feature restaurants, coffee shops and fitness centres. If you’re on a budget, there are a couple of discount hotels in Crawley, providing simple, cosy rooms and complimentary breakfasts. There are several luxury hotels too, offering country leisure facilities and traditionally-furnished rooms.

Where to stay

Crawley town centre is a great location to be based. It offers plenty of town amenities, including shops and restaurants, as well as unrivalled access to Gatwick Airport and the countryside of Ashdown Forest. The hotels here range from large, contemporary hotels to charming, budget guesthouses and inns. If you’re on a very brief layover, there is a choice of hotels onsite at Gatwick Airport, where you’ll have access to a range of business and leisure facilities – and there are no transfers necessary. If you’re looking for a rural getaway, choose one of the luxury country hotels in Ashdown Forest.

How to get to Crawley

Crawley is located just 6 miles south of Gatwick Airport, the UK’s second-largest international hub, making it a popular choice as a brief stopover location. The majority of Crawley hotels provide airport transfer services, either complimentary or for a surcharge. Car hire is also available from the airport terminals. Direct trains connect Gatwick and Crawley town centre, a 20 minute journey. There are direct trains from London Victoria too, which serve both Gatwick Airport and Crawley. This is a journey of about 45 minutes. To reach the more rural hotels in Ashdown Forest, hiring a car is the best option.