I left it late to book my hotel – two days before my holiday I realised that a
6am Gatwick flight meant it would barely be worth going to bed before
setting off from north London.
I typed “Gatwick hotels” into a search engine and was inundated with
properties that claimed to be close to the airport. However, book without
double-checking the hotel location - as I’ve done before - and you risk
being saddled with a huge taxi bill – not how I planned to spend my holiday
money.
My search took me to Laterooms.com, which had a listing
of airport hotels that I could filter by distance from the airport, plus
reviews from guests who had stayed there and boked through the site. I opted
for the Copthorne
Hotel London Gatwick - not the closest hotel to the airport (a cab cost
£8 one way and £12 the other), but the room rate reflected that, and I liked
the sound of the hotel’s swimming pool and sauna.
The hotel is one of two Copthornes near Gatwick. The website describes it as
“charming” and set in “100 acres of tranquil woodlands and landscaped
gardens” – a generous description in my view. Evidence of the original 16th
century farmhouse around which the hotel is built is all but lost in the
sprawling complex of some 227 bedrooms, save the odd exposed beam in the
hotel’s bar, the White Swan Pub.
That’s not to say the hotel isn’t attractive – just don’t go expecting a
quaint farmhouse. The single storey building is mostly red brick and extends
in long wings and an adjacent annexe. Some bedrooms overlook pretty
countryside, and some the less bucolic car park.
The facilities are excellent – there’s a gym, squash courts, tennis courts,
swimming pool, sauna, putting green, croquet lawn and hot tub. There’s also
two restaurants, a bar and extensive event spaces, one of which was being
used for a wedding the night I stayed.
Check-in was efficient and I was shown to my room – a good thing given the
rambling corridors. On the way back I kept my eyes peeled for signs back to
the reception, like the ones in a maze that you can lift the lid on to cheat
your way out in a panic.
Panic over I found my way to The Brasserie, the more casual of the two hotel’s
restaurants. It was curry night and I had a delicious selection of fish,
vegetable and meat curries from the buffet (£18.50 including starters from a
cold buffet and coffee). My companion’s a la carte dish of salmon looked a
little dated in its presentation, with cubed vegetables on a brightly
coloured plate surrounding the fish, but it tasted fresh and was perfectly
cooked.
The wine list was impressive, including imaginative additions such as a
Brazilian Pinot Grigio.
I missed breakfast (7am-11am) because of the early flight but have stayed at
the hotel previously and remember being impressed with the spread of
continental buffet choices and cooked options.
My room was fine – no nonsense décor that was neither offensive nor memorable.
The important bits were right – a spacious room, big bed, pristine sheets
and a good shower. The bathroom was the highlight in fact – a fashionable
monochrome tiled design that contradicted the rather passé beige and regal
colours of the room décor.
The four-star-hotel boxes were all ticked – the room had smart leather
armchairs, television with Sky channels, wireless internet access
(£2.50/hour, £6/4 hours, £12/24 hours), kettle with tea and coffee, minibar
on request and trouser press.
A shuttle bus to the airport only runs hourly but is good value at £3 per
passenger.
The hotel gets an average 3/5 from Tripadvisor.co.uk
users, with the decor getting a bit of a knocking from reviewers, who call
it "dated" and "tired" in places, although service is
generally commended, something I'd agree with.
Bottom line: Rack rates start from £175, but the hotel was available on
the LateRooms.com website from £66.
Best thing: the leisure facilities
Worst thing: the car park view from my bedroom
Access all areas: the reception, restaurant and bar are wheelchair
accessible, there are disabled toilets and car parking spaces and wheelchair
accessible guestrooms
Need to know: Copthorne
Hotel London Gatwick, Copthorne Way, Copthorne, West Sussex, RH10 3PG;
tel. 01342 348800
Food: 7 out of 10
Service: 9 out of 10
Room: 7 out of 10
Value: 8 out of 10
