LGW-Spot1
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November 22, 2017London Gatwick Airport Spotting Guide
- last modified on October 13, 2023
London Gatwick is a major international airport 47.5km (29.5 miles) south of Central London. After Heathrow, it’s the second busiest airport in the UK, and it’s the eighth busiest in Europe. Until 2016 it was also the busiest single-use runway airport in the world, but it has now lost this title to Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji in India. 33 million passengers passed through Gatwick in 2022.
Unlike London Heathrow, Gatwick caters to a number of low cost carriers, and in terms of passenger numbers, easyJet is by far the largest operator, followed by British Airways and TUI. You will also get some interesting operators which you won´t see at Heathrow like Westjet, Norse Atlantic or Bamboo. Cargo traffic and General Aviation plays no major role at LGW.
Written by Bas Velders, Alan Edwards, Severin Hackenberger, Clive Grant and Fabio Farolfi. Last change: April 2023 (Spot 2 and 3 updated)
| Rating | |
| Movements |  |
| Airline Variety |  |
| Photo Locations | |
| Weather |  |
| Airport Information | |
| Runways | |
| 08R/26L | 3,316m (10,879ft) |
| 08L/26R | 2,551m (8,369ft) |
| Terminals | |
| North | easyJet, TUI, Virgin |
| South | British Airways, Norwegian, Ryanair |
| Spotting Information | |
| Ladder | Not needed, except at Spot #5. |
| Car/Public Transport | Necessary for Spots #4 & 5 as these locations are a long distance from the terminals, and the perimeter road is not served by local buses. It may be possible to take a free bus between the terminals and the Purple Parking car park nearby, walking to and from these two spots from there. |
| Restrooms | Inside the terminal or the nearby villages you’ll find quite a lot of hotels and restaurants with restrooms. |
| Drinks/Food | Inside the terminal or the nearby villages you’ll find quite a lot of shops, hotels and restaurants. |
| Hotels | The Hampton by Hilton, Sofitel and Premier Inn hotels are all alongside the North Terminal and there are several others close by. The BLOC Hotel in the South Terminal provides views of the airport, with the Hilton and Courtyard by Marriott nearby. South of the airport, there is the recently refurbished Maple Manor Hotel on Charlwood Road. This hotel is also convenient for Spots #4 + #5 when Gatwick is on easterly operations. |
| Season | Whilst Gatwick is a busy airport year round, the summer months between May and October see higher movement levels with a greater variety of traffic, and of course longer days and hopefully better weather. |
| Runway Usage | |
| General Info | There is only one runway in use at any time and opportunities for photography, of landing traffic in particular, are available whichever end is in use. Usage: As the main runway, 08R/26L will always be used unless it’s closed due to an emergency or when runway maintenance is scheduled. In this case 08L/26R will be brought into use. There is no preference for either easterly or westerly operations so the runway end in use will depend on the wind direction. However, as the prevailing winds are westerly, 26L is likely to be in operation approximately two-thirds of the time. |
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Spot #1 – Blue car park 1 – 26L arrivals |
|---|---|
| WHERE | The spot is located on level number 5 of “Blue car park 1” multi-storey car park next to the terminal. Just take the elevator or stairs to reach this level and walk to the southern end of this car park, until you’ve reached a position with a clear view.
Parking is not cheap (£12 for 2 hours) so check what’s due before you go! If you park at the “Long Stay South”, the first two hours are free of charge. |
| WHAT | All arrivals on 26L and some apron movements with high milimeters. |
| TIME | From late afternoon till sunset in summer. Unusable in winter. |
| MISC. | Nearest facilities are in the terminal. Light poles can disturb your view. Keep away from security cameras as we received some reports that security services are sending away spotters from this parking garage once seen on CCTV. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 200mm will cover most things (ATR72 200mm , 738 135mm) |
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#2 – Perimeter Road East – 26 arrivals |
|---|---|
| WHERE | From inside the South Termnal (there is a shuttle between both terminals) take the lifts opposite Zone D check-in area to level 0 and then turn right out of the tunnel and walk towards Perimeter Road. Walk alongside this road until you have reached the spot (10 minute walk). Spotting is also possible in the late evening (summer): just walk underneath the landing lights back towards the South Terminal. If driving to Gatwick, park in one of the South Terminal car parks and use description as stated above.
UPDATE Aug 2022: Access from the former staircase (Concord House), is no longer possible and only staff with a security ID will be able to use it. While access to the Perimeter Road Road East for this spot is no longer possible from the staircase in Concorde House it still can be accessed from the South Terminal now that it has reopened. On the departure level pass through check in area E and walk to the end. Between the escalator leading down to the domestic UK departure area and the Oversize luggage counter is a lift. Take this lift to the ground floor turn right in the tunnel and you will reach the Perimeter Road where you can find your preferred spot as described above. SEE GALLERY BELOW! By car: in general parking around here is VERY difficult. When you don’t want to park in the expensive airport car parks, you might use the Nestle visitor parking (marked on the map) in the City place area south of spot #3 for parking. But security can be very rude and left a not at the car that parking is prohibited. If you park at the “Long Stay South”, the first two hours are free of charge. |
| WHAT | All arrivals on Runways 26L/26R. Don’t hang out near the fence, but stay near the roadside. |
| TIME | All day during the winter. In the summer the light’s OK from about 9 until about 16 and in the evening. |
| MISC. | You can find everything you need in the terminal building. Dis-/Advantages over spot #3: Less distance, so you won’t have problems with heat distortion that easy and you won’t need that high focal lengths, but therefore the angle isn’t that good, it’s not that flat here, which is bad especially for heavies. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Depending on your location: ~ 60 – 150 mm From the entrance of the staff carpark: ~ 200 – 250 mm |
Route by foot mentioned above:
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#3 – City place – 26L arrivals |
|---|---|
| WHERE | This spot is located on the walkway by the roadside of “A23″/”London Rd”. Your exact position depends on the angle and the light poles, which can be very annoying.
By car: in general parking around here is VERY difficult. When you don’t want to park in the expensive airport car parks, you might use the Nestle visitor parking (marked on the map) in the City place area out of this spot. But security can be very rude and left a not at the car that parking is prohibited. If you park at the “Long Stay South”, the first two hours are free of charge. By bus: You can use the bus stop next to the Nestle building called “City place”. For more details about the bus lines stopping there and their departure/arrival times, please click on the icon on the map and follow the given link! |
| WHAT | All arrivals on Runways 26L/26R. Don’t hang out near the fence, but stay near the roadside. |
| TIME | All day during the winter. In the summer the light’s OK from about 8 until about 16. |
| MISC. | You can find everything you need in Crawley’s suburb a bit south of this spot. Heat haze can be a problem as well as parking your car! Dis-/Advantages over spot #2: Distance is higher, so you’ll have more problems with heat distortion and need more focal length, but therefore the angle is flatter/better here. This can be seen especially on heavy aircraft. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 120-350mm
ATR72 = 320mm / B767 = 190mm / A380 = 150mm / A319 = 280mm |
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Spot #4 – Lowfield Heath Road – 08 arrivals |
|---|---|
| WHERE | Driving from the South Terminal, take the A23 London Road towards Lowfield Heath. Turn right at Lowfield Heath Roundabout and then left onto Charlwood Road. Follow this road to its junction with Bonnetts Lane on the left with the Purple Parking depot on the right. The Road then bends around to the right where it changes to Lowfield Heath Road and Spot #2 is on the left. Although there is a lay-by alongside Spot #4, the police may sometimes move drivers on from here, so it may be better to park in Bonnetts Lane and walk around to this spot. If you’re on foot, you may be able to catch the free bus from the terminals to Purple Parking and walk to the postion from there. The bus runs every twenty minutes. |
| WHAT | All arrivals on Runways 08R/08L |
| TIME | All day during the winter. In the summer the light’s OK from about 09:00 until about 16:00. |
| MISC. | Apart from the Maple Manor Hotel back along Charlwood Road, there are no facilities here so bring what you need. SECURITY UPDATE JULY 2018: We received information and reports, that police and security services send us spotters regularly away from here, because the area around here is already to close by the fence and it is unsafe to let us spot there! |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 100-300mm should cover most things. You can adjust your position to suit the angle you prefer. |
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Spot #5 – Western End Crash Gate – 08R departures |
|---|---|
| WHERE | This spot is located on the right side of “Lowfield Heath Road”. Shortly after you passed the Arrivalpath lights of runway 08R you’ll get to the crashgate, which is the spot. |
| WHAT | |
| TIME | From early afternoon until sunset. |
| MISC. | A tall ladder is the only way to take photos from this spot now, but the authorities will ask you to remove it if it’s within three metres of the fence. Apart from the Maple Manor Hotel back along Charlwood Road, there are no facilities here so bring what you need. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 40-200mm should cover most things. |
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Spot #6 – Railway Crossbridge – 26L arrivals |
|---|---|
| WHERE | The location is very easy to find. It´s on a footbridge over the railways. If coming from #1 get down to the rental cars and there is a small path at the southwesternmost corner running up to the bridge. You can also get there if coming from #3 or #2 if you wanna switch the position in the summer evenings. There is a footpath that runs next from the Nestle building all the way up along the railway till the bridge. If you park at the “Long Stay South”, the first two hours are free of charge. |
| WHAT | Side on shots from the bridge and front shots from the footpath for 26L arrivals. |
| TIME | From late afternoon till sunset in summer. Unusable in winter. |
| MISC. | Terminal is very close so you can get everything there. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Air Baltic 735 = 200mm |
hi guys, im gonna be at LGW tommorrow and wanted to ask whether anyone knows this location where the jets blast over the houses (it is a big park with a lot of grass and no trees) which i have seen on many insta reels. How do I get there? Its mostly approaches of the 380 or 777s that i remember seeing online. Any idea?
You’re probably thinking of Myrtle Avenue, which is at Heathrow
Check out my channel on youtube (Rankupaviation) and you will find that location 🙂 i have done few live streams from there. It’s called Myrtle Avenue but keep in mind that the planes need to be landing on 27L for you to see them on top of the houses.
Does anyone know where these youtubers plane spot those crosswind landings at Gatwick, I can’t seem the location anywhere, if anyone knows where it is and any info it would be much appreciated 🙂
Maybe Ifield Road between Charlwood and Ifield? There are a couple of lay-bys and it is slightly elevated, but you do need a powerful lens.
Guys I need some help!
My partner has got her first flight on the 24th to AMS with euroflyer at 0925D if anyone is around spotting could you please get me some photos and videos as im working and unable to make the 200 Mike drive to wave her off
I am surprised no one knows this but there is another spot you can use from Friday to Sunday. There is a place called Gatwick Aviation Museum on the perimiter road that has 2 fields and an obsevation deck into the western end of the runway. Admittedly you still have to look through the security fences but you have an untroubled view of mostly take-offs in the open skies above. Entrance is a £10 donation to the museum (Cold War aircraft mostly, including an Avro Shackleton), this includes car parking, they also have a coffee and sandwich shop.
Vallance By Ways, Lowfield Heath Rd, Charlwood, Gatwick RH6 0BT 01293 862294 http://www.gamc.org.uk
It is open from 10am to 5pm during the summer months.
Thanks
Your point about facilities at the the Lowfield Road site for 08 is incorrect. If you take the short walk into Charlwood Village from there (10 mins on foot) – theres a fab cafe called “52 The Street”. They server everything from early until about 4pm – Katherine runs the place and the food is great, plenty of drinks and plenty of seating too and … a loo!
The info about spot #2 has been inactive for a while: both terminals have been open since late last year…
On spot 4 it says to park in bonnets Ln but where exactly can you park?
-William
In general parking is difficult and we recommend to stay on the lay by at Charlwood Rd as marked on the map.
You might be able to find 2-3 small lay by at Bonnet Ln but we cannot say exactly the postion.
-Julian
Thankyou Julian
As Paul Swancutt says the South Terminal is currently still closed and will be for the foreseeable future until passenger numbers recover.
#2 is therefore no longer accessible from the South Terminal. I have looked for all other possible ways.
I believe the only way to reach #2 now is using the railway bridge as described in #6 but I haven’t tried that myself.
Tried to access spot two today but as most of the south terminal is closed you can’t currently get to zone D. Had limited time to work out if you could get there a different way.
Is someone going to kick me out of purple parking if i pay for the day?
Yes, I’m afraid they will! Apparently they don’t tolerate spotters/photographers hanging around in the Purple Parking area at all!