Gatwick Airport Children’s Facilities
Changing your baby: Gatwick’s special Baby Care rooms designed for baby changing and feeding are indicated by either a bottle sign or a Baby Care symbol. You can find these facilities in the check-in area, on your way to the gates, in the transfer area and after passport control in arrivals. Some male and female toilets also have fold-down changing tables.
Gatwick Airport Children’s Facilities: North & South Terminals
Gatwick’s recent upgrade involved updating or adding some excellent new facilities to aid family travel. Special family assistance lanes were created for both departing and arriving families. Not only it is more spacious, but the dedicated security lane provides families or single adults travelling with a child/children extra help and support when going through security (just some help folding up your buggy goes a long way!)
Gatwick Airport Children’s Play Areas
Nobody likes a long wait. To make the waiting more pleasant for both the parent and the child, Gatwick Airport offers kids zones in the departure lounges. The zones are well equipped and include an area for the kids to play and watch TV, as well as loads of seats for parents. They are free to use, and you will find them upstairs in the South Terminal departure lounge opposite Dixons Travel and opposite WHSmith in the North Terminal departure lounge.
North Terminal Family Lounges
Both terminals have excellent family lounge facilities, giving families an opportunity to relax before their onward journey. Here’s a brief overview of what you can expect to get. Pre-booking is recommended.
No.1 Traveller have a fantastic new Super-Lounge in the North Terminal which has some superb child-friendly facilities. These include a mini cinema room, games room, computers and a place to sit down and relax. Food and drink is included so you have no reason to leave the calm No. 1 Traveller's lounge and enter the hectic departure lounge. The Aspire Lounge offers a self-contained ‘Fun Zone’ area with soft play, games, and toys. Other facilities include television, complimentary drinks, and a selection of magazines and newspapers.
Another great option is My Lounge and this offers a great number of activities for kids including a game room with a TV and games den and table football! This lounge will surely be a treat for the kids.
South Terminal Family Lounges
South Terminal also offers two lounges to passengers, including those travelling with small children.
No. 1 Traveller's lounge in the South terminal includes a lounge area, table football, living green room and much more. The lounge also boasts airport runway views so the children can remain entertained by watching the planes take-off.
My Lounge has recently opened in the South Terminal too and again, they offer great activities too!
Gatwick Airport Shopping
If you forget to bring colouring books, you can get them in both terminals from bookshops such as WHSmith. There are plenty of child-friendly restaurants and shops selling snacks in both terminals.
Breastfeeding at Gatwick Airport
Gatwick Airport Children’s Facilities: Eating Options
In addition, you are welcome to ask for a glass of tap water, free of charge, at any Gatwick restaurant.
Inter-Terminal Transit Train
If you still have time before your flight, you can always take the kids for a free ride on the transit train which runs every 3 minutes at peak times between the North and South Terminal. The ride takes only about 2 minutes. You will find the transit station on the first floor of the North Terminal and next to the rail station in the South Terminal.
Flying with Babies and Toddlers
If you are travelling with children then you should try and allow yourself more time to get to the Airport and get through check-in and security. Children can generally slow you down and it can take you longer to do simple tasks. This flying with babies and toddlers guide can help you pack lightly and plan your trip with a small traveller better.
Pushchairs
Gatwick Airport has recently started offering pushchairs to families arriving and landing at Gatwick, to help the passengers get from the plane to the arrivals hall where they collect their own pushchairs.
They’re absolutely free to be used but you will be asked to give £1 as a deposit, which is, of course, returned once you bring the pushchair back.
Taking Your Infant On-board at Gatwick Airport
Option two
Babies that are younger than 6 months travel on an adult person’s lap with a lap-strap safety belt provided by the cabin crew. Infants that are between 6 and 23 months old must also be seated on the adult’s lap, securely strapped with the lap-strap for the duration of take-off and landing. In case the neighbouring seat is empty, the infant may take that seat and use it during the flight. However, you might want to ask your airline what the rules are regarding the use of spare seats.
Option two
Parents are welcome to book a seat for their infant who is six months and older if they prefer. A purpose-designed car seat can then be used, as long as it has a special restraining harness and is of the correct size to be attached to the standard seat of the aircraft. These car seats are not provided by the airlines, they must be brought by the parents. The main requirements are that this seat is in a good condition, must conform to British Safety regulations and the parent should have a manual or an instruction leaflet to show the on-board staff in case they are not familiar with the fitting process for that particular make. The car seat must not exceed 16 inches (or 40 cm) in width. Car seats are bulky items, especially if you are also taking a pushchair and/or a travel cot, so it’s essential that you check with your airline if they will be able to fit it.
Please note that budget airlines might have different rules towards allowing passengers to fit their own car seats due to reduced legroom in the aircraft. Always check with the airline to avoid disappointment.
Travelling with a Disability at Gatwick Airport
If your child has reduced mobility and you would like to try the aircraft seating and transfer options in a realistic setting before your set off with your little one, contact Tryb4uFly who specialise in providing disabled adults and children with the opportunity to do so. Additional aid equipment can also be hired/purchased from them.
If you’re travelling with a child who has autism, you may find the following article on airports and Autism useful as it highlights what provisions are available across UK Airports to make the journey easier and less stressful for them.
