Sandwich to Gatwick airport transfer: roads, terminals and timing

How a Sandwich to Gatwick airport transfer gets there

From the town the car first makes for the A2, either south on the A256 past Eastry or west on the A257 past Ash and through Wingham, depending on where you are collected. The A2 and M2 carry it west across Kent to the M25, and from there it follows the motorway round the southern side of London to the M23, which leads straight into the airport. On some days the M20 is the better way across the county, and the driver will pick whichever is moving.

You do not need to choose. The route is the driver's job, and the fixed fare stays the same whichever road is used, including when a diversion adds miles.

When to leave Sandwich, Kent for an early Gatwick flight

Work backwards from your airline's bag-drop closing time rather than the departure time. Add the top of the typical range, then a margin: overnight roadworks on the M2 and M25 are common, and on Friday afternoons or the first days of a school holiday the M25 alone can add 30 to 45 minutes.

As an example, say your flight leaves at 7am and bag drop closes an hour before. You want to be at the terminal by about 6am, so with 1 hour 50 minutes of driving and a margin for roadworks, a pickup between 3.45am and 4am is sensible. Give us the flight time when you book and we will suggest a collection time; you can always ask for earlier.

Leaving from a house on Sandwich Bay Estate? The estate's residential roads close to visitors from 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise. Check with your host or the estate how a car reaches the house at that hour, and pass the instructions on with the booking.

North Terminal or South Terminal

Gatwick has two terminals, North and South. Your airline booking or app tells you which one you need; give it when you book so the driver goes to the right building. If plans change on the day, a free shuttle links the two around the clock, every few minutes, and the ride takes about two minutes.

Both terminals have drop-off zones outside, and Gatwick charges every vehicle that uses them, with payment due by midnight the following day. Like any parking fee or toll that a journey runs into, a charge of this kind can be added to the fare where it applies.

Flying home: the Gatwick pickup for Sandwich, Kent

For the return leg, give us the flight number. The flight is tracked, so if it lands early or late the driver adjusts, and a delay outside your control costs nothing extra. Free waiting is counted from the actual landing: 45 minutes after an international flight, 30 after a domestic one.

Your driver meets you in the arrivals area holding a board with your name, helps with the trolley and walks you out. Gatwick asks drivers collecting passengers to use its Short Stay car parks, Car Park 6 at the North Terminal and Car Park 3 at the South, so the car waits a short walk away rather than at the kerb.

From there it is the same roads in reverse, ending at your door in town, a house on the Bay, or the clubhouse or hotel you named.

Golf trips through Gatwick

For visitors bound for Royal St George's or Prince's, Gatwick is one of the closer gateways: Prince's own travel page puts the club 79 miles from the airport. An afternoon landing leaves time to settle in before a morning tee time.

Clubs travel in long cases or soft bags that need more boot length than a suitcase. List every golf bag and every case separately when you book. An estate takes three to four large cases and an MPV seats six with four or more, and for a group with plenty of kit two cars can be the better answer.

Staying at The Lodge at Prince's or at The Bell Hotel on the Quay? Give the hotel as the drop-off and you are taken to the door.

What to have ready when you book

Booking takes a few minutes online, by phone on 01843 247247, on WhatsApp or by email. Online payment accepts cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Klarna and Revolut, and the code ExpressTravelKent takes 10% off. Have these to hand:

• The pickup address, with the house name if you are on Sandwich Bay Estate
• Terminal and flight number, for the outbound and the return
• How many passengers, large cases and golf bags are travelling
• Child seats, if needed: they are provided on request
• A mobile number the driver can reach when you land

What the fixed fare covers, and what it does not

The fare is set for the car before you book and does not move for traffic, roadworks, a diversion or an unsocial hour. Extras arise only if the journey itself changes: waiting past the free time, an extra stop, a big change of route requested on the way, or parking fees and tolls that apply to the trip.

Cancel more than 24 hours before the pickup and it costs nothing. Between 6 and 24 hours, up to half the fare can be charged; under 6 hours, or once the car has been sent, the full fare may be due.