Gatwick Airport Parking

Please book with us at www.tudorrose.co.uk. The nearest and the oldest parking at Gatwick Airport.

Gatwick Hotels

Airport hotels become in the recent years a MUST.

With those early morning flights or late returns we look more and more at a place where we can lay our head down for a few hours before that flight in the morning or had a rest after that ‘red eye’ flight.

Hotel industry around airports had improved considerably over the years; bring more options to its clients.

From the room only for the business travellers - with a straight forward service to its more flexible and manageable services for families.

Needless to say that the packages for Airport Hotels are improved; given you the opportunity to tailor you’re booking to your needs.

Gatwick being the second busiest airport in UK it comes as no surprise the large number of Hotels and Guest Houses at Gatwick.

Nowadays an overnight accommodation with parking included- on a Gatwick Hotel- can be cheaper than the parking itself.

With the rainy fall and winter just around the corner (with the heavy snow of its last 3 years) an overnight stay in a Gatwick Hotel or Guest House sounds very tempting.

Driving all night to catch an early flight or to head back home do sounds dreadful, and if you have to face heavy rain or snow even more. The prospect of a warm, cosy room to spend the night wins us over.

If you are one of the many that is stuck on a early or late flight don’t dwell on choosing to stay overnight. In most of the case is cheaper than parking itself and a lot more convenient and comfortable.

Don’t get caught up in traffic or drive home after a long tiring flight. Be wise, have a look on Gatwick Hotels and choose the one that suits your needs, there is an array of hotels to choose from.

I personally, I’ll stay overnight in a hotel close to the airport, have my morning coffee relaxed, without worrying about the traffic or that I may miss my flight.

Looking for Gatwick Parking

Always on impasse when we want to book our airport parking, especially if you fly from Gatwick Airport.


Booking your Gatwick Parking can be very ‘trying’ for your nerves. If you don’t have friends or relatives to recommend you a reputable and reliable car park you’ve got to go through the tedious search online.

Not the search itself is what gets you but how do you chose the right Gatwick Parking ,the one that offers you the peace of mind that your car is safe and to be good value for money as well.

A lot of companies just flourished overnight at Gatwick. If you browse the internet for Gatwick Parking you get a lot of companies who offer you ‘the best deal’ then others.

A lot of them will enchant you with their well structured website, to the point content and REALY good prices. But in this day and age almost anyone could make a good website but what lies behind the ‘SO GOOD WEBSITE’ will make you wonder.

We tend to take at face value all that is said to us, either over the phone or online when we make a booking, but who checks all this car parks at Gatwick to assure you that they are true to their word?!


Airport Valet Parking Contractors Association will do that for you. AVPCA is an Association of valet parking contractors that have come together to protect their industry from the increasing number of rogue operators and bad practices.

In particular, the Association has been formed as a result of the increase in professional looking web sites, offering discounted services but regretfully lacking in solid investment into premises, insurance, staff training or have little call for Customer Relations.

Their aim - Protecting customers against rogue airport parking firms and bad practices in airport parking.


Planning Permission
To ensure that all their members have principal places of business that has the correct planning permissions for the operation of airport parking.

Arbitration Services
If a dispute does arise all the members have signed up to their arbitration and dispute resolution charter giving a complete peace of mind.

VAT Registered Businesses
Making sure that all members are correctly registered for VAT ensuring that you receive correct bills & invoices, assisting you in your accounting processes.

Land Line Telephone Number
It is a requirement that all members have registered telephone landlines. They don't accept those operators who only use mobile phones.

Registered Business Offices
As part of their due diligences to protect you, the customer, they check that all their members have registered offices at companies’ house and they visit those offices.

Up-To-Date Financial Accounts
To ensure you are not dealing with a "fly by night" firm all members are required to supply audited financial accounts showing they are solvent.

Certified Accountants
In addition to checking the solvency of their members they also check out their accountants to ensure that accounts are provided by reputable companies.


Criminal Records Bureau
To protect consumers AVPCA runs checks on all our members to ensure that they are in turn checking the CRB records of all of their staff.

Interaction With Local Police
In order to best protect our customers, their members interact with Local & Airport Police wherever possible. History shows that Rogue Traders cannot afford to embrace the Local Police and use the help and advice available to protect our customers.

Full Liability Insurance
In the event of an accident you need to know that all our members have the required amount of insurance cover. They run these checks an all their members for your peace of mind.

The truth about car parks at Gatwick Airport

The truth about Gatwick Car Parks

We all heard the horrible stories about Car parks that operate at Gatwick Airport. There are Car Parks at Gatwick that employ inexperienced drivers, park cars on industrial estates, supermarkets etc

Unfortunately - yes, there are such car parks that see the opportunity for an easy buck and go to great lengths for it.

All that I can say is don’t tarnish them all with the same brush.

There are a lot of factors to look for when you book your Gatwick Parking.

What is the first question we ask - Where is my car parked?

We all ask this question and more often then not we get ‘Our car park is minutes a way from the airport’.

How far ‘minutes a way’ is most of the cases? I tell you - a lot. Always check if the company that you park with has their CAR PARK location published; not the company address or head office.
And don’t believe the story that will not be safe if the car park location is published. Why will not be safe to be published you have to ask yourself. That could only mean that they don’t have an authorised car park, no security measures in place etc

Always check where your car will be parked.

Are your drivers insured to drive my car?

We know, by law YOU HAVE TO BE INSURED to drive a vehicle. Why ask about the drivers if the company should have the insurance?
For the …….duuuh reason which we all should think of it. The DRIVER is the one who will drive your car.

By law, a car park MUST have insurance for their drivers. The criteria’s for insurance on car parking companies are not far from what you know. They look on the company’s drivers age, mature drivers = experienced drivers, if they have points or other penalties, points = more likely your driver may take your car for a joyride, especially if you own a sport car etc

When you sum up all the factors, the insurance may go sky roof high if they employed the neighbour’s son that want some extra pocket money. Will they pay such a high insurance? very unlikely.

Ask with whom have the insurance, on reputable companies you’ll find it published on their web site.

Why you charge considerable less than other companies?

We are draw by the low price that some companies quote us. Here is a double sword, if you see a price that is way below the average cost for Gatwick Parking think twice before you book. It may be a special offer or introductory price on their service but always check with them before you book.

Very small prices are questionable in the Gatwick Parking industry, and for Airport parking in general. To afford to pay the rent for your car park space, add the taxes, the insurance and all other expenses, when you draw the line and do the math you’ll see for yourself that £20.00 - £30.00 for one week parking doesn’t cover the cost for an authorised car park at any airport.

But as I said, not all are the same. You’ll find authorised car parks off site Gatwick Airport, which have all the measures in place.

Take Tudor Rose Valet Parking for example (or meet and greet – as many of you refer to as). You can see where their car park is, you can visit their car park any time. Just take the postcode and go on Google Earth, you’ll find it there exactly as described.

Their drivers are uniformed and all mature; confident and experienced with all type of cars. Insured and cheeked by the police. Members of AVPCA, an organisation which collaborates with Gatwick Police and Gatwick Airport to ensure that companies such as the ones we hear about are sanctioned or closed and stopped to give Gatwick Parking such a bad name.

Check, check and double check again the car parks you want to book your Gatwick Parking.

Mobile Gadgets – bless or a curse?

We leave in a day and age where we rely more and more on technology, even for the smallest task or chore. With so many companies, on all service sectors creating a web site or an application designated for smartphones or tablets is no wonder we became dependent on our gadgets.

Whether we are on a train, car or just down in the park with our kids we all carry our phones or Ipads. We tweet, check our friends on facebook or just to find the nearest ‘Italian restaurant’, our best friend gadget is there to help.

Annoying as it may be, we do sometimes (some more often then others) leave things to the last minute.

And no exception makes your airport parking. We are so excited with the prospect of getting away from the miserable weather or the stressful job, that where we will park our car comes last on the list - if is not forgotten altogether.

To park at the airport car parks is one of the alternatives. But even if you are lucky to find a place – especially in the summer, the cost for a meet and greet service or valet parking is astronomical, whether you’re talking about Heathrow, Gatwick or Manchester is the same.

The alternatives are the car parks around the airport that offer the meet and greet / valet parking service. But if you’re already on the way to the airport and not familiar with the airport parking companies - what do you do, how you can find a reputable company that can book you at short notice?

What many of us will do, pick up our phone and google - Airport Parking.

With this in mind, Tudor Rose Valet Parking at Gatwick Airport created a mobile web site.
Not only to help you book your Gatwick Parking on short notice but enabling you to navigate through the web site pages easily. In just one click you can call their office to make your booking or you can follow their step by step directions for Gatwick Airport Terminals or Tudor Rose Car Park site.

If you had booked your car with Tudor Rose Airport Parking but you forgot to print off the paper with instructions on what to do; No need to worry or panic, with just one ‘tap’ you can access the Terminal or Car Park Directions and go through the procedure.

No fiddling with papers while you’re driving, no need to dig out in your bag for pen and paper to write down instructions.

The driver’s mobile number is easy to access, just tap on the number and you’ll be put through straight away.

A mobile web site from a Gatwick Parking company is more then welcome and comes very handy for all its travellers.

Gatwick Parking - Truth or dare!

The new ownership of Gatwick Airport came as a breath of fresh air for the airport development.

They brought new airlines and encourage the already establish airlines to come with new routes and extending the already vast list for tourist or business destinations.

If you didn’t travel from Gatwick in the last couple of years, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the new arrangements Gatwick set for its travellers.

But all came with a price that ain’t cheap by any means. It’s understandable, as any business when you invest you expect a turner over on your investment.

This can easily be seen on the official Gatwick Airport Parking. Only yesterday I read an article that a week parking at Gatwick North Terminal came at the ‘bargain’ price of £154.00.

‘Rip-off’ they shouted, and so would I if they quote me that price. It’s nearly the same cost as my flight if not more.

We all look at Gatwick airport official car parks first when we want to book. The stories that you hear about the off-site car parks at Gatwick send chills down your spine.

What I can say is – DON'T TARNISH THEM ALL WITH THE SAME BRUSH.

I browsed the internet to see what off-site Car Parks are at Gatwick Airport and what they can offer.
I looked over forums for travellers that used Gatwick Parking and see what they‘ve experienced.

There are companies that park cars on residential streets near Gatwick airport or on the near by cities such as Horley, Crawley, even Horsham (which is over 10 miles from Gatwick Airport).
Read in forums that people got letters from Tesco or Sainsbury to tell them they’ve had their car parked over the 3 hours limit , when their cars should’ve been parked in ‘a secure car park’ .
People praised just two or three car parks that were off-site Gatwick airport, but only one of them caught my eye. And that was Tudor Rose Airport Parking.

They offer Valet parking / Meet and Greet Parking at Gatwick Airport.
Their web site is fairly easy to browse through. They offer a very straight forward service. You can see transparency on to their products and offers; no hidden extras nor unpleasant surprises.
You can see where your car will be parked; photos of their car park are published on their web site. Their drivers are uniformed and have a photo ID; they even published with whom their drivers are insured.

It’s easy to see why people praised them and why they are in business for the last 20 years.

So if you fly from Gatwick don’t be put off by the stories of off-site car parks that go around.

There are good, reputable companies at Gatwick that can offer you a secure, reliable and prompt service at a reasonable price.

Hotels Gatwick

What is the right price for comfort?


We leave in a day and age where we look more and more at the price when we want to buy something, whether is a service or goods; and more often than not we have to compromise on quality, safety or comfort.

No exception is Gatwick Hotels, but is not always the case.

When they say ‘Even the big hotels don’t want empty rooms’, they could not be more right. If you call direct any big hotels at Gatwick, such as Hilton, Sofitel or Marriott you’ll be surprised to see that they are ready to offer up to 15% off from the web price if you book with them – usually you’ll get the ‘ if you book now we can offer you for ……’ .

Are other known hotels chains around Gatwick i.e Holiday Inn, Best Western etc. They offer pretty good deals too where you don’t need to compromise on comfort.

Where is the parking you’ll ask?

It’s a common knowledge now; the price that you pay for Parking at Gatwick is sometimes more expensive than hotel and parking packages.

If you get your hotel room at Gatwick for a decent price, you can book your parking with a reputable Meet and Greet company, for example Tudor Rose where they can cut you deal on parking that can beat or match any other offers you may find on the Travel Agents’ websites.

And you will not need to compromise on quality, safety or comfort.

Over 20 years of experience tells you they know what they are doing, 24/7 CCTV on site reassures you onto your car safety and to be met at the Hotel forecourt by their uniformed driver and have your car delivered at the Terminal on return is more than you could ask for.

They have their own Guest House too, for £79.00 you can get an overnight accommodation with parking for a week and the transfers are free of charge 24/7.

Comfortable beds, clean rooms, beautiful gardens where you or your children can have a stroll and a nice pub within walking distance from them.

Quality service – and you don’t need to rob the bank, secure car park - your car is safe while you’re away and comfortable rooms with all that you need.

Hotels Gatwick

What Do You Look For?


I’m finally heading on vacation tonight, on a trip I’ve been looking forward to for months! Like many Britons, I’ve got limited time off from work, so it probably won’t surprise you that I’m on evening flights after putting in a full day of work at the office. What does that mean? A late night arrival…

Getting in late at night isn’t all that much fun, especially once you factor in the time to wait for a shuttle and any paperwork that might wait for me at the check-in desks, so we’ve booked a night at an airport hotel instead of trying to drive to our actual intended destination, Gatwick Airport.

When I think of hotels at Gatwick, I think of a place where you lay your head down for a few hours, either after a late night arrival like mine, or the night before that painful 6am flight. The only amenities I need for a stay like this are a clean room, a comfortable bed, and a (mostly) quiet stay.

It appears that other people want more from their airport stay, though. Now, these hotels are offering way more than just a bed to sleep on: you’ll find pools, spas, restaurants, gyms. That’s more than some of the “regular” hotels I stay at…

Gatwick Airport hotels fit perfectly into the niche I need them for, a convenient place to grab some shut-eye at a low price. If I had more time to enjoy the airport hotel’s amenities, I’d probably still use that extra time out and about rather than on-site at a hotel. Maybe I don’t need these features, but apparently a lot of travellers do.

When do you use Gatwick hotels? Do you look for anything in particular or are you also just looking for a place to crash?


Once was a time when the prospects of a stay at an airport hotel sent shivers down the spines of even the most-seasoned travellers: pokey rooms, planes roaring overhead like they were about to come through the walls, rattling windows at every take-off and landing, non-existent lounges or bars in which to escape, and restaurants whose offerings were best forgotten ...

No more. Today Gatwick hotels are up there with the best, including with social and recreational facilities, business centres, dining and bar offerings - and sound-proofing.

And the more so in value when you search out the bargains: the Hookwood Lodge Gatwick Airport Hotel, for example, currently has Autumn and Winter rates that begin from just £79.00 per room per night - stay 1 night with 1 wk parking and transfers included (prices based on pre-paid bookings).

As well, the hotel has a Day Rate for those perhaps arriving in Gatwick in the morning and not flying out again until the evening: £45.00 gets you a room up to 5pm.

Day Rates are a particular boon for long-distance travellers, with many overseas airports now having hotels right within their passenger terminals, so you can fly and then flop for a few hours without leaving the terminal.

So I guess is a matter of taste, need and value that you take in when you look for Hotels at Gatwick.

Hookwood Lodge Hotel

If you have tickets for any of the events at London Olympics but you're 'scared' of where London traffic and price hotels will lead you to….

No need to be.

There are solutions for you. Take Gatwick for example, only 20 minutes away from Central London -through Victoria Station, with Gatwick Express or 25 to 30 minutes with Southern.
An array of hotels around Gatwick, offers you that much needed place to stay overnight.

A good choice could be Hookwood Lodge Hotel.

Hookwood Lodge at Gatwick Airport is a large, elegant Victorian house recently refurbished with a friendly atmosphere, spotlessly clean, comfortable and great value for money and only a stone throw away from Airport.

Free and fast transfers to and from the Airport are provided.

If you will come with your car, there are plenty of spaces for parking on Hotel’s car park. No need to worry about parking at the Airport or drive to London and facing the congestion charges, that is if you get through the chaotic traffic first or ‘fight’ for a parking spot with the residences.

Be a sport, think and plan ahead of a ‘game’ and you’ll for sure get the gold.

20 years of Success.. Thank you all..!

We are so glad to say that we have completed 20 years of our business and we are so thankful to all our clients for making this successful. Please have a look on our new video of the parking service. We hope that you all having a very good day. :)

Gatwick Hotels with Parking

So holiday time is here again.

Time to relax, unwind and make the most of those days off from the world.


For too many people their well earned break gets off on the wrong foot. Their trip to the airport turns into a disaster. They get lost on route or leave something behind and have to turn around and go back for it.


Everyone has seen those people frantically dashing to catch a flight just before the gate closes. Sometimes they make it, sometimes they don't. Not a good start to a holiday!

It doesn't have to be that way. With a little preparation and organisation people can have a much better experience and make sure they catch their flight on time and get away for a nice relaxing trip. Rather than set off for a long drive to the terminal it makes sense to stay at airport hotels instead. After a good night's rest it's a just short hop over to check in and a nice easy get away.


Airport hotels are only a few minutes away from the main terminals.


The perfect place to stay before catching a flight; and why leave airport parking to the last minute either? By being organised and making arrangements up front people can avoid any last minute panics when there don't seem to be any spaces available.


Booking hotels and airport parking is easy. Take Hookwood Lodge for example, their easy to use website means people can book hotels and parking at Gatwick airport. In just a few clicks of a mouse they can have everything booked and sorted ready for a nice organised trip. Get off on the right foot this year. Get online and take care of everything up front. It'll make for a relaxing get away.

Car safety on Airport Car Parks

Your car is a huge investment. They enable you to socialise, commute to work and take your children to and from school. Having a car stolen can have an extremely detrimental effect on people’s lifestyles, and is very upsetting and stressful.

Second to your home, the chances are your car is the most expensive thing that you own. Even though cars are insured, the majority of car owners take every action possible to keep their vehicles safe. This includes parking them in safe, well lit areas in recognised parking spaces.

When you go away on holiday, the chances are that you’ll leave your car in a car park for its duration. When you leave your car for one or two weeks, you’ll want to make sure that it’s in a safe, secure and recognised car park. Here are some ways you can make sure that your airport car parking is safe:

Ask friends and family members for recommendations

One of the best ways of finding a good airport car park is to ask your friends and members of your family for any recommendations they may have. Ask them which car parks they have used in the past, and what experience they had with them. This will give you an indication of how safe the car park is, as well as the quality of other services the car park may offer.

Check travel forums

If you can ask any of your friends or family members for recommendations, consider asking questions on a travel forum. You will be able to read honest opinions and recommendations from people who have used the car parks you’re interested in using. This will enable to compare airport car parks and choose the best and safest options for you.

Airport parking is generally on- or off-site. While both offer provisions for the safety of your vehicle, each also has various benefits and drawbacks:

On-Site Parking

On-site parking is often seen as the safest option when leaving your car. These car parks are within the airport boundaries where they are constantly monitored by CCTV and security staff. However, on-site car parks can be very expensive.

Off-Site Parking

Cheap airport car parking is generally offered in off-site locations but, just because it’s less expensive, it doesn’t mean that they scrimp on security. Many of these car parks have the ‘Safer Parking Award’, showing you that they are extremely secure. Car parks with this award have been vetted by the police to make sure that there are measures in place to deter crime and anti-social behaviour and that both you and your vehicle will be safe in the facility. Companies are also assessed annually to make sure the standards of safety and security and being upheld.

Airport Car Park

Do you need it?

Even if you do it the right way, airport parking can be expensive. The longer you're away the pricier it gets, so quickly weigh up the alternatives. Aside from bribing a relative into dropping you off with promises of duty-free bounty, it's usually cheaper to:

Use non-specialist train services

Whilst dedicated 'Airport Express' train services are costly, the same lines are often also used by normal rail services, so you can travel the same route much more cheaply, though it's likely there will be extra stops.

Consider a pre-booked taxi

Local taxis can be a cheap option if you've heavy luggage. Don't rely on getting taxis at the airport for the return leg, as most airports give a monopoly to one firm, which bumps prices up as there's no competition.

Arrange with your local firm in advance to be collected, giving your flight number so it can vary pick-up time accordingly, and it's usually MUCH cheaper.

Get a coach

Dedicated airport coaches are often cheapest for getting to the airport, but there's a trade-off, since they usually take the longest.

Leaving your car at home can be costly

While alternative transport methods are cheaper, watch out if you usually park on the street using a residents' parking permit or equivalent. Outrageously, if the parking bay your car is in is suspended, councils don't usually accept the excuse that you were on holiday and didn't check.

An obvious alternative is to give a trusted neighbour a key so they can keep an eye out and move the car for you. It's worth considering the insurance position of this though. It's likely it'll be covered by your insurance's 'third party emergency' driver's cover, though it's debatable whether avoiding a parking fine is an emergency.

If not and they have fully comprehensive insurance then often, although not always, it includes what’s called driving other cars cover. This provides them with third party cover in case there's an accident.

Park in a council's special car park

Some councils operate special car parks where for around £5-£10 a day you can leave your car when you're on holiday to guarantee no fine. This is an ill-disguised money-making scheme that boosts council funds due to the fear of parking penalties, but it may be a necessary evil for some.

Best buys:

Cheap airport parking

For some, airport parking works out as an economical and hassle-free route, yet without a little prior thought you can end up paying substantially over the odds. There's a simple rule:

The earlier you book your airport parking, the more you're likely to save

Book well in advance and you could cut the cost by up to 50%, though the exact saving depends on the time of the year. However, even if you've forgotten do to this:

Don't just turn up at the airport - booking first, even on the day of your flight, can save you money.

The most expensive prices are almost always for those people who just drive in, park and pay. If you get on the web and pre-book first, even if it's just before you head out (or your partner does it from a smart phone in the car) you'll usually save.

Step 1: Use car parking compare websites

The easiest way to find cheap parking is by using one of the special car parking comparison websites, that search the web to find you the best deals. There are a number of these, but most of them tend to turn up similar results. However, due to commercial relationships some share with certain parking operators, it's possible to shave a few percent of the cost here and there.

Step 2: Check hotel-with-parking deals

Many airport hotels offer room packages that include parking for the length of your trip. This is great if you live a long way from the airport, or have a super-early flight. Better still, they often only cost a little more than the parking alone and occasionally have even been cheaper in the past - so you could view this as parking with a hotel room thrown in.

Do check how transfers to the terminal are arranged; while many hotels offer a 24-hour complimentary service, some charge separately for the journey. It's also worth looking at the more general Cheap Hotel Deals guide to see if you can beat the price.

DIAMOND JUBILEE

If you’re in Surrey area for the Diamond Jubilee you don’t want to miss the royal weekend in Surrey for the Jubilee with visits by the Queen on June 4.

The Queen on a visit to East Surrey College in Redhill

The Derby dates back to 1780 and is ranked the greatest flat race in the world. The tickets are sold out for the Queen’s Stand and Grandstand on June 2 but are still available for Tattenham and Lonsdale Enclosures.

Meanwhile, Swingbridge 2, a 30 foot broad beam tug, owned by the Surrey Care Trust is joining the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant on June 3.

And across Surrey beacons will be lit on June 4 with the Queen lighting the last one in London at 10.30pm on June 4.

It is only the second time in history that a British monarch has achieved 60 years on the throne – the last being Queen Victoria in 1897.

Celebrations in Godalming include a visit from one of the Queen's sons. Celebrations kick off on Saturday (June 2) from midday to 5pm with the Godalming Round Table's Town Show in The Burys Field with the carnival parade departing Summer's Road in Farncombe at 1pm to arrive at The Burys at 2pm. Sunday follows with a Jubilee Celebration Family Service at St Peter and St Paul Parish Church at 10am with a picnic in the park and bandstand concerts in Phillips Memorial Park from noon to 5pm with songs of praise from the bandstand 530pm to 7pm. Godalming Parish Church welcomes in June 4 with a Jubilee Festival bell ring at 10am with Sports for All at The Burys Field from 10.30am to 4pm. The Earl and Countess of Wessex pay a visit to this event too. Monday also sees the Godalming Jubilee 10k and 5k run starting and finishing at The Pepperpot on the High Street, while at Phillips Memorial Park there’s Jubilee Music in the Park from 530pm to 10.30pm. The Lions Club Torchlit Procession starts at 9.15pm with The Surrey Battalion of the Army Cadet Force leading the parade through Godalming to the Phillips Memorial Park. Finally on Tuesday from 2.30pm to 5.30pm there’s Classics in the Park at Phillips Memorial Park.

Surrey County Show takes place this year on Monday (June 4) and usually attracts up to 40,000 visitors. It features hundreds of top-quality animals from giant beef bulls to bantam hens and is organised by Surrey County Agricultural Society. The Earl and Countess of Wessex will also be visiting. Other features at the Stoke Park event include The Wild West Show – The Devils Horsemen – famous for their film and TV work such as War Horse, the Royal Bodyguard and Merlin; Bold Dog Lings Stunt Bikes, The Diamond Jubilee Pony Club Musical Ride, the 1066 Band of Pipes and Drums plus the Great British Barbeque Challenge when contestants have 45 minutes in which to create a dish from mystery ingredients on a gas BBQ. Tickets are cheaper in advance but the on the gate price is £16 adults, £12 senior citizens, £6 children five to 16, under fives free. Families of 2 adults and 2 children will pay £38.00.

Charity Loveworks.org is organising the Jubilation street party in Reigate’s Priory Park on Sunday (June 3). The event is billed as the biggest street party in town; Loveworks says they will be painted Reigate red, white and blue. Events during the day include a community concert, retro-style sports day, games stalls, a fun fair and live broadcasting of the Thames River Pageant.

Farnham Town Council is celebrating the Diamond Jubilee by organising a Jubilee Picnic in Gostrey Meadow on June 3 from 12pm to 5pm. Organisers are putting on a showcase of local bands covering British music from the past 60 years, with everything from Abba and The Beatles to Take That and Coldplay.

Enjoy a 1950-style celebration with a 15-piece band Perfidia at Denbies Vineyard in Dorking. A sparkling reception with canapés, three course dinner and Denbies award-winning wine is promised by the organisers for Sunday night.

A host of activities are planned in Cranleigh including a Big Lunch at Snoxhall Fields following a civic service at St Nicholas Church on June 3. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own picnic but bar and refreshments will be available in the Pavilion. Informal games are being organised by the Rotary Club of Cranleigh.

The Brockham Harness Club is organising a carriage drive through and around Dorking on Monday. Club members will be meeting at Denbies Vineyard on the A24 just outside Dorking at 11am with the parade leaving at 12 noon lead by Georgina Hunt driving the Royal Logistics Corps Park Drag with her team of black Dutch horses accompanied by the Lord Lieutenant of Surrey. Entries in two categories have been invited – Sunday Best and Patriotic.

Organisers of celebrations in Haslemere have written to all the embassies of the Commonwealth requesting a flag to fly on the streets along with red, white and blue bunting on Monday. A carnival procession will snake its way through the town to a giant tea party on Lion Green. It will assemble in High Lane at 1pm before setting off at 2pm. A musical programme will run from 12 noon to 9pm featuring music across the decades with the Upbeat Beatles topping the bill.

Across the county borders in Kingston, a vintage 1950s British garden party is being held at Hampton Court Palace, which was associated with monarchs for centuries. Visitors are invited to 'pack the strawberries and scones and pop the fizz' to celebrate the 60-year reign of the Queen. Expect long tables, Union Jacks and bunting in the East Front Gardens and free entertainment throughout the day including a brass band performing classic 1950s hits, Sooty and Sweep show retro village fete games, fancy dress and retro picnic boxes to buy. It’s free entry to the palace gardens throughout the day, while the palace and maze will be open as usual and normal ticket prices apply.

RHS Wisley is holding a Best of British garden party on June 9 and 10. There’s a host of activities from vintage tractor displays to Punch and Judy or perhaps a game of croquet on the manicured lawns. There will be free ballroom dancing lessons, or visitors can sit in a deckchair and listen to a traditional brass band. Vintage afternoon tea will be on offer including scones, cakes, finger sandwiches and pots of tea all served on authentic vintage crockery with staff in 950s costumes. 

OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY

Torch Relay in West Sussex

The Olympic Torch will enter West Sussex on Monday 16 July and pass through 16 communities before it leaves the county the following day.

Visit the West Sussex Ahead of the Game website to find out the route of the Torchbearer. Further information is also available from your local district or borough council.

You can follow West Sussex - Ahead of the Game on Twitter @AOTG2012 to stay up to date with the latest news as the Olympic Torch Relay passes through West Sussex.

When are the games taking place?

The 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be held in London this summer:

The Olympic Games will be held from 27 July to 12 August 2012.

The Paralympic Games will be held from 29 August to 9 September 2012.

Gatwick Eco Parking

Eco - Parking the future for Gatwick Airport

Eco Parking should be car parking operations in which businesses cooperate with each other and with the local community in an attempt to reduce waste and pollution, efficiently share resources (such as information, materials, water, energy, infrastructure, and natural resources), and help achieve sustainable development, with the intention of increasing economic gains and improving environmental quality. An Eco Parking may also be planned, designed, and built in such a way that it makes it easier for businesses to co-operate, and that results in a more financially sound and environmentally friendly.

Few valet parking companies at Gatwick Airport give a second thought to the enviroment and how their business operation effects it.

Companies like Gatwick Eco Parking , do take this serios and act. All their vehicles are new and with a lower carbo-emission. Their intention to purchase electric vehicles in the next 2 years is aplaudable. Considering their base is only 2 - 3 minutes from both terminals at Gatwick Airport , runing off power is not an issue. Furthermore they use organic products on all their office supplies purchases , as for the recycling for them comes without saying.

The affiliate hotel with whom they colaborate , Hookwood Lodge is designed and operated so the carbon emission is limited. For instance, their electrical system is designed to save energy. If they were to switch all lights, lamps etc., on, would not exceed 300 watts at any given time. Add to that the hot water and heating systems based on energy efficient boilers and you can see they are making a conservative effort to reduce their carbon footprint.

Gatwick Eco Parking's investement on trees and plants on their parkland, shows their thoughts and consideration for environment. We all know the importance of the trees contribution on the environment by providing oxygen, improving air quality, climate amelioration, conserving water, preserving soil, and supporting wildlife.

Is a known fact for majority of us ,that during the process of photosynthesis, trees take in carbon dioxide and produce the oxygen we breathe.

Your car's environmental performance depends on the way you drive and how often you drive as well as the fuel efficiency of the engine. Vehicles are responsible for much of the total carbo emissions, and being responsible about how and when you use your car is not only better for the environment, it'll also increase your fuel economy.

Each time you start your car, the cold engine uses more fuel for the couple of minutes it takes to warm up, meaning an increase in fuel consumption. Avoid this by planning your travel--for example, combine shopping trips with taking the children to school or pocking them up.

While you're doing that, why not help out a friend and help the environment at the same time? Car sharing is a good way of reducing fuel use too.

Keep the revs at optimum levels by switching to higher gears as soon as possible, ideally before the revs get to 2,500 rpm.

Keeping your distance from vehicles in front of you is not only safer, it'll help you avoid having to accelerate and brake often.

Avoid driving at peak traffic hours whenever possible to reduce the time you spend idling at traffic lights.

Stick to slower speeds to keep the engine efficient--60km is the most efficient speed for city driving.

Even open windows can make your car less aerodynamic and reduce fuel economy.

Keeping your car well-maintained is also important to keep it operating with maximum fuel economy. Have your car serviced regularly, particularly if you drive an older car--the most inefficient cars tend to be older models.Under-inflated tyres or poorly-aligned wheels increase fuel consumption, and make the car unsafe to drive as well.

Depending on the age and model of your car, bio-fuels may be an alternative to petrol.

Gatwick Parking

Good day to all.

I would like to introduce myself. My name is Gatwick Parking and I’m an OK sort of guy. I get along with most people because I’m fairly laid back and there isn’t too many people telling me what to do. It would appear I’m allowed to do what I like and for the most part I get away with doing what I like in spite of the odd bit of criticism here and there.

I work hard at what I do to provide over 40,000 car parking spaces at Gatwick Airport. During the summer when most people take their holidays I get very busy and most of the spaces are taken up but during the winter things are quieter and I’m able to take a rest. Gatwick is a very busy airport and most people flying out on their annual holiday like to drive to the airport because it is so much more convenient than taking public transport. It’s not easy to have to cart suitcases on trains or buses and even more difficult keeping an eye on the kids as well.

Most of my parking spaces are on the airport with about 20% off-airport. My on airport spaces are easy to find whether it is North or South Terminal. You can take up one of these spaces at any time but you will pay a higher premium called a ‘gate price’. Much better to book in advance, pay a lower price and receive a voucher. You can get these vouchers from any online agent by paying with your credit or debit card. Just arrive at the car park, present your voucher and go find a parking space. There are collection points around the car park so once you have unloaded your luggage, arranged your children, you can then march to the collection point and wait for the bus if it is not already there. You should always make a note of the car park zone as you can easily lose your car in such vast open spaces. The buses run every 5/10 minutes but after allowing time for some waiting and loading /unloading you should allow 20/30 minutes to get to the terminal. You should also allow for the same amount of time on your return as the bus is not always waiting for you. These short trips to the terminals were often called ‘shuttles’.

Off-airport parking is quite popular because it is a lot cheaper. These parking spaces are dotted around the countryside away from the airport so it takes longer to check in your car and get to the airport. The check in procedure is fairly easy as your car is parked for you and you can proceed to the bus stop. You should allow up to 45 minutes from arrival to get to the airport and the same on your return journey.

About 25/30 years ago Gatwick Airport began to offer some of my parking spaces called ‘Valet Parking’. This parking method was designed to eliminate the time taken up by ‘shuttles’. You drove directly to a small parking area at the terminal, checked your car in and then walked straight in to the terminal. Your car was then taken away from the terminal, stored for the period and brought back ready for your return from holiday. This proved very popular but only for those that could afford it. The price was twice that of on-airport parking or even more!

Due to its popularity it wasn’t long before more of my parking spaces were offered as ‘Valet Parking’ by off-airport operators. In fact it became so popular that my spaces were being offered under all sorts of different names. Meet and Greet Parking, Chauffeur Parking, Personal Parking, VIP parking is some of the new names given to Valet Parking. These services and parking spaces were offered at a cheaper rate than the original and very often the rates were competitive with the on-airport ‘park and ride’ prices.

When my Gatwick Parking spaces are sold it is with the Customers full knowledge of location, security and safety for the vehicle for which that parking space is taken. After all, the vehicle is not my property but I am contracted to look after it properly and I have to ensure that everything is in place to do so. It is important the Customers knows where his vehicle will be stored and that the location has the full back up of security and safety that is expected by the vehicle owner, the car park owner and the relevant insurers under the terms of the contract.

If the Customers wants to enjoy the benefits of Valet Parking he/she wants to know where his property will go after passing it over to the operative at the airport terminal. This is what makes my work so hard at times as it is difficult to watch over all my spaces when the season gets busy. New spaces are being created constantly and I have no idea where they are as the web sites do not display the location. How am I expected to ensure the safety of Customers vehicles if all I am told is ‘Your car will be stored in a secure compound close to the airport’? It could be stored anywhere, public roads, parks, country lanes – anywhere.

This is the criticism I get and I get it all the time. I know there are some good guys out there like those chaps that have set up the Airport Valet Parking Contractors Association (AVPCA) to protect the public from rogue operators. With no official regulation it seems that anyone can set up a valet parking web site with empty promises and make a good living out of it. That is – until something goes wrong and then we are all left with ‘why wasn’t something done about it’!

I want you to know I’m doing my bit and will leave you with a few pointers to ensure your car is returned to you in exactly the same condition as you left it. I’m proud of who I am and I just wanted you to know there is a dark side of me developing that is beyond my control.

Gatwick airport parking

Did you know that Manchester Airport …..?

Few know that Manchester Airport formerly often called Ringway, is a major airport at Ringway in the City of Manchester within Greater Manchester. In 2011 it was third busiest airport in the United Kingdom in terms of passenger numbers, and the 23rd busiest airport in Europe.

A small part of the airport extends into Cheshire East. The terminals are south of Manchester city centre.It officially opened on 25 June 1938,and was initially known as Ringway Airport. During World War II it was called RAF Ringway, and from 1975 until 1986 it was called Manchester International Airport.

The airport has two parallel runways, three terminals, a goods terminal, and a ground transport interchange, including a railway station and is one of only 17 airports in the world with the highest 'Category 10' rating enabling the airport to handle larger 'Code F' aircraft, meaning from September 2010 the airport could handle the world's largest passenger plane, the Airbus A380. Historically the airport has also regularly handled Concordes.

Unlike with Heathrow and Gatwick, the rural settlement of Ringway that the airport was originally named after, still exists, as a few buildings around a church at the south edge of the airport.

Manchester also offers more destinations than some of the biggest airports in the US, including New York, Chicago and Dallas, although it is still slightly behind the three biggest 'hubs' in the global aviation network – Atlanta, Frankfurt am Main and Amsterdam – which each offer more than 250 destinations. However, Manchester serves more foreign destinations than Atlanta and Frankfurt (but not Amsterdam), although being much smaller in terms of total passengers handled.

Terminal 2 is due to receive a major extension, to encompass current remote stands to the west. A satellite terminal is also projected for Terminal 2. Between twelve and fifteen covered aircraft stands will be made available by this. An air side link for transferring passengers between Terminals 1 and 2 is at the planning stage, designed in an effort to boost Manchester's chances of becoming a major hub airport and minimize missed connections.

Despite public concerns about privacy and health risks, Manchester airport has introduced full-body X-ray scanners in all terminals. Under Department for Transport regulations these scans are now compulsory for all passengers who are selected to undergo the scan. Passengers who object to the scans will not be allowed to fly.

Manchester Airport has had public viewing areas since the airport opened to the public in 1938. The 1960/1970s pier-top viewing facilities have been closed because of security concerns. In 1992, an official "Aviation Viewing Park" (AVP) was created just off the A538 road on the south-western side of the airfield.

This attraction now draws around 250,000 visitors a year and is one of the North-West of England's top 10 attractions.

Information about Heathrow Airport

The most anticipated sport event of 2012 is closing in. With just few months away everyone starts to prepare for this event.

Heathrow Airport will be the first and last impression of the London 2012 Games for millions of visitors.

A massive task for Heathrow Airport, they will not only have to control the passenger’s traffic flaw but to keep them safe as well.

Heathrow Airport designed a special Games Terminal for athletes departing from the Olympic Games.

The Games Terminal will be the departure point for 10,100 athletes and, along with bag collection from the Olympic and Paralympic Village, will help the airport to manage the huge increase in departing bags and passengers anticipated on the day after the closing ceremony. 13 August 2012 is expected to be the busiest day in the airport’s history, and Heathrow is forecasting 35 per cent more departing bags than on a normal day.

 Another challenge for Heathrow Airport will to disembarking a large number of passengers with reduced mobility from aircraft, where a  45 per cent increase from the usual arriving passengers on 26 July(the day before the Opening Ceremony) is expected.

Well they knew is coming and they’ve prepared for is, because Heathrow’s plans include:

• Offering check-in and baggage collection at the Olympic and Paralympic Village;
• Building extra lifts to reunite Paralympians with their wheelchairs on arrival;
• Recruiting and training 1,000 volunteers to meet and greet passengers arriving for the Games and assisting all passengers on their journey;
• Construction of a dedicated Games Terminal for athletes departing after the Olympic Games;
• Making multilingual staff available for arriving and departing passengers;
• Providing media facilities where journalists can file stories.

Heathrows’ 1,000 recruit Team volunteers will help with the special events over the next few months, including London 2012 and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

In return they could be greeting athletes and VIPs, helping spectators find their way and managing fans waiting for a peek of their heroes.

There will be dedicated lanes provided by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) for all accredited Games Family members, athletes, coaches,officials, accredited media and other individuals.

UKBA will offer a flexible solution that will allow it to ‘switch’ Games passenger lanes on and off as required to ensure the balance of desks provided to business as usual and Games guests meet passenger needs. UKBA is also creating a pool of volunteers to work at Heathrow to ensure an efficient border

control process during the peak arrivals period.When all passengers arrive at the border they should ensure they have all documents ready to present to a border officer. There will be signs in the arrival hall which will direct passengers to the appropriate passport desk.

More direct passengers and fewer transfers will put extra pressure on departure security search areas. To ensure there are no additional delays at security in the main terminals the security lanes will be designed to process as many passengers as early as possible to prevent queue build up. Options such us opening the lanes earlier and close them later than planned are takne into consideration.

At peak times all security lanes will be open. The Paralympic Games will affect the main terminal security screening operations as it generally takes longer to process wheelchair users and other passengers with reduced mobility (PRM). Therefore more lanes will be modified to accept PRMs; they consider that  the most effective way is of staffing the areas to help cope with this additional demand.

Airport Information Heathrow

Heathrow Airport, without a doubt is one of the busiest airports in the world.

We set here bits and pieces of Information about Heathrow Airport.

Heathrow Airport is the primary hub of BMI and British Airways, and is a base for Virgin Atlantic Airways.

Heathrow Airport handels almost 67 million annual passengers,the busiest single destination in terms of passenger numbers is New York, with over 3.7 million passengers travelling between Heathrow and JFK / Newark airports.

The airport has five passenger terminals (Terminals 1, 3, 4 and 5) and a cargo terminal , but only four of them are operational for the momemnt as Terminal 2 is closed. The new Terminal 2 is set for reopening on 2014.

Heathrow history is fascinating and it’s design just as much. ,in the 1950s, Heathrow had six runways, arranged in three pairs at different angles in the shape of a hexagram with the permanent passenger terminal in the centre and the older terminal along the north edge of the field, and two of its runways would always be within 30° of the wind direction. As the required length for runways has grown, Heathrow now has just two parallel runways running east–west.

Policing  the airport is not an easy task and responsible to protect  is the aviation security unit of the Metropolitan Police, although the army, including armoured vehicles of the Household Cavalry, has occasionally been deployed at the airport during periods of heightened security. You’ll have the opportunity to see them during the London Olympics 2012 , when security officers will doubled in numbers.

Full body scanners are now used at the airport and passengers who object to their use are not allowed to fly.

Along with the arrays of shops and restaurants, from your daily Costa to the world-known Gordon’s restaurant , from Boots to Ralph Lauren ,Heathrow Airport has Anglican, Catholic, Free Church of Scotland, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh chaplains.

There is a multi-faith prayer room and counselling room in each terminal in addition to St. George's Interdenominational Chapel located in an underground bunker adjacent to the old control tower, where Christian services take place.

Also Heathrow airport has its own resident press corps, consisting of six photographers and one TV crew, serving all the major newspapers and television stations around the world.

Airbridges at Terminal 5Aircraft destined for Heathrow usually enter its airspace via one of four main reporting points: Bovingdon (BNN) over Hertfordshire, Lambourne (LAM) over Essex, Biggin Hill (BIG) over Bromley and Ockham (OCK) over Surrey.

When the airport is busy, aircraft orbit in the associated hold patterns.

Air traffic controllers at Heathrow Approach Control (based in Swanwick, Hampshire) then guide the aircraft to their final approach, merging aircraft from the four holds into a single stream of traffic, sometimes as close as 2.5 nautical miles (4.6 km; 2.9 mi) apart. Considerable use is made of continuous descent approach techniques to minimise the environmental effects of incoming aircraft, particularly at night. Once an aircraft is established on its final approach, control is handed over to Heathrow Tower.

The centralised waiting area is in Terminal 3 because aircraft generate significantly more noise on departure than when landing, there is a preference for westerly operations during daylight. In this mode, aircraft depart towards the west and approach from the east over London, thereby minimising the impact of noise on the most densely populated areas. Heathrow's two runways generally operate in segregated mode, whereby arriving aircraft are allocated to one runway and departing aircraft to the other. For example ,to further reduce noise nuisance to people beneath the approach and departure routes, the use of some runways is swapped at 15:00 each day if the wind is from the west. Occasionally, landings are allowed on the nominated departure runway, to help reduce airborne delays and to position landing aircraft closer to their terminal, thus reducing taxi times.

Gatwick Parking

For many people parking at Gatwick airport is an expensive extra which comes as a necessity rather than a choice.

If you are on a slim budget and looking around for value for money then off-airport Gatwick parking is the best option. The down side to park & ride off-airport car parks is that they have longer transfer times which once you arrive at the car park, can take up to an hour to get to the airport in a bus or coach. This is unnecessary travelling time and only adds to the general hassle of getting to your destination. In most cases you will pass your car keys over and the operator will park your car for you.

Gatwick Valet Parking or Gatwick  Meet and Greet Parking is not generally the ‘more expensive’ option of parking at Gatwick but without doubt  is the most convenient and quick way of getting to the check-in desk.

However, passing your valuable car over to someone else to be driven somewhere off-airport is not in everyone’s interest.

As much as every where you need to pay attention to the small print. Make sure that you know where you car will be parked, if drivers are insured to drive your car. basically what happens with your car.

If you source all the available information from the Gatwick Parking Suppliers and compile it you will come up with some surprising results which shows that you don’t have to pay a fortune to receive a quality service.

Gatwick Parking Services

Many people got them selves confused by the terms that Gatwick Parking Operations use. You don’t know which is which , what service you’ll gone get ,what service you pay for and why some are more expensive than others.

If you do a little bit of research you may found what all means but who’s got the time for that, you just want to book your car and be done with it.

 For all of you there, here’s the answer to your questions regarding the Gatwick parking services.

What is Gatwick 'Valet Parking' or Gatwick 'Meet and Greet Parking'?

You drive direct to the Airport Terminal at a pre-arranged time and the Valet Parking Company will take your car and store it in a fully secure facility for the duration of your holiday. On your return from Holiday your vehicle is delivered to you immediately outside the Terminal.

 What is Gatwick 'Park and Ride' parking?

You drive to the car park and you are transported to the Terminal in a bus or coach. This can take up to an hour with some car parks. The advantage of Gatwick Valet Parking over Park and Ride is clear.

What it’s Gatwick ‘on airport parking’ and Gatwick ‘off airport parking’?

On airport Gatwick parking:

Either run by the airport authority themselves or by an independent contractor. The car park is actually within the airport perimeter and shuttle busses run regularly between the airport terminal and the car park.

Off airport Gatwick parking:

       Usually run by independent contractors. Located outside of the Gatwick airport perimeter, you drive your vehicle to their designated meeting point, then either catch a shuttle bus to the terminal or get chauffeured there in your own vehicle.

Is Gatwick Valet Parking expensive?

Not necessarily. If you compare prices to that of Gatwick ‘On Airport Park and Ride' operations and you will see that in lots of cases Gatwick Valet Parking is cheaper.

Visitors UK

With all the search engines and endless search terms and key words it’s difficult to navigate the search engines let alone find exactly what you are looking for. Take UK tourism for example, a plethora of castles, palaces, historical buildings, grand gardens and places of interest to last you a life time of travelling round the UK. If you are new to the UK you want to get the most out of your visit and you want easy access to all the facilities that best suit you.

Accommodation from castles to camp sites, gardens from topiary to tropical and activities locations from climbing centres to great walking paths, we all have our own taste and our searches must be precise.

Sometimes we need to get things into perspective with a practical approach and the search engines don’t help. Search a specific key word and you will get endless bits of useless information along with the subject you are looking for. Oh yes, they are great when it comes to finding subject matter but it’s all random when trying to sort a travel itinerary or a personalised UK tour whatever the location.

Perhaps you want to discover a trail of Henry the 8^th and his six wives. The palaces, the homes of the Boleyn family, the Parr family and others, perhaps you are looking for the great gardens of England or the beautiful highlands of Scotland. You will need accommodation to suit your taste and budget and you will need to have an idea of locations. You will need travelling times and opening times in order to maximise the time spent once you are there and you will also need some background information for your visit.

Transportation, i.e., trains, buses, taxis or car hire to travel between destinations is a must and you have to find these things local to you.

Finding the best deals is one thing, co-ordinating everything into a relaxed time spent roaming medieval Britain is another.

There is one such web site however, that gives you all the information under one heading; www.visitorsuk.com. The copywriters there have trawled the net finding out all the best bits of information and their links and written them into a concise and uncluttered source of information.

Here you will find everything you need for your visit to this great country. It will leave you with an experience you will never forget and a yearning to learn more about our wonderful history.

WORKING HARDER TO MAKE TRAVEL EASIER

17^th January 2012.

Going on holiday is a great way to unwind from the thrills and spills of modern life. Many people travel abroad to get the relaxation they need. Gatwick Airport has over 42 million passengers a year and by far the majority of these are holiday makers.

There are many options available for getting to the airport. The easiest way is to get a relative or friend to drop you and collect you on your return. A taxi is the second option but here price has to be considered and compared to other options. Bus and rail are great and there are stations all over that will give you a link to the Airport. Public transport also help to reduce your carbon footprint compared to the motor car. However, if you have a family or heavy luggage, skis or other equipment, or if time is of the essence then clearly using your own car is the quickest option.

The majority of people use their own cars to get to the airport and it is not difficult to understand the reason why. It is your very own door to door service and subject to traffic conditions by far the most comfortable and efficient method.

Once you get to the Airport you have to put your valuable car somewhere that is safe and secure and you want it readily available for you on your return.

This is where I come in. I am Gatwick Car Parking and I am a service provider. I have looked at all the parking operations at Gatwick Airport and I want to make you aware of my company.

There are two types of parking.

1. Park and Ride. You drive to the car park and transfer your family and luggage onto a bus or coach. The operator will take your keys and park it for you. On your return from holiday you come out of the terminal, go to a pick up point and wait for the bus.

2. Meet and Greet or Valet Parking. You drive direct to the terminal. The parking company will meet and greet you, check in your vehicle and you are free to walk straight into the terminal. The parking company then takes your valuable car to a nearby compound.

It is not difficult to see which of the above two services is the better one!

Ah yes – you may say. But what happens to my car when I pass it over?

You are absolutely right in what you are thinking. You have heard some things about rogue parking operators in the press and on TV and you think ‘I don’t trust anyone’. I’ll stick to the ‘park & ride’, at least I know where my car is and I’ve been using park and ride for years. I’ll put up with the inconvenience of having to move my entire luggage onto a bus and the waiting time.

Well, I would like to tell you about our company. We’ve been at Gatwick Airport in the parking business for 20 years. June 1992 to be exact. Starting up a business then was hard but we had this idea of offering our Customers something special when it came to looking after their car and a quick route to check-in.

We took Valet Parking, which had already established itself in the USA as an expensive luxury and turned it into ‘Meet and Greet’. Critically however, we retained the luxury bit and got rid of the expensive label.

Over the years we have constantly worked on developing new ways of easing the headache of parking for our Customers in ensuring ‘peace of mind’ and confidence in our service.

We have literally invested all our profits in providing safe and secure facilities close to Gatwick. Company livery, uniforms, IDs and a Customer Care Policy that is second to none. We have continued to build our brand year on year to ensure we are always one step ahead of our competitors. We have retained those old family values but with a professional service.

We offer two types of parking service at Gatwick as shown above. The ‘park and ride’ and the ‘meet and greet’. The exception is that both services are unique to Gatwick. Both are designed around a one-to-one service so you are not waiting around for fellow passengers or buses.

Why not take a look for yourself and see the difference to other operators. I promise you – you will like what you see – and even better, you will see what you like.

• Gatwick Meet and Greet Parking

• Gatwick Park and Ride (Gatwick Car Parking)