Horley is a small town just outside Gatwick Airport in southeast England. Despite its proximity to the UK’s second-busiest airport, Horley has plenty of its own attractions, plus great transport links to London and the rest of the UK. It's a convenient and charismatic pre- or post-flight stopover spot where the best things to do include visiting the Gatwick Aviation Museum, swinging by a 14th-century pub, searching for the ruins of a 12th-century castle on the East Horley Circular Walk, and playing Footgolf.
The best time to visit Horley is in spring when the surrounding countryside fills with flowers such as bluebells, crocuses, and daffodils. However, most people visit Horley based on its convenient proximity to London Gatwick Airport, rather than the weather. This means UK school holidays and Christmas are two of the busiest times to visit Horley, so you’re best booking overnight accommodation well in advance.
Horley is a 30-minute walk from Gatwick, but you can also hop on the train and be there in two minutes. While you don’t need a car to get around the town center—and it’s considerably quicker to take the train to London or Brighton than it is to drive—local attractions such as Tulleys Farm and the British Wildlife Centre aren’t as easily accessible. Fortunately, there are plenty of taxis, rideshare services, and car rental spots nearby.
Horley itself is quaint and quirky, but if you’re there for longer than a day you might start to wonder what else there is to do. You can visit London and Brighton, but if you want to get a real taste of southeast England, visit some of the castles and historical houses within an hour of Horley. Highlights include the 14th-century Hever Castle; Chartwell, Winston Churchill’s former home; Wakehurst Place botanical gardens; and the Bluebell Railway.
