Gatwick Airport Hotels

I googled "hotels near gatwick aiport with shuttle". I got about 35 hits. I didn't look further, but you might try that. Yes, 3 hours is necessary. The security in the UK is really tight. You'll go through multiple checks. Keep your passport handy. Have a great trip. I just booked a trip to Ireland and Scotland, so we're thinking Europe again too.

The Premiere Inn is good. We stayed there in December when all flights out of Gatwick were cancelled due to snow and got a fabulous deal by booking on-line rather than going to the front desk and asking there!

There are 2 terminals at Gatwick connected by a free monorail that runs every couple of minutes. The Hilton is attached to South Terminal, the Sofitel the North Terminal. These are the two highest cost hotels around Gatwick, if money is no object then these are the most convenient. The Premier Inn Gatwick Central (there are 3 Premier Inn's around Gatwick) is walkable to the North Terminal and is a very good mid range hotel with rates about half that of the Hilton or Sofitel. In the rain you would probably get the hotel bus. In the South Terminal is the Yotel. This is probably the cheapest option but has evolved from Japanese style capsule hotels with minimal space etc. There is also a Marriott Courtyard in the south terminal complex but you can't walk to the terminal as far as I know from it. There are no free shuttles, most hotels charge about 4 GBP per person.
Cheapest global chain hotels with these buses are probably the Ibis Gatwick, Mercure Gatwick and Best Western Gatwick but rates are volatile. I suspect for most people the Premier Inn is the 'right' choice.

The Corner House Hotel in Horley which is 5 minutes from the airport is nice....http://www.thecornerhouse.co.uk/ They give free transportation to the airport.
There is a pub in walking distance.

When we've had early flights from Gatwick we've stayed at the nearby Gable End B&B Free transport to the airport and a short walk from Ye Olde Six Bells pub which is good for dinner.

I stayed in the Marriott Courtyard just after it was built in 2009 and, yes, you can walk to the S. terminal from there (10 minutes). If you have a lot of luggage there is also a regularly scheduled shuttle bus available. Rates start at £ 68 as compared to the Hilton which starts at about £ 120.

We usually stay at b&b's in Horley, most free transport to airport which is only 5 minutes away and agree with previous post try not to miss the six bells restaurant good food and I think several hundreds old and within walking distance from town

I had the same situation for a trip to the UK last year. We ended up staying at the Hilton. I was even able to get a AAA discount. All and all I was satisfied since we did not have to rush to the airport in the morning and the price included a good breakfast spread. We went through security 3 hours before the flight, since I did not want to risk being delayed or missing the flight. I will say the line for our airline (Virgin Atlantic) was very long, but it only took about 20 minutes to get through it. We sat in the courtyard area (waiting to be assigned a terminal) for quite awhile, but we spent some of the time shopping at the shoppes (including a little Harrods store).

Last time we were there, we stayed at the Arora Hotel Gatwick. Nice clean, modern room, although a bit small.
Got a good price via Expedia, but parking and restaurant prices were expensive. 5 km from the airport.

Another vote for the Premier Inn, which was very nice (had a very big room). Took the shuttle to get to the airport. Can't remember which Inn I was in, but walking wasn't a good option because of all the traffic. You could see the airport from the front of the hotel, so it was close, and the shuttle didn't take long to get there.

I've started staying in the Yotel right in the airport. It's a take off of the Japanese capsule hotels but I would compare it more like a cruise ship cabin. It's in the basement of the South Terminal. I wouldn't stay anywhere else anymore, particulary for an early morning flight. Mind you I usually travel alone. All the amenities are there Marks and Spencer Food Store, WH Smith, restaurants etc.