I left it late to book my hotel – two days before my holiday I realised that a 6am Gatwick flight meant it would barely be worth going to bed before setting off from north London.

I typed “Gatwick hotels” into a search engine and was inundated with properties that claimed to be close to the airport. However, book without double-checking the hotel location - as I’ve done before - and you risk being saddled with a huge taxi bill – not how I planned to spend my holiday money.

My search took me to Laterooms.com, which had a listing of airport hotels that I could filter by distance from the airport, plus reviews from guests who had stayed there and boked through the site. I opted for the Copthorne Hotel London Gatwick - not the closest hotel to the airport (a cab cost £8 one way and £12 the other), but the room rate reflected that, and I liked the sound of the hotel’s swimming pool and sauna.

The hotel is one of two Copthornes near Gatwick. The website describes it as “charming” and set in “100 acres of tranquil woodlands and landscaped gardens” – a generous description in my view. Evidence of the original 16th century farmhouse around which the hotel is built is all but lost in the sprawling complex of some 227 bedrooms, save the odd exposed beam in the hotel’s bar, the White Swan Pub.

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That’s not to say the hotel isn’t attractive – just don’t go expecting a quaint farmhouse. The single storey building is mostly red brick and extends in long wings and an adjacent annexe. Some bedrooms overlook pretty countryside, and some the less bucolic car park.

The facilities are excellent – there’s a gym, squash courts, tennis courts, swimming pool, sauna, putting green, croquet lawn and hot tub. There’s also two restaurants, a bar and extensive event spaces, one of which was being used for a wedding the night I stayed.

Check-in was efficient and I was shown to my room – a good thing given the rambling corridors. On the way back I kept my eyes peeled for signs back to the reception, like the ones in a maze that you can lift the lid on to cheat your way out in a panic.

Panic over I found my way to The Brasserie, the more casual of the two hotel’s restaurants. It was curry night and I had a delicious selection of fish, vegetable and meat curries from the buffet (£18.50 including starters from a cold buffet and coffee). My companion’s a la carte dish of salmon looked a little dated in its presentation, with cubed vegetables on a brightly coloured plate surrounding the fish, but it tasted fresh and was perfectly cooked.

The wine list was impressive, including imaginative additions such as a Brazilian Pinot Grigio.

I missed breakfast (7am-11am) because of the early flight but have stayed at the hotel previously and remember being impressed with the spread of continental buffet choices and cooked options.

My room was fine – no nonsense décor that was neither offensive nor memorable. The important bits were right – a spacious room, big bed, pristine sheets and a good shower. The bathroom was the highlight in fact – a fashionable monochrome tiled design that contradicted the rather passé beige and regal colours of the room décor.

The four-star-hotel boxes were all ticked – the room had smart leather armchairs, television with Sky channels, wireless internet access (£2.50/hour, £6/4 hours, £12/24 hours), kettle with tea and coffee, minibar on request and trouser press.

A shuttle bus to the airport only runs hourly but is good value at £3 per passenger.

The hotel gets an average 3/5 from Tripadvisor.co.uk users, with the decor getting a bit of a knocking from reviewers, who call it "dated" and "tired" in places, although service is generally commended, something I'd agree with.

Bottom line: Rack rates start from £175, but the hotel was available on the LateRooms.com website from £66.

Best thing: the leisure facilities

Worst thing: the car park view from my bedroom

Access all areas: the reception, restaurant and bar are wheelchair accessible, there are disabled toilets and car parking spaces and wheelchair accessible guestrooms

Need to know: Copthorne Hotel London Gatwick, Copthorne Way, Copthorne, West Sussex, RH10 3PG; tel. 01342 348800

Food: 7 out of 10

Service: 9 out of 10

Room: 7 out of 10

Value: 8 out of 10

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