Skip to main content
search

Custom Clearance Import to London Gatwick Airport

Cost-effective imports to London Gatwick Airport

Although London Gatwick Airport (LGW) is primarily known as a passenger terminal, it is also a significant cargo handling air hub in the UK.

Get a free quote today
Learn more

Custom Clearance Import to London Gatwick Airport

Since 2011, its pre-pandemic freight handling has been on an upward trend and around 100,000 tonnes can expect to pass through it in a typical year nowadays. The cargo handling area at Gatwick has a dozen self-contained storage units that offer both landside and airside access. Given Gatwick’s location is just to the south of London with convenient access to the M25 orbital motorway via the M23, it is often favoured by UK-based importers who want to receive the goods they have ordered from overseas suppliers as soon as they possibly can.

However, there are some steps that any consignments passing through London Gatwick Airport need to go through, not least the inspections that customs officials will need to make. In many cases, a visual inspection of the goods will be all that is needed so that deliveries can continue with their journey to their ultimate destination in the UK. However, delays and more thorough inspections are likely if the customs declarations that go alongside any imports are not complete or contain errors.

To help British importation firms who are using the numerous air freight services that fly into Gatwick, Barrington Freight can handle all of the customs-related paperwork and declarations. This way, there should be nothing to prevent them from moving smoothly through the customs processes and then being available to pick up or move on with a road haulage firm.

Read our FAQ'sLearn more about us

We have extensive expertise in customs clearance work and also deal with imports via Gatwick Airport frequently. As such, our operations team would be the ideal choice as customs clearance agents. Why take the risk of completing this sort of paperwork yourself when even minor errors can cause such setbacks?

Benefit From Our Customs Clearance and Freight Forwarding Services

As a freight forwarding firm that also works as a customs clearance agency, we can combine both sorts of work to provide you with a comprehensive service. We have the necessary licenses to deal with border officials in virtually every trading country around the world, including the EU, so we can help to get your orders onto flights bound for Gatwick Airport rapidly and cost-effectively. What’s more, when the plane touches down, your cargo should pass through the required HMRC processes without any issues because all of your VAT declarations and commodity coding will already be in good order. We can even arrange for your goods to be sent on directly to your customers, if you want, ideal if you run a dropshipping enterprise, for example.

We are friendly, easy to work with, honest and we do not charge the earth.

With so much experience with air freight, the workings of Gatwick Airport and diligent customs clearance processes of our own, Barrington Freight is here to help all UK importers who use London’s major air hubs. Please do not hesitate to call or email our operations team if you would like to benefit from our combined freight forwarding and customs clearance prowess.

Posted on Google Google
Lauren profile picture
Lauren
25 September 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Have been using Barrington for over a year now. Exceptional service from the team (Joshua and Lee), always super quick to respond, secure bookings and collect from us. Never worry about a shipment when working with them. Thank you!
Posted on Google Google
Christina Hansen profile picture
Christina Hansen
23 September 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Barrington Freight handled our first import from China and made a complicated job feel simple. Simon Poole guided us through the customs paperwork, postponed VAT and commodity codes patiently, answering a great many questions from someone importing for the first time. Our delivery address is a narrow street with no forklift, and he arranged a smaller vehicle with a tail-lift so the crates could be offloaded by hand without difficulty. The shipment cleared ahead of schedule and, once we'd paid, delivery was arranged for the very next day with a time window confirmed in advance. Excellent communication throughout and genuinely helpful. Highly recommended.
Posted on Google Google
Sam McGowan profile picture
Sam McGowan
17 August 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Fantastic Service. Lee organised a last minute pickup from Sweden back to England. The shipment was under Carnet. Very good professional service at a competitive rate! I will be using them again.
Posted on Google Google
Louise Ponsford profile picture
Louise Ponsford
13 August 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Excellent service from start to finish. Simon at Barrington Freight handled our crate of mechanical machine parts from the UK to Canada with exceptional care, keeping us informed throughout. His Canadian agent also arranged customs clearance, making the entire process straightforward and stress-free. Highly recommended.
Posted on Google Google
Proydohi profile picture
Proydohi
6 August 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
I would like to thank the entire Barrington Freight team for their professional work and assistance in organizing the shipment of my cargo to the UK. I will definitely use their services again. Highly recommended.
Posted on Google Google
Mike Yeo profile picture
Mike Yeo
23 July 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
The team at Barrington Freight were brilliant, leading us through the minefield that is exports to the EU. Nothing was too much trouble and we received immediate answers to all our many questions. We will definitely use them again and recomend them to anyone.
Posted on Google Google
Courtney Freeman profile picture
Courtney Freeman
22 June 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
We had a fantastic experience importing our goods from Florida and honestly couldn’t fault the service. The quote was quick and easy, booking was straightforward and everything was handled smoothly from start to finish. As this was our first import we needed a bit of guidance along the way but Simon was brilliant. He took care of everything, kept us updated throughout and was always on hand to answer our questions. What seemed like a complicated process was made incredibly simple and stress free. The customer service was excellent, communication was spot on and our shipment arrived without any issues. We wouldn’t hesitate to use them again and would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a reliable freight forwarder. Thanks again for making our first import such a positive experience!
Posted on Google Google
Katie r Smith profile picture
Katie r Smith
18 June 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Simon looked after our air freight import from China and provided an excellent service throughout. The shipment arrived safely and quicker than expected, with clear communication at every stage. We were very pleased with the experience and will definitely use Simon and his team at Barrington Freight again in the future.
Posted on Google Google
Phil Holloway profile picture
Phil Holloway
18 June 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
We needed to get a shipment out to the USA quickly and Simon made the whole process far easier than we expected. Communication was straightforward, we were kept updated throughout, and everything arrived on time without any issues. It's refreshing to deal with someone who knows exactly what they're doing and gets things done. We'd happily use Simon again for future air freight shipments.
Posted on Google Google
James Roberts profile picture
James Roberts
15 June 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Matt really looked after us and made our shipment completely stress free, I will be using the services of Barrington Freight for all my overseas shipments from now on. Thanks Matt, great service
Posted on Google Google
General Enquiries profile picture
General Enquiries
23 April 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
We have had consistently excellent service from Barrington Freight. Our main contact, Joshua Armstrong, is always incredibly helpful and reliable. He goes above and beyond to ensure everything runs smoothly. Communication is clear and prompt and any issues are handled quickly and efficiently. It's reassuring to know that everything is in safe hands from start to finish. I would highly recommend Barrington Freight to anyone looking for dependable and professional logistics partner.
Posted on Google Google
George Dunster profile picture
George Dunster
10 April 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
We had a time-critical air freight shipment coming in from China to the UK and Simon was a huge help in getting it over the line. Right before arrival, an issue came up due to a mistake from the airline, which could have turned into a real headache. Simon picked it up straight away, dealt with it quickly and managed to sort everything without any extra costs on our side. Really solid support throughout and easy to deal with, especially given the urgency. Another great job by Barrington Freight - we’ll definitely be using them again!
Posted on Google Google
Euphoric Bedding profile picture
Euphoric Bedding
1 April 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Good service during a turbulent global shipping period. Special thanks goes to Lee for his efficiency and proactive updates and for rescheduling a delivery in less than 24hrs when the haulage company didn’t read their own paperwork and sent a lorry without the requested tail lift. Highly recommended.
Posted on Google Google
The Greens profile picture
The Greens
5 March 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Great communication, competitive and efficient delivery
Posted on Google Google
Shannon Sharp profile picture
Shannon Sharp
4 March 2026
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
We’ve worked with Barringtons for the past two years, and the service has been excellent throughout. Every shipment has been handled with great care and real personal attention. A special thanks to Simon, who has been outstanding—always professional, responsive, and a pleasure to work with. Highly recommended!
Close Menu
Barrington Freight Ltd,
Bowden House,
Luckyn Lane, Basildon,
Essex SS14 3AX