Aircraft noise in Horsham (RH12, RH13)
Horsham experiences approximately 25 aircraft overflights per day, primarily arrivals at London Gatwick Airport, passing between roughly 3,000 and 5,000 ft. Estimated peak ground noise reaches 75–79 dB — enough to interrupt conversation outdoors. It ranks #1 of 29 Gatwick areas for aircraft noise exposure. (Flight Path Noise monitoring data, 36.7 days to 2026-08-23.)
Data: 36.7 days to 2026-08-23 · all tracked aircraft over Horsham · updated monthly
Where the noise comes from
London Gatwick Airport
live map →25 overflights/day (100%) · typically 4,000 ft
Horsham lies under Gatwick's main arrival swathe from the south-west: aircraft leaving the hold descend across the town at around 4,000 ft before turning onto final approach. Ninety-seven per cent of its traffic is arrivals, and with the westerly flow running about three days in four, the stream over Horsham is one of the most regular in West Sussex — a long-standing focus of local noise campaigns.
How nearby areas compare
| Area | Overflights / day | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Horsham | 25 | #1 |
| Southwater | 23 | #2 |
| Broadbridge Heath | 13 | #9 |
| Warnham | 8 | #17 |
| Slinfold | 6 | #25 |
Common questions
- Is Horsham under a flight path?
- Yes — Horsham is under London Gatwick Airport flight paths, with around 25 overflights on a typical day, mostly arrivals.
- What time do planes start over Horsham?
- The first movements typically pass over Horsham around 5:57am, building through the morning peak.
- Is it quieter in Horsham on weekends?
- Weekends are actually busier here — about 35% more overflights than weekdays (35 vs 26 a day).
Checking a specific address?
This page shows area-wide averages. An address report gives you the exact overflight count, altitudes, hourly pattern and noise estimate for one property. Leave your email and we'll let you know when reports are ready for Horsham.
