Best and worst UK airport lounges

We rated airport lounges on food, drinks, cleanliness, space and facilities – and too often they came up lacking.

Buffets were unappetising, ‘premium drinks’ were extra and there was no more space than you’d find at the airport pub or café.

This is despite the fact that the kind of pay-as-you-go lounges where everybody’s welcome – not just business travellers – are more expensive than ever. 

The Aspire lounges we looked at were an inflation-busting 40% more expensive than when we last checked in 2020. 

You’ll now pay between £30 and £45 for the experience. However, we did find decent lounges at Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and other airports. They might just be worth a visit, if you can get a cheaper deal through one of our tips below.

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Best UK airport lounges

Which airport lounges are worth the money?

The majority of airport lounges are owned by just one company, Swissport. It owns or co-owns the Aspire, Clubrooms, Gateway,  No1 Lounge and Upper Deck brands. That’s 12 of the 20 lounges we visited.

The Escape and 1903 lounges are owned by Manchester Airport Group, while the third firm in our table is Plaza Premium. Skylife in Southend is owned by the airport itself.

The Escape lounges we visited were typically cheaper than other brands – but with budget decor and food to match. Even including the luxury 1903 lounge at Bristol Airport, all Escape brand lounges were rated less than two out of five.

For the other firms there was more variation, with scores ranging from 1.5 to 3 for the same brands at different airports.

Best airport lounge we visited at Heathrow

There are six pay-as-you-go airport lounges across Heathrow’s four terminals. We liked the Heathrow Plaza Premium at T2 much more than the same brand’s lounge at T5, or the Club Aspire in the same terminal.

Heathrow Plaza Premium T2 £45

3 stars out of 5

This isn’t a lounge for plane-spotters. There’s no window, but with its dark wood and soft lighting it looks much better than many of the lounges with runway views. Food was above average, and included chicken curry or vegan meatballs with quinoa salad. Like many lounges it was busy, with staff fighting a mostly successful battle to keep tables clean and free of plates. Our only real concern was the price. As usual, ‘premium’ drinks were extra – £4.50 for a 12-year-old blended whisky, £40 for a bottle of champagne – which is, admittedly, cheaper than at airport bars. Beer and wine was free. The best reason to book, though, was the warm, fragrant brownies that arrived halfway through our stay.

Verdict: If you can get a better deal (see our tips) this is a pleasant place to relax and have a meal.

Best airport lounge we visited at Gatwick

We’ve visited four of the seven lounges at Gatwick and our favourites were the No1 Lounges at the North and South terminals. We were less keen on the Plaza Premium or The Gateway at Gatwick North.

Gatwick No1 North £40

3 stars out of 5

This was much better than its North Terminal rival Plaza Premium. We liked the island bar, which gives it a striking focal point, and the choice of drinks is more generous than some – sparkling wine is included. Years ago there used to be a spa and made-to-order food. Both have, predictably, been scrapped, but it still does the basics well. Despite being busy, there was plenty of seating and they kept it clean. The food was also fresh and plentiful. Families be warned, though, a notice on the website warns parents to bring something to entertain their kids, as ‘we do not specifically cater for children’.

Verdict The kid-free zone might be attractive for those looking for a peaceful meal before their flight.

Best airport lounge at Stansted Airport

Escape Lounge £32

2 stars out of 5

There’s only one lounge at Stansted Airport, called the Escape. We were no more impressed here than by the same brand in Manchester. It was clean enough and, at £32, cheaper than some other lounges, but the dull food let it down. You’re better off going to one of the airport’s bars or restaurants.

Verdict: Save your money for a meal elsewhere.

Best airport lounge at Luton Airport

Aspire Lounge £38

2 stars out of 5

When we visited Luton there was only one lounge – Aspire – and it wasn’t one we could recommend. The breakfast buffet, complete with rubbery scrambled eggs, was a big letdown. Happily, it’s due to close on 13 December. A new No1 Lounge is opening on 14 December and a My Lounge will open in summer 2024.

Verdict: We'll check back again when the new lounges open.

Best airport lounge we visited at Manchester Airport

There are four lounges across Manchester’s two terminals. We weren’t impressed by either of its own-brand Escape Lounges, but the Aspire at T1 was much better. During our visits this time the premium 1903 Lounge wasn’t available, but it was one of our favourites when we visited pre-pandemic.

Terminal 1 Aspire £40

3 stars out of 5

It's often the case that lounge ‘runway views’ turn out to be dull vistas of the parked planes on an airfield. Here the floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over planes taxiing towards take-off give the room an energy that was lacking in the Escape lounge. It’s also much cleaner, despite being just after lunch when we visited. It looked like more thought had gone into the main meals – spinach dhansak with rice or beef ragu and pasta – than at the Escape, too. We’d be worried about how hot it would be here in the height of summer (other visitors have complained about poor air con, given those big windows) but in winter it’s bright and appealing. Modern decor makes this look a bit more like the chic lounges of our imagination. However, it does get busy.

Verdict: Worth a visit, before the whole terminal closes in 2025.

Best airport lounge we visited at Edinburgh Airport

Aspire Lounge £38

3 stars out of 5

There are two pay-as-you-go lounges at Edinburgh: Aspire and Plaza Premium.

We visited the Aspire where the hot, nourishing chilli con carne or mac and cheese were improvements on food we’d seen in some other lounges. We loved the scones and clotted cream. It was just as well we didn’t want to work, though, as the booths were positioned by the entrance with people passing by constantly.

Verdict: A good choice of food, but not somewhere to work. 

Can you get a lounge for less?

If you’re planning to visit more than five lounges a year, a basic Priority Pass (£69 for first year and includes most but not all lounges in our table) might make sense. Lounge access then costs a flat £24.

An Amex Gold card gives you free lounge entry four times a year. Barclaycard Avios Plus gets you into most lounges for £18.50. On The Beach offers free lounges with four or five-star holidays.

Failing that, shop around. Gatwick North’s Plaza Premium was £8 cheaper on Gatwick’s website (£36) than Plaza Premium (£44). Check Holiday Extras and Lounge Pass, too. They’re rarely cheaper in our experience, but worth a look.

The best and worst airports

Airport lounges are likely to be most appealing at the worst airports. If you’re visiting a smaller airport, you’re likely to spend less time hanging around – and they’re generally better anyway.

See our guide to the UK’s best and worst airports to get an idea of whether you might need somewhere to hide from the chaos.

How we review airport lounges

All of our reviews were carried out by Which? staff in 2023. We paid for entry to all the lounges we reviewed.

We don’t accept freebies and all our reviews were anonymous and independent.