Gatwick and Heathrow lounges: which one, and is it worth it?
We drop people off at Gatwick and Heathrow pretty much every day, and the question we get asked most on the way up the M23? “Is the lounge worth it?” So here’s our honest answer, terminal by terminal. Every airport lounge you can pay to get into, roughly what it costs, and which one we’d pick. ☕
So, is an airport lounge worth it?
✅ Long-haul and a few hours to kill? Yes, honestly. Twelve hours on a plane is long enough without three more on a metal bench first.
❓ Early easyJet, hand luggage only? Probably not. You’ll fly through security, grab a coffee, and you’re boarding before you know it.
👨👩👧👦 Whole family going? Do the sums first. Four of you can easily be £130 to £200. Lovely for a long wait or a delay, not so much for an hour.
🚿 Coming home overnight into Heathrow T3? There’s an arrivals lounge with showers. Trust us, you’ll feel human again before we drive you home.
How much is an airport lounge at Gatwick or Heathrow?
Most pay-in lounges at Gatwick and Heathrow are around £35 to £50 a person for about two or three hours. That usually gets you food, soft drinks, normally a glass of something, and Wi-Fi that actually works. The posher rooms with table service cost a bit more.
Prices go up and down with the date, and booking online before you go is usually cheaper than paying at the door, and you’re guaranteed a seat. Got Priority Pass or a credit card with lounge access? Check it first, as most of the lounges below take them.
From the driver’s seat: book the lounge from the time you’ll actually get to the terminal, not your flight time. Book your airport transfer with us and we’ll tell you when we expect to drop you off, so you’re not paying for an hour you spent in traffic on the M23.
✈️ Gatwick North Terminal lounges
Flying easyJet or Emirates? You’re probably North. There are five lounges here anyone can pay to get into, all after security:
No1 Lounge All-rounder
Buffet, a proper bar and runway views. The safe bet if you just want to know what you’re getting.
Clubrooms Grown-up
Table service, comfy armchairs and no kids running about. Perfect for an anniversary trip, or just a slow breakfast with the papers.
My Lounge Families
Relaxed and usually one of the better-value ones, with room for the kids to be kids.
Plaza Premium Quieter
Modern, nice views of the runway, and often a little quieter than the others.
Plaza Premium Express Quick stop
Smaller and cheaper, mostly mornings. A salad bar and a short menu when you’ve only got an hour.
The Emirates lounge and the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse are only for those airlines’ eligible passengers.
🚗 Getting there: Worthing to Gatwick is £80 fixed, Brighton to Gatwick £75, and we drop you right outside North Terminal departures.
✈️ Gatwick South Terminal lounges
British Airways and Wizz Air are South, along with plenty of others. Four lounges you can pay to use:
Club Aspire Best value
Often the cheapest lounge in the South Terminal, with a buffet and quiet corners.
My Lounge Fresh air
This one has Gatwick’s outdoor terrace. Watching the planes take off with a coffee in the fresh air? Not bad at all.
No1 Lounge All-rounder
Same reliable setup as North: buffet, bar and runway views.
Clubrooms Grown-up
Table service and a calm, adults-only room. The South’s posh option.
British Airways’ own lounges are for eligible BA and oneworld passengers. Not sure which terminal you need? Check our Gatwick North or South guide.
🚗 Getting there: Shoreham and Lancing to Gatwick are £80, Littlehampton and Rustington £90, all fixed, whatever the time.
✈️ Heathrow lounges, terminal by terminal
Heathrow has loads of airline lounges, but these are the ones anyone can just pay for. First, make sure you know which Heathrow terminal your airline uses.
Heathrow Terminal 2 lounges
Plaza Premium Showers
Big buffet and bar, with showers and a spa if you fancy it (extra cost).
No1 Lounge All-rounder
Comfortable and dependable for the Star Alliance flights.
Heathrow Terminal 3 lounges
No1 Lounge All-rounder
Good buffet, a bar and plenty of seats for the Virgin, Delta and Emirates crowd.
My Lounge Relaxed
This used to be Club Aspire, just with a new name. Laid-back, with views over the airfield.
Clubrooms Grown-up
Table service for a calmer start to the trip.
Plaza Premium Arrivals Arrivals
This one’s for after you land. A hot shower and a proper breakfast before you face the world.
Heathrow Terminal 4 lounges
Plaza Premium Calmer
Normally calmer than T2 and T3, because there are fewer flights. Showers at extra cost.
Blush Lounge Boutique
A smaller lounge, run by the same Plaza Premium people.
Heathrow Terminal 5 lounges
Plaza Premium Showers
Open until late evening, with showers at extra cost.
Club Aspire Closing for winter
Reported to be shut for a refurb from 16 November 2026 until 30 April 2027. Double-check before you book.
⚠️ Flying from Heathrow Terminal 5 this winter? With Club Aspire reportedly closed until spring, Plaza Premium is likely to be the only lounge you can pay for at T5, so it could get busy. We’d book it in advance rather than just turning up.
🚗 Getting there: Worthing to Heathrow and Brighton to Heathrow are both £120 fixed, and we drop you at the right terminal door, T2, T3, T4 or T5.
Our tips from the drop-off lane
Book ahead in the holidays. School holidays and Friday evenings, the lounges fill up fast, and paying at the door usually costs more.
Check how long your pass lasts. Most give you two or three hours. If we beat the traffic and get you there early (it does happen!), you might not need longer.
Showers cost extra in most of them, so check first if you’re counting on one.
The boring bit: lounges are after security, so still allow your usual time to get through. And while you’re ticking things off, here’s our travel insurance checklist.
Airport transfers to Gatwick and Heathrow from across Sussex
Lounge booked? Let us sort the ride. Fixed prices, your flight watched, cases carried, and no surge at 4am. Pick your town:
Worthing to Gatwick £80Worthing to Heathrow £120Brighton to Gatwick £75Brighton to Heathrow £120Hove to Gatwick £75Hove to Heathrow £120Shoreham to Gatwick £80Lancing to Heathrow £120Littlehampton to Gatwick £90Rustington to Heathrow £130Steyning to Gatwick £80Findon to Gatwick £80
Lounge sorted. Now the easy bit.
Fixed prices from Worthing, Brighton and the Sussex coast: Gatwick £75 to £90 by town, Heathrow £120 to £130 by town. We follow your flight, carry your cases, and tell you the exact drop-off time, so you can book your lounge to the minute.
Questions we get asked
How much is a lounge at Gatwick?
Most pay-in lounges at Gatwick are around £35 to £50 a person for two or three hours. Prices change with the date, and booking online first is usually cheaper.
Which Gatwick terminal has the better lounges?
North has more choice, including Plaza Premium and Plaza Premium Express. South has Club Aspire, often the cheapest, and My Lounge with Gatwick’s outdoor terrace.
Is there a lounge at Heathrow Terminal 5 if I’m not flying BA?
Yes, Plaza Premium. Club Aspire is reported to be closed for a refurb from 16 November 2026 to 30 April 2027, so check before you book.
Can I use a lounge when I land at Heathrow?
Yes. At Terminal 3, the Plaza Premium Arrivals lounge does showers and breakfast after you land, before you head home.
What time should I book my lounge for?
From when you’ll actually get to the terminal. If you travel with us, we’ll confirm your drop-off time so you can book it exactly.
Do I need a business class ticket to use a lounge?
No. All the lounges in this guide let in anyone who pays or has an accepted lounge membership, whatever ticket they’ve got.
How do I get from Worthing to Gatwick or Heathrow?
Sussex Airlink does fixed-price airport transfers: Worthing to Gatwick is £80 and Worthing to Heathrow £120, with your flight watched and cases carried.
We last checked this in November 2026, using the lounges’ own information and recent independent reviews. Lounges, prices and opening times change a lot, so always double-check before you travel. More from us: Which Heathrow terminal? · Gatwick North or South? · When to leave · All our guides