A guide to Heathrow’s lounges and how to access them

Want to travel like a VIP on your next trip? Here's our round-up of all the lounges at London Heathrow.

When it comes to lounges at London Heathrow, travellers are spoiled for choice. However, access and availability can vary wildly.

While some lounges are available to everyone on a pay-per-visit basis, others are only accessible to members of lounge programmes, high-tier frequent fliers, premium credit cardholders or first class or business class passengers.

As the busiest airport in Europe, London Heathrow boasts 33 lounges across four terminals so there are plenty of locations for some R&R before your next trip.

Most lounges offer drinks, food and newspapers and magazines at a minimum, while others go the extra mile with spa facilities, showers and even private rooms if you want to catch a few hours’ sleep between flights.

We’ve detailed all the Heathrow airport lounges and how you can gain access to them, including those that take Priority Pass – more on this below the list.

Heathrow Terminal 2 lounges

LocationFacilitiesEntrance criteria
Plaza Premium LoungeInside securityPremium food, bar, showers, spa (paid), private rooms (paid), newspapers & magazinesPay-per-use or with a Priority Pass

Heathrow Terminal 3 lounges

LocationFacilitiesEntrance criteria
No. 1 LoungesAfter securityComplimentary light meals, snacks, showers, spa, digital newspaper & magazinesPay-per-use or with a Priority Pass
Club Aspire LoungeInside securityPremium food (paid), bar, showers (paid), newspapers & magazinesPay-per-use or with a Priority Pass

Heathrow Terminal 4 lounges

LocationFacilitiesEntrance criteria
Plaza Premium LoungeInside securityPremium food, bar, showers, private rooms (paid), newspaper & magazinesPay-per-use depending on what services you require or with a Priority Pass
Plaza Premium LoungeInside securityPremium food, bar, showers, spa (paid), private rooms (paid), newspapers & magazinesPay-per-use or with a Priority Pass
Plaza Premium LoungeInside securityPremium food, bar, showers, spa (paid), private rooms (paid), newspapers & magazinesPay-per-use or with a Priority Pass

Heathrow Terminal 5 lounges

LocationFacilitiesEntrance criteria
Club Aspire LoungeInside securityPremium food (paid), bar, showers (paid), newspapers & magazinesPay-per-use or with a Priority Pass
Be RelaxAfter securityChair and table massages, manicures, pedicures, waxing, facials, oxygen and aromatherapyPay-per-use

Read our guide to Gatwick lounges

Priority Pass

One way to gain access to a wide selection of lounges is with Priority Pass. It offers a scheme open to everyone, regardless of your airline boarding class or membership programme. Members simply pay an annual fee to join and can access 1,500 lounges across 140 countries. When it comes to London Heathrow, Priority Pass includes access to eight lounges with at least one in every terminal.

As a Priority Pass member, you can access Heathrow lounges run by independent operators such as Aspire, Plaza Premium and No1 Lounges, as well as the SkyTeam airlines network lounge. There are also two Heathrow lounges available in arrivals if you need to freshen up after a long-haul flight before a meeting or important appointment.

There are 3 different membership levels:

  • Standard membership is a £69 annual fee plus £24 each time you enter a lounge.
  • Standard plus membership costs £229 a year. This gives you 10 free lounge visits during your membership year. Any subsequent visits are charged at £24 per visit.
  • Prestige membership costs £419 a year. This offers unlimited lounge visits during your membership year. Given that it costs significantly more than Standard Plus, you’d want to be confident of making a decent number of lounge visits over the year before signing up for this option.

Priority Pass: The complete guide

Using a credit card to access a lounge at Heathrow

Many premium credit cardholders can enjoy complimentary access to airport lounges without paying an entry fee. Some cards and lounges will also let you bring a guest or family members with you.

Additionally, some credit cards offer free membership to a lounge membership programme, such as Priority Pass, while some providers have their own branded lounges.

Credit cards and airport lounge access

Priority Pass discounts

Deal

Lounge access with Priority Pass

Access 1,500+ airport lounges and premium travel experiences globally, in 600 cities across 148 countries
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Emily Herring is a Publisher at Finder specialising in credit-based products including credit cards and business and personal loans. Emily has recently joined the Investments team. She has a Masters in Creative Writing & Publishing and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication & Media. See full bio

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Emily has written 153 Finder guides across topics including:
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