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
Lufthansa Business LoungeInside securityPremium food, bar, newspaper & magazinesAccess varies depending on boarding pass and airline membership level
Plaza Premium Arrivals LoungeOutside 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 3 lounges

LocationFacilitiesEntrance criteria
Plaza Premium Arrivals LoungeOutside securitySnacks, showers, newspaper & magazinesPay-per-use
Regus Express Business LoungeOutside securityTelephones, showers (paid), conference rooms (paid), private rooms (paid)Pay-per-use
Virgin Atlantic Revivals LoungeOutside securityPremium food, showers, spa, clothes pressUpper Class passengers and Flying Club Gold members
American Airlines Arrivals LoungeOutside securityPremium food, bar, showers, clothes press, conference rooms (paid), newspapers & magazinesAmerican First or Business passengers who flew American to LHR that day, British Airways First or Club World passengers or British Airways Executive Club Gold members
The Qantas London LoungeInside securityPremium food, bar, showers, private rooms, newspapers & magazinesOneworld first class, business class, Emerald, and Sapphire passengers
Cathay Pacific First Class LoungeInside securityPremium food, bar, showers, newspapers & magazinesCathay Pacific or Cathay Dragon First class passengers or Marco Polo Club Members (access price depends on tier)
Cathay Pacific Business Class LoungeInside securityPremium food, bar, showers, newspapers & magazinesAccess to Cathay Pacific, Cathay Dragon Business Class or oneworld carrier Business Class passengers
Club Aspire LoungeInside securityPremium food (paid), bar, showers (paid), newspapers & magazinesPay-per-use or with a Priority Pass
The Emirates LoungeInside securityPremium food, bar, showers, newspapers & magazinesEmirates Business Class, First Class or Emirates Skywards Gold or Platinum members. Paid entry available to Emirates Blue and Silver members.
No1 LoungesInside securityPremium food (paid), bar, showers (paid), spa (paid), private rooms (paid) newspapers & magazinesPay-per-use in advance or with a Priority Pass.
British Airways Galleries First LoungeInside securityPremium food, bar, showers, spa (paid), newspapers & magazines, children’s areaBA First Class passengers, Executive Club Gold members or Emerald member of oneworld airline frequent flier programmes.
British Airways Galleries Business LoungeInside securityPremium food, bar, showers, newspapers & magazines, children’s areaBA First, Business (Club World) or Business (Club Europe) passengers, BA Executive Club Silver or Gold members or oneworld Sapphire or Emerald members
American Airlines International First Class LoungeInside securityPremium food, bar, showers, newspapers & magazinesFirst or Business on a qualifying American Airlines or oneworld international flight, AAdvantage® Executive Platinum, Platinum Pro and Platinum Expand members, ConciergeKey members, oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members
American Airlines Admirals ClubInside securityPremium food, bar, showers, newspapers & magazinesAdmirals Club members or ConciergeKey members
Virgin Atlantic ClubhouseInside securityPremium food, bar, showers, spa, newspapers & magazines, shoe shine, children’s areaVirgin Atlantic Upper Class passengers and Flying Club Gold members

Heathrow Terminal 4 lounges

LocationFacilitiesEntrance criteria
Plaza Premium Arrivals LoungeOutside securityPremium food, bar, showers, conference rooms (paid), newspaper & magazinesPay-per-use depending on what services you require or with a Priority Pass
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
SkyTeam LoungeInside securityPremium food, bar, showers, spa, newspaper & magazinesFirst and Business Class passengers on a SkyTeam member airline, SkyTeam Elite Plus members or with a Priority Pass
King David LoungeInside securityPremium food (kosher), snacks, newspaper & magazinesBusiness and First class El Al passengers
Gulf Air Falcon Gold LoungeInside securityPremium food, bar, showers, private rooms, newspaper & magazines, children’s areaGulf Air premium passengers
Etihad Airways First & Business Class LoungeInside securityPremium food, bar, showers, spa (paid), newspaper & magazines, children’s areaFirst or Business class passengers and Etihad Gold members
Malaysia Airlines Golden LoungeInside securityPremium food, bar, showers, private rooms, clothes press, Muslim prayer room, newspaper & magazines, children’s areaMalaysia Airlines first class-passengers, oneworld first class passengers and oneworld Emerald elite members
Qatar Airways Premium LoungeInside securityPremium food, bar, showers, newspaper & magazinesQatar Airways and oneworld First and Business class passengers

Heathrow Terminal 5 lounges

LocationFacilitiesEntrance criteria
Regus Express Business LoungeOutside securityConference rooms (paid), private rooms (paid), printed & copiers (paid)Pay-per-use or Businessworld Gold, Platinum, or Platinum Plus membership
The Windsor SuiteOutside securityBar, private rooms, snacks, newspaper & magazines and other VIP servicesExclusive and expensive. Must be booked in advance through Heathrow VIP
Plaza Premium LoungeInside securityPremium food, bar, showers, newspaper & magazinesPay-per-use
British Airways The Galleries Arrivals Lounge (5A)Outside securityPremium food, bar, showers, spa, clothes press newspaper & magazinesBA First or Business (Club World) passengers or Executive Club Gold members arriving on a long-haul flight
British Airways Galleries Club Lounge (5A North)Inside securityPremium food, bar, showers,, newspaper & magazines, children’s areaBA First Class passengers, Executive Club Gold members or Emerald member of oneworld airline frequent flier programmes
British Airways The Concorde RoomInside securityPremium food, bar, showers, spa, private rooms, conference rooms, newspaper & magazinesBA First Class passengers, Executive Club Gold members or Emerald member of oneworld airline frequent flier programmes
British Airways Galleries Club Lounge (5A South)Inside securityPremium food, bar, showers, spa, newspaper & magazines, children’s areaBA First Class passengers, Executive Club Gold members or Emerald member of oneworld airline frequent flier programmes
British Airways Galleries First LoungeInside securityPremium food, bar, showers, spa, newspaper & magazinesBA First Class passengers, Executive Club Gold members or Emerald member of oneworld airline frequent flier programmes
Aspire The LoungeInside securityPremium food (paid), bar, showers (paid), newspaper & magazinesPay-per-use at front desk or with a Priority Pass
British Airways Galleries Club Lounge (5B)Inside securityPremium food, bar, showers, spa, newspaper & magazines, children’s areaBA First Class passengers, Executive Club Gold members or Emerald member of oneworld airline frequent flier programmes

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.

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 or LoungeKey, while some providers have their own branded lounges.

Credit cards and airport lounge access

1 - 9 of 9
Name Product Ratings Finder rating Customer rating Purchases Annual/monthly fees Rewards earn rate Representative APR Link Lounge access Representative example
American Express® Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card
Finder score
★★★★★
User survey
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
★★★★★
User rating
30.7%
Year 1 - £0, Year 2 onwards - £160 per annum
3 points per £1 spent with selected partners
1 point per £1 spent elsewhere
75.2% APR (variable)
Check eligibility
4 complimentary Priority Pass airport lounge visits every year to use at over 1,300 airports globally.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 30.7% (variable) p.a. with a fee of Year 1 - £0, Year 2 onwards - £160 per annum, your representative rate is 75.2% APR (variable).
The Platinum Card® by American Express
Finder score
★★★★★
User survey
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
★★★★★
User rating
30.7%
£575 per annum
2 points per £1 spent with selected partners
1 point per £1 spent elsewhere
470.7% APR (variable)
Check eligibility
Complimentary access to over 1,200 airport lounges across more than 130 countries worldwide through Priority Pass, with supplementary cardholder as guest. Access to the new Centurion Lounge, coming soon to Heathrow Terminal 3.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 30.7% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £575 per annum, your representative rate is 470.7% APR (variable).
Coutts & Co Silk Credit Card Mastercard
Finder score
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
Not yet rated
14.71%
£0
N/A
14.7% APR (variable)
Membership to LoungeKey, access to over 700 airport lounges worldwide. Charged at £20 per person per visit.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 14.71% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 14.7% APR (variable).
HSBC Premier Credit Card
Finder score
★★★★★
User survey
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
★★★★★
User rating
0% for 9 months reverting to 23.9%
£0
1 point per £1 spent
23.9% APR (variable)
Membership to LoungeKey, access to over 750 airport lounges worldwide. Charged at £20 per person per visit.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 23.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 23.9% APR (variable).
Santander World Elite Mastercard
Finder score
★★★★★
User survey
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
★★★★★
User rating
0% for 18 months reverting to 18.9%
£15 per month
0.5% cashback
49.8% APR (variable)
Membership to LoungeKey, complimentary access to over 1000 airport lounges worldwide.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 18.9% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £15 per month, your representative rate is 49.8% APR (variable).
HSBC Premier World Elite Credit Card
Finder score
★★★★★
User survey
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
★★★★★
User rating
18.9%
£195 per annum
2 points per £1 spent
59.3% APR (variable)
Membership to LoungeKey, complimentary access to over 750 airport lounges worldwide.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 18.9% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £195 per annum, your representative rate is 59.3% APR (variable).
Barclaycard Avios Plus Card
Finder score
★★★★★
User survey
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
★★★★★
User rating
28.9%
£20 per month
1.5 points per £1 spent
78.9% APR (variable)
Access over 1,000 airport lounges worldwide. £18.50 per lounge pass, per person.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 28.9% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £20 per month, your representative rate is 78.9% APR (variable).
Coutts and Co Silk Charge Mastercard
Finder score
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
Not yet rated
N/A (this product is a charge card).
£0
N/A
N/A (this product is a charge card).
Access to over 700 executive airport lounges in over 300 major airports worldworld. £20 per person per visit.
Allied Irish Bank (GB) Visa Gold Card
Finder score
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
Not yet rated
N/A (this product is a charge card).
£75 per annum
N/A
N/A (this product is a charge card).
Priority Pass - access to over 600 executive airport lounges.
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Approval for any credit card depends on your status. The representative APRs shown represent the interest rate offered to most successful applicants. Depending on your personal circumstances, the APR you're offered may be higher, or you may not be offered credit at all. Fees and rates are subject to change without notice. It's always wise to check the terms of any deal before you borrow.

We show offers we can track - that's not every product on the market...yet. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no particular order. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it. This is subject to our terms of use. When you make major financial decisions, consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you.

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