I love flying out of London Heathrow. I have already reviewed the best airport lounges in Terminal 3 and the best lounge in Terminal 5. Now we focus in on the lounges you can access if you have a Priority Pass. Which is your best Priority Pass choice at Terminals 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5?
If you are flying in Economy or Premium Economy, you may not have lounge access, in which case, you can use a Priority Pass to access an airport lounge and escape the crowds at London Heathrow. The American Express Platinum and Centurion cards come with an unlimited Priority Pass (contact our concierge for a referral for extra free bonus points) or you can apply for a free Amex Gold Card. You will get two free Lounge Club passes, which can be immediately used to get into these Priority Pass lounges to enjoy free drinks (including alcohol) and food.
Which are the best Priority Pass lounges at Heathrow? This how I would order them from best to worst:
- Aspire Lounge Terminal 5
- No1 Lounge Terminal 3
- Aspire Lounge Terminal 3
- Plaza Premium Terminal 4
- SkyTeam Lounge Terminal 4
- Plaza Premium Lounge Terminal 2
- Plaza Premium Arrivals Lounge Heathrow Terminal 3
- Plaza Premium Arrivals Lounge Heathrow Terminal 4
Interestingly, if you have a Platinum American Express Card or an AMEX Centurion Card, you can access a much better lounge in Terminals 3 and 5 than the Priority Pass lounges. The Plaza Premium Lounge Heathrow Terminal 5 and the American Express Centurion Lounge Terminal 3. To get access to these two lounges, you will need an AMEX Platinum card. To get extra referral Amex Reward points when you apply for the Platinum AMEX, apply here. You and a guest can use this lounge using your American Express Platinum card at the door, which you simply need to show at the door. If your partner has a (free) supplementary Amex Platinum card, then you can both show your cards to gain entry, both of you + 1, which means that 4 people can gain access to either of these lounges from one Platinum American Express account.
I have included these two AMEX Platinum/AMEX Centurion Card exclusive lounges in my listing. In my opinion, they are the very best two airport lounges in Heathrow that you can access if you are not flying in Business or First and do not have status with an airline. The only reason that they don’t come top of our listing is that they are not actually accessible with your Priority Pass. They are only accessible with your AMEX Platinum/AMEX Centurion Card.
1. Aspire Lounge Heathrow Terminal 5
I love the architecture and modern design of Terminal 5. If you are flying out of London Heathrow, you will need to know the best airport lounge to pick and the airport lounge you can access depends on what class of flight you have booked and whether you have high status with British Airways or another airline.
British Airways is the only airline that flies out of London Heathrow Terminal 5, but if you don’t have status and are not traveling Business Class, there are, in fact, two lounges you can access in London Heathrow Terminal 5. You can only access one with your Priority Pass, and this is probably the best Priority Pass lounge at London Heathrow due to its airy design.
If you are not flying Business or First Class and do not have an elite airline status, you can access the Aspire Lounge Heathrow Terminal 5 with a Priority Pass. The Aspire Lounge Heathrow Terminal 5 is located by Gate A18 in Terminal 5 and is the worst airport lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 5 with the worst food and drink selection but that is mainly because the other lounges are so good. This lounge has a wonderful design and views and is the only lounge you will have access to if you don’t have an Amex Platinum Card and you are flying out of London Heathrow Terminal 5.
Ironically, while it is the worst (and only) Priority Pass lounge in Terminal 5, it is the best Priority Pass lounge across all the Terminals if you are flying in Economy or Premium Economy and need to use your Priority Pass to access an airport lounge.
To access this lounge, you need a Priority Pass, apply here, as Priority Pass members have free access to the lounge as part of their membership. Otherwise, you need to pay a horrendous £40 GBP per person at the door. I am not convinced that my cup of tea and salad with a couple of rolls that I usually consume (and would cost around £10 GBP at the sandwich shops like Pret a Manger at Heathrow) merit this access fee. Unless you plan to drink yourself silly with booze, I can’t imagine this lounge ever justifying such a high price tag.
But if you have a Priority Pass, this lounge is your best and only bet. You can also access this Aspire lounge in Heathrow Terminal 5. The two free lounge passes with the free (in the first year) American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card or unlimited free Priority Pass with the AMEX Platinum Card. The two free Gold Lounge Club passes or the Platinum AMEX Priority Pass can be immediately used to get into these lounges to enjoy free drinks (including alcohol) and food.
The easiest way to get an unlimited free Priority Pass is with American Express Platinum. A cardholder gets TWO Priority Passcards, each of which admits a free guest, so a family of four can get in for free. If you want to apply for the free American Express® Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card, which two free lounge passes (free in the first year) with an extra referral point bonus, or the Platinum AMEX with extra bonus Amex Reward points, apply here.
The lounge itself feels intimate and offers all sorts of different seating options. Almost all of which have glorious views out over the planes. The whole space is incredibly airy as a result of the design of Terminal 5. The alcohol is free and generous, but don’t expect to fill up on high-quality food as the food selection is good but has gone downhill since this lounge opened. The main problem with this lounge is that it is so busy, it is difficult to get a seating area for yourself.
The 4,000 ft² lounge space is dominated by soaring windows on two sides, giving passengers dramatic runway views. But the lounge feels relatively small in size when compared to the lounges at Heathrow or the main British Airways Galleries Club lounges. However, it does have a better view and occupies a premium position with views across the airport, looking down at the planes from two sides. The view is better than the view from either of the British Airways Business Class Galleries Club lounges. Although the Galleries Club lounges are higher up in the terminal, they are set back in the middle of the terminal and away from the front windows of the terminal, so they have less of a view of the tarmac and planes.
As you enter the Aspire lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 5, you pass the spa and showers (£20 GBP a shower) and then turn the corner to reach a number of seating areas, a bar, a food, and drink area, as well as work stations. At the far end of the lounge are 6 sleep pods. These are tiny rooms with privacy curtains (slightly see-through), each with TV and reclining seat-beds, which you can sleep on. When I took a look, 5 were occupied, and 1 was free.
A “British-inspired” seasonal food and drink menu has been created, which includes a wide range of complimentary as well as premium (chargeable) options. The complimentary food is a self-serve buffet. The hot food on my last visit included a rice and chicken dish, a pasta and meatball dish, vegetarian samosas, and fresh warm bread rolls. See pictures in my more detailed review of the Aspire lounge food & drink offering.
There is usually soup at lunchtime and sometimes scones with clotted cream and jam in the cold buffet. There are salads with olives, cheeses, and hams. On my last visit, you could also have crisps (salted, cheese & onion and salt and vinegar), biscuits from a biscuit barrel, or chocolate cake.
The complimentary non-alcoholic drinks at the Aspire lounge in Heathrow Terminal on my last visit included various juices, cokes and Fanta, water and tea, coffee, and hot chocolate from one of many machines dotted around. There was also a choice of free alcoholic drinks, including Prosecco, spirits including Baileys, Martini, Tia Maria, Gin, Bacardi, Port, and Whisky. There were plenty of beers and wines available.
I would specifically choose to travel from Terminal 5 at Heathrow over and above the other Terminals or other airports like Gatwick because the Terminal is awesome. This is a decent lounge to access with my Priority Pass. You can’t compare this lounge to British Airways Galleries Club lounges. The British Airways Business lounges are excellent with much more space and food.
This Aspire lounge is smaller with less appealing food and less variety of food than the British Airways lounge, but it is pleasant even though it can be VERY busy. The other criticism I have is that you have to leave the lounge to access the bathroom facilities.
2. Plaza Premium Lounge Heathrow Terminal 5
Also, in Terminal 5 and the other lounge you can get into with a lounge pass is the Plaza Premium Lounge Heathrow Terminal 5. Plaza Premium has some great lounges at London Heathrow, including departure lounges in Terminals 2, 4, and 5 and arrival lounges in Terminals 2, 3, and 4.
Most Plaza Premium lounges are in Priority Pass. Still, the Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal 5 at Heathrow, the main home of British Airways, cannot be accessed with your Priority Pass card.
To get access to this lounge, you will need an AMEX Platinum card. To get extra referral Amex Reward points when you apply for the Platinum AMEX, apply here. You and a guest can use this lounge using your American Express Platinum card at the door, which you simply need to show at the door. If your partner has a (free) supplementary Amex Platinum card, then you can both show your cards to gain entry, both of you + 1, which means that 4 people can gain access from one Platinum American Express account.
The lounge is located on level 2, Terminal 5 Departures at London Heathrow Airport (Next to Gate A7), with opening hours 5:00 am – 10:00 pm daily. This lounge is in the mirror image position to the Aspire lounge (reviewed below), which is by Gate A18 in Terminal 5. If you are facing towards the planes at what I consider the “front” of the Terminal 5 departures area. This Plaza Premium lounge is at the very far left of the terminal at the gate level.
This lounge tends to be much less busy than the Aspire lounge below and serves a great breakfast of cereals, pastries, juice, along with hot breakfast items including scrambled eggs, bacon, and sausages. In the evening, there are light bites that are fairly filling, including Nachos and hot dishes like vegetable curry with steamed rice, rosemary potatoes, beef stew, penne pasta, and BBQ chicken wings. The selection is very similar in quality, if smaller in volume than the BA Galleries Business Class lounges. If you want peace and quiet, you may prefer this lounge.
3. American Express Centurion Lounge Terminal 3
I have included this lounge in position 3. It is probably the best overall non-airline airport lounge in London Heathrow, but you can’t access it with a Priority Pass, unfortunately.
This new Centurion lounge is past security at Heathrow T3. Access is open to AMEX Centurion and Platinum cardholders and up to 2 guests. This will be American Express’ first Centurion Lounge in Europe and second outside of the US. The new Centurion Lounge at Heathrow offers an exceptional level of luxury, including the premium facilities and services that Platinum and Centurion Cardmembers have come to expect.
To get access to this lounge, you will need an AMEX Platinum card. To get extra referral Amex Reward points when you apply for the Platinum AMEX, apply here. You and a guest can use this lounge using your American Express Platinum card at the door, which you simply need to show at the door. If your partner has a (free) supplementary Amex Platinum card, then you can both show your cards to gain entry, both of you + 1, which means that 4 people can gain access from one Platinum American Express account.
London’s distinctive combination of history and modernity served as inspiration for this space, spanning approximately 7,000 ft². In addition to the existing amenities found across Centurion Lounge locations – such as complimentary food and beverage from top chefs and mixologists, premium showers, access to high-speed Wi-Fi, and private noise-buffering workstations, the lounge will feature specially curated amenities influenced by British hospitality, culture, and style.
Current locations of The Centurion Lounge include New York’s LaGuardia Airport, Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, Miami International Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Houston’s George Bush International Airport, Centurion lounge at Hong Kong Airport and Philadelphia International Airport.
In addition to The Centurion Lounge at Heathrow, American Express recently announced new locations coming to Denver International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport, and Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
Access to The Centurion Lounge is complimentary and exclusive for Platinum Cardmembers and Centurion Members. Platinum Cardmembers may enter with up to two travel companions at no additional charge. Centurion Members may enter with their immediate family or up to two travel companions. Platinum and Centurion Cardmembers may purchase access to The Centurion Lounge for further guests for an additional fee per guest. Currently, American Express Platinum cardholders get a Priority Pass membership and can also get direct access to Plaza Premium lounges in Terminal 3, which are outlined below.
4. No 1 Lounge Heathrow Terminal 3
You can access the No 1 Lounge or the Aspire lounge in Heathrow Terminal 3 with a Priority Pass. This is the best Priority Pass lounge in Terminal 3.
Get two free lounge passes with the free (in the first year) American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card, apply here. These two free Lounge Club passes can be immediately used to get into these lounges to enjoy free drinks (including alcohol) and food.
The No 1 Lounge in Terminal 3 is very good and much larger than Club Aspire outlined below. This Priority Pass Lounge is worth a visit if you are hungry before your flight. While this lounge is always quite crowded, it is stylish and looks a lot like the No 1 Lounge at London Gatwick North that we reviewed previously.
An a la carte menu provides a mix of complementary items and paid items, along with a buffet that serves salads, pasta, beans, and fruits at lunch. Complimentary a la carte dishes include things like a small plate of fish and chips, fish finger sandwiches, bacon sandwiches, noodle broth, spinach, and ricotta pasta shells, and similar and eggs benedict or florentine in the morning. There are also buffet scones, cream, cakes, and chocolate brownie-type offerings for dessert.
The food is better at this lounge than the Club Aspire lounge, which sits in our 5 spot, but the atmosphere is more hectic.
5. Club Aspire Lounge Heathrow Terminal 3
This Club Aspire airport lounge is an intimate lounge located past the Cathay Pacific lounge in Terminal 3. This Aspire Lounge in T3 is second best after the No1 Lounge but is small, the food is fairly basic, and there’s no à la carte menu. This lounge can be accessed with your Priority Pass and is worth considering if you find the No 1 Lounge Heathrow Terminal 3 is too busy.
The lounge looks nice with lots of woods (floor, tables, etc.) and sofa seating along with dining table seating. There are ‘Rest Pods’, which are free-to-use day beds, but they are often full.
The breakfast is good with hot dishes like scrambled eggs, hash browns, bacon, sausages, etc. The drinks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic, are plentiful. It also has showers and Bliss Spa facilities for an extra charge.
6. Plaza Premium Lounge Terminal 4
While the SkyTeam lounge, just past security, is a good lounge and easily the most convenient Priority Pass lounge to access, being so close to security, it is worth trekking further into the departures lounge to the quieter Plaza Premium lounge. The Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal 4 has better food than the SkyTeam Lounge, and it is more peaceful, making it the best Priority Pass lounges at London Heathrow.
The lounge has decent food, a bar, the decor is stylish, and there are reclining chairs in a darkened room if you need sleep. While the lounge is definitely nice looking, it doesn’t make it to the top of our list because it lacks any views of the planes and runways. The SkyTeam Lounge Terminal 4 is the better lounge to chose for views. It does have floor-to-ceiling windows and skylights, offering plenty of natural light. It also has sofa seats, well armchairs, by the windows and seats with desks in booths. It is very well laid out. There is also a cafe area where the buffet is located, as well as a bar area.
The buffet here is really good, lots of salads (maybe 7 varieties in total), sandwich wraps, cheeses, 5 hot dishes in 3 heated vats, cans of drink, and a tea and coffee machine. There is also a bar area with alcoholic drinks, spirits, wine, and beer, along with a bowl of tacos or crisps with 6 dips, including salsa, olives, guacamole, etc. All the food seems nutritious and fresh.
This lounge is very good. It is better and quieter than the SkyTeam lounge reviewed below, but it doesn’t have a spa. Why not pop into the SkyTeam lounge, get your 20-minute treatment for free, then head over to the arguably better Plaza Premium Lounge Terminal 4 for a more relaxing wait in Heathrow Terminal 4?
7. SkyTeam Lounge Terminal 4
This is SkyTeam’s Business Class airport lounge for a number of SkyTeam airlines. It has good runway views but lacks style and has adequate but not noteworthy food and drinks. You can access this lounge with your Priority Pass.
This SkyTeam lounge is just past security at London Heathrow. It is accessed for free by Skyteam Elite members and those flying in Business or First on SkyTeam member airlines, including Aeroflot, Aerolíneas Argentinas, Aeromexico, Air France, Alitalia, China Eastern, Garuda Indonesian, Kenya Airways, KLM, Korean Air, Saudia, TAROM, Vietnam Airlines, and Xiamen Air.
It has a stylish, jungly look, like something out of the 1970s, with lots of bright oranges and colored lighting. Choose a seat along the wall of the main room on the entrance-level floor for views out to Heathrow’s two runways.
There is loads of seating from armchairs, cafe booths to booths with desks. There is a buffet area upstairs for hot food. The food here is fairly mediocre and not nearly as good as the Plaza Premium Lounge Terminal 4 reviewed above.
You can choose from a bowl of pasta or baked beans, potato wedges, and greens. The look is “motorway cafe” food rather than luxurious airport lounge dining! There are plenty of pastries and cakes and crisps (Walkers in packets), but again, nothing of amazing quality even though there is enough to fill you up. Drinks are pretty good with lots of cans, as well as alcoholic options, beer, cider, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, and so forth.
The Clarins Spa here is a highlight, and you can have a free 20-minute treatment like a facial, so it is worth picking up a facial here, even if you then head to the Plaza Premium Lounge Terminal 4 for the better food and quieter atmosphere.
8. Plaza Premium Lounge Terminal 2
This lounge is the only Priority Pass departures lounge in Terminal 2 and is located airside on Level 4, Terminal 2A (Departure Level) in The Queen’s Terminal, next to the Terminal Transfers area. It is open to passengers departing from Terminal 2 and can be found by following the signs towards lounge “A3”. This lounge can also be accessed with your Priority Pass.
It is a good lounge with decent food, a bar, the decor is stylish. While the lounge is definitely nice looking, it doesn’t make it to the top of our list of best airport lounges in Heathrow Terminal 2 because it doesn’t have windows or any natural light.
The lounge is open from 5:00 am – 10:00 pm, and the entryway is particularly impressive. It looks more like a boutique hotel than an airport lounge with sofas, muted lighting, and lots of natural woods and slates. There is a bar, a cafe area with cafe seats, and a sitting area with lounging sofa seats. There are Asian-style separators that separate the different sections of the lounge. These wooden slatted partitions have criss-cross designs and up-lighters, so this lounge is very snazzy.
I find the uk best Priority Pass lounges in Heathrow Terminal 5, best Priority Pass lounges in Heathrow Terminal 4, best Priority Pass lounges in Heathrow Terminal 5, best Priority Pass lounges in Heathrow Terminal 3 look fairly fantastic in photos. Sometimes they are let down slightly by the cleaning staff with sticky surfaces and armrests, but then I am fairly sensitive to cleanliness.
There are also numerous booths and hidden seating areas in this lounge, so it isn’t difficult to find your own personal space. There’s also a computer area with power outlets and a newspaper and magazine area with plenty of stuff to read.
Then in the back left of the lounge are semi-private seats that are great for working. In general, I love these kinds of seating arrangements.
The buffet here is extensive, and at breakfast, it is excellent, with whole fruit, cheeses, cold meats, salads, cereals, yogurt, muffins, pastries, cookies, milk, and four hot dishes. In the hot dishes are sausages, bacon, scrambled egg, and fried potatoes. There are also fruit juices and a tea and coffee machine as well as fridges with cans of soft drinks. Alcoholic drinks are available at the bar.
Bathrooms are stylish with orchids and lots of dark woods, again offering an Asian feel. The disappointment of this lounge is that there are no windows, so no views of the planes.
9. Plaza Premium Arrivals Lounge Heathrow Terminal 3
Plaza Premium Arrivals Lounge T3 is a paid arrivals lounge located landside outside the terminal, by Bus Stop 17 and 18. You can get in for free if you hold a dragon pass or an AMEX Platinum card, or you can pay for access from around £40 GBP. This small arrivals lounge has seats and 11 showers.
In January 2020, the Plaza Premium Arrivals lounge in Heathrow T3 also joined the Priority Pass lounge card program, which means you can gain access with your Priority pass.
This is a great lounge if you want a quick wash and change after a long flight landing in Heathrow Terminal 3. If you are flying Business with Virgin Atlantic and Delta, you can use their Revivals Lounge. American Airlines also has its arrivals lounge in the terminal. Still, this AA lounge is not open to Oneworld Sapphire and British Airways Executive Club Silver members who are traveling in Economy or Qantas First and Business Class passengers.
Plaza Premium Arrivals Lounge Heathrow is small with varied seating, magazines, and a continental breakfast buffet. It also has showers, which can be very useful.
10. Plaza Premium Arrivals Lounge Heathrow Terminal 4
Unfortunately, we have not visited this Priority Pass lounge, so we have placed it in the number 10 position on our list.
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