Heathrow Terminal 2, known as The Queen’s Terminal, is an airport terminal at Heathrow Airport, the main airport serving London. Terminal 2 is the newest of the four Heathrow terminals. It is not as snazzy as Terminal 5 but is modern and fresh, and we like it!
While London Heathrow Terminal 5 LHR remains my favorite Terminal, and there are plenty of great Priority Pass lounges at London Heathrow and the Plaza Premium Priority Pass departures lounge can be found in Terminal Two. But other Star Alliance lounges are even better than this award-winning Priority Pass lounge.
Other airport lounges in Terminal two include the Aer Lingus Gold Circle Lounge, Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge, Lufthansa Business & Senator Lounge, Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge, the United Club Lounge & United Global First Lounge, as well as some arrivals lounges. We have also reviewed the best club lounges at hotels in London separately in case you want advice on your stopover in London.
Terminal 2 opened in 1955 and was originally named the Europa Building. It closed in November 2009 for redevelopment, and the new, revamped Terminal 2, also known as The Queen’s Terminal, reopened on the 4th of June 2014.
Flights from Terminal 2 mainly depart to European destinations, although there are a few long-haul flights. The airlines currently based at Terminal 2 are:
- Aegean Airlines
- Aer Lingus
- Air Canada
- Air China
- Aer Lingus
- Air India
- Air New Zealand
- ANA
- Asiana Airlines
- Austrian Airlines
- Avianca
- Brussels Airlines
- Croatia Airlines
- Egyptair
- Ethiopian Airlines
- EVA Air
- Eurowings
- Flybe
- Icelandair
- Lufthansa
- SAS – Scandinavian Airlines
- Shenzhen Airlines
- Singapore Airlines
- South African Airways
- Swiss International Airlines
- TAP Portugal
- Thai Airways
- Turkish Airlines
- United Airlines
1. United Club Lounge & United Global First Lounge Terminal 2
United has made London Heathrow a priority, adding all Polaris business class services between New York and London. While this lounge is not designed like a United Club Lounge, this lounge, which is for Business and First Class passengers flying United, is very good and the best, along with the Air Canada lounge, in London Heathrow.
This United Club lounge is about a 10-minute walk from the Singapore Airlines and Air Canada lounges and can be found across from gate B46. The lounge is larger than both the Singapore Airlines and Air Canada lounges.
The lounge is split into Business and First sections. This is probably the best airport lounge in Terminal 2 because the First Class section is excellent, with wonderful a la carte food in a stylish setting.
The lounge has a classy entranceway with lots of white marble. Inside, the look is cream with lots of old-fashioned plane artwork on the walls, along with a big clock. The seats reflect United’s signature blues and grey. A large window with great views runs the lounge’s length, and a large bench runs parallel to the tendered bar, ideal for recharging devices and working with a view.
In the First Class part of the lounge, there are many black and white leather seats and an array of fridges with soft drinks, beer, and wine. There are snacks, Burts crisps, pretzels, etc., and there is a self-serve bar with just about every spirit imaginable, which you can self-serve out of the bottles.
For food, we tried breakfast, and you will find a fresh breakfast selection, smoked salmon, cold cuts, yogurt, fruit salad, fresh juice, cereal, and fruit. There are also some beautiful pastries, danishes, and hot dishes, including scrambled eggs, baked beans, mushrooms, and sausages. 6 hot dishes in total. Plus, you have an array of mini dishes in glasses that are completely delicious, and you can order things like eggs benedict a la carte.
The Global First lounge is more luxurious than the main lounge, with a tea lounge, wine room, and à la carte dining. An example of the a la carte lunch menu includes soup, duck, and crab starters. Mains include burgers, tomato, and mozzarella gnocchi, Hickory barbeque pulled pork, and Seabream risotto. Dessert was a warm chocolate brownie or a cheese plate on this a la carte menu.
The bathrooms within the lounge are also well kept and classy with Cow Shed amenities, plus there are eight showers in this lounge.
The buffet in the main section is not as impressive but has similar hot breakfast options with a buffet, including scrambled eggs, baked beans, mushrooms, and sausages. There are also old cuts, yogurt, fruit salad, fresh juice, cereal, fruit, and bread, but there is no a la carte. Also on offer are fridges with juices, soft drinks, beer and wine, and tea and coffee machines.
2. Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge
This Air Canada Star Alliance Lounge is across the corridor from the Singapore Airlines lounge near gate B36. It is smart with floor-to-ceiling windows on one side and grey seating, plus there is a big model of a plane in the middle. It actually feels more premium and modern than the Singapore Airlines lounge.
The large windows in this lounge are a huge highlight. They are enormous, and their size is accentuated by a high ceiling. They flood the lounge with natural light and offer a great view of the planes.
Modern seating is complemented by timber walls and partitions, which make the lounge feel classy. It has a fun bar with a bartender with a red hue, a cafe/buffet area, a quiet area, a work area, and spa showers. You can access this lounge if you are an Air Canada Altitude elite. Star Alliance Gold members and Maple Leaf Club “North America Plus” and “Worldwide” members can also gain access to this lounge along with the other Star Alliance lounges in this terminal.
For the buffet, a manned pancake/crepe/waffle station with jams, there is a self-serve espresso machine, cans of soft drinks, and jugs of juices. Breakfast consists of hot and cold dishes at the buffet, with scrambled eggs, beans, and sausages, smoothies, cold cuts, fruit, salad, cereal, pastries, croissants, fresh bread, and so on forth.
There are also smart toilets, showers, and fast Wi-Fi.
3. Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge
Located in T2B close to departure gate B36, Singapore Airlines’ SilverKris Lounge welcomes customers with a signature batik design screen; an element common across lounges featuring the new design and similar to those already seen in Sydney and Hong Kong.
This lounge is split in two, with one section for Business Class passengers to the right of the reception counter, and First Class passengers can access the First Class lounge to the left of the counter.
The lounge is located in Terminal 2 Satelite B, near the gate B36, which is a long walk from security, maybe 20 minutes walk, so if you are a Star Alliance member who wants to use this lounge for a different, non-Singapore flight, make sure you know where your gate will be. If you are flying Lufthansa, in particular, your gate will be a long walk from this lounge.
This new-concept SilverKris Lounge was designed by renowned architectural and interior design firm ONG&ONG and is modeled after elements of a home, following extensive research that included focus groups with customers. There is a small hall lounge at the entrance with no windows, but carry on down the corridor, and you will get to an area of the lounge with nice windows.
With separate areas dedicated to First and Business Class customers, a total of 208 seats are offered, complete with roving hosts to look after guests throughout their stay. Both First and Business areas have an Asian/Western buffet bar area, super seating, and newspapers/magazines.
In the First Class section, the decor is yellow and tan and very stylish. Seats are comfy, and some are in booths. The First Class lounge offers a self-service buffet area and an à la carte offering, where five different menus will operate throughout each day.
The Business section offers spacious seating for 158 passengers and a bar area, complete with a professional bartender who offers freshly prepared cocktails (a choice from Singapore Sling, Ginger Mojito, Fly High, Rusty Nail, Stabilizer, Summer Spin, Pina Colada, Apple & Kiwi Cooler, and Prosecco), beers and wine, an international buffet and shower facilities. It is split into the living room, an international buffet, and productivity pods.
The buffet offers signature Asian and Western dishes cooked freshly on-site throughout the day. The dishes include hot and old options, desserts, and salads. Chicken with noodles and vegetables, basmati rice, meat stew, cheesy potatoes, and chicken curry.
The cold dishes include salads and veggies, cold pasta salad, cold cuts, cheese, sandwiches, wraps, bread, and desserts like cakes and mousses.
Floor-to-ceiling windows offer views of the planes, and there are some particularly nice seats for aviation geeks right by the window if you are lucky enough to nab one of these. The First Section also has à la carte dining options and private seating.
This lounge can be accessed by premium passengers of Singapore Airlines and Singapore Airlines Krisflyer Elite Gold and Star Alliance Gold members. The lounge is located opposite the Air Canada lounge.
It is worth noting that the lounge can get very crowded late in the afternoon around Singapore Airlines’ departure times.
If you have a Star Alliance flight departing from Terminal 2 at Heathrow Airport, the Singapore Airlines lounge is a much better choice than the Lufthansa lounge.
4. Lufthansa Business & Senator Lounge
This Lufthansa lounge is located next door to the Air Lingus lounge and is accessible to premium frequent flyers and people flying in Business and First as well as Star Alliance elite members. Miles&More HON Circle/Senators and Star Alliance Gold cardholders can also access this lounge for free. This lounge is big, with a buffet area with hot and cold food, a bar, and views of the planes. The Senator buffet is more expensive than the main lounge buffet.
The Business lounge is accessible to Lufthansa/Star Alliance premium and elite passengers. Lufthansa First and Business class passengers, Miles&More HON Circle/Senators, and Star Alliance Gold cardholders can access the Senator lounge.
Lufthansa has separate lounges for Business Class and elite members and is functional with a modern German feel, mustard and black seating, and floor-to-ceiling windows. I’m not too fond of this lounge’s look or feel, but that is personal taste. On the bright side, it is spacious, and the food is good.
There is a large business center with communal tables and high seating, a cafe area by the buffet, and a number of board rooms.
The buffet is on the right side of the lounge. There is a nice salad on offer with dips, plus risotto, beef, vegetable, rice, and pasta dishes. There is also a range of spirits, juices, coffees, and teas from a machine and snacks like pretzels.
If you have access to the Senator Lounge, the entrance is at the back of the Business Lounge, and you have to scan paper with a barcode that they gave you at check-in to get in.
This part of the lounge looks very similar and seems to be more crowded, as all Star Alliance Gold members can access it,
The food and drinks in the Senator Lounge are more-or-less the same as the food and drink in the Business Lounge. The alcohol is slightly better in the Senator Lounge, with more variety, but otherwise, the offering is pretty much the same. The toilets in both lounges are fine, but there are no shower facilities in this lounge.
The differences between the Senator and Business Lounges are nominal, but the lounge’s food is good. Is it the best Star Alliance lounge in Terminal Two? No, not really. The design and look are not to my taste, and while it is convenient for flights departing from “A” pier, the other Star Alliance lounges in the terminal are probably better.
5. 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 toward lounge “A3”.
This lounge can also be accessed with your Priority Pass. 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, and 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.
It is a good lounge with decent food and a bar with stylish decor. 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 wood 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 3, 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, a tea and coffee machine, and 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 and no views of the planes.
6. Aer Lingus Gold Circle Lounge Terminal 2
The Aer Lingus Gold Circle Lounge Terminal 2 is located next to the Lufthansa Business & Senator Lounge and offers drinks and light snacks, comfortable armchairs, slate wall tiles, free Wi-Fi, apron views, and shower facilities. It can be fairly busy and does not offer hot breakfast options.
You can access this lounge if you are traveling to America or Europe on Aer Lingus for Business. Even if you are connecting in Dublin (and flying the first portion in economy), you can access this lounge with the Business Class Dublin to USA sector ticket. You can also access this lounge if you hold a BA Silver card, Aer Lingus Gold Circle, BA Executive Club elite, or a Bank of Ireland Gold Visa Business Card and are flying Aer Lingus. Premium Icelandair passengers also get access.
The chairs in this lounge are green and blue with patches of green carpet that look a bit like grass. The chairs are arranged around coffee tables. There are toilets and a shower. Breakfast in this lounge is good but not great, with cereals, pastries, yogurts, cheese and crackers, two coffee machines, and juices. There is no hot food, which is why this is near the bottom of my best lounges at Heathrow Terminal 2 selection. Guinness, red wine, and white wine are also available.
7. United Star Alliance Arrivals Lounge Terminal Two
This Star Alliance lounge is shared between United, Air Canada, and South African Airways and is beyond baggage reclaim. There are seats, newspapers and magazines, a breakfast buffet, a la carte food, and shower suites.
You can access this lounge if you have flown United Polaris Business or First or Air Canada in Business Class. If you are an Altitude Super Elite 100K member arriving on Air Canada or SAA Voyager Platinum Life flying in on South African Airways, you also get access. Star Alliance passenger’s elite members reportedly do not have access to this lounge.
8. Plaza Premium Arrivals Lounge Heathrow Terminal 2
Unfortunately, we have not visited this Priority Pass lounge, so we have placed it in the number 2 position on our list.
They say: “Conveniently located at Terminal 2 Arrivals Hall, our arrival lounge is ideal for travelers not only arriving at Heathrow Airport but for those looking for a place to relax while they wait for friends or connect with business partners. Our premium features include shower facilities, massage services, a fully tended bar, and an enticing selection of food, in addition to private resting suites for travelers to take a nap before heading to the next destination. Our lounge is a comfortable and convenient space for travelers to gather with their friends or meet with business partners for work or meetings before heading into the city. Sky Sports channel is available for travelers to watch the latest sports event and games.”
9. Regus Express Arrivals Lounge Terminal Two
This is a small paid arrivals lounge by Regus located landside at T2 arrivals. The lounge contains comfy seats, work areas, free tea, coffee, and water, along with nine meeting rooms. Lounge access is for Regus BusinessWorld and DragonPass members. Paid entry is also available.
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