Airport Lounges at Gatwick North Terminal: Are They Worth It?
Disclosure: Some of the links on our website are affiliate links, meaning at no extra cost to you, we will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase
Airport lounges can be excellent value for money and a great way to kick off your holiday away from the carnage and commotion of the main departure lounge.
Most lounges include breakfast or a light meal, plus complimentary drinks.
And if you’re the “airport pint at 6:30am” type (no judgement here), you can enjoy it in a comfy chair instead of paying £8 for the privilege in the terminal bar.
Holiday mode: activated.
Always Check Before Booking An Airport Lounge
Before booking lounge access, it’s worth checking if you already have it included somewhere — or if you can get a discount.
For example, if you’re on the Monzo Max plan, you can book airport lounges for around £24 per person. The nice thing is you’re not locked into a specific lounge, so you can usually choose one of the better options.
Some tour operators also include lounge access, and many credit cards, bank accounts, or travel insurance policies offer it as a perk.
No1 Lounge Gatwick North Terminal
The The No1 Lounge is one of the busier lounges in Gatwick’s North Terminal and costs roughly £35 per adult for up to three hours.
Food and drinks are included, usually served buffet-style depending on the time of day.
When we visited early in the morning the options included:
- Full English breakfast items
- Pastries
- Cereals
- Hot drinks
- Beer, wine and spirits
Considering airport food prices these days, it’s not bad value. The food itself isn’t anything special, but if you’re the type who’d normally grab a few beers and some breakfast in Spoons anyway, the lounge can start to make sense.
Another perk we liked is the guaranteed delay cover, which means if your flight is delayed you’re not stuck wandering the terminal looking for somewhere to sit.
We actually had the lounge bundled in with TUI Premium, so it came as part of the package.
Is it worth the full £35 price tag? Probably not unless you’re planning on putting away six vodka and Cokes — which we can’t officially recommend.
But if you can get access closer to £25, we’d say there’s definitely some value to be had.
No1 Lounge Opening Times
04:00 – 19:30 Monday, Thursday, Saturday
04:00 – 17:30 Sunday, Tuesday, Friday
The lounge is located inside the North Terminal departure area.
To find it:
Head towards gates 45–55 and 101–113.
Walk past World Duty Free and look for WHSmith near the escalator.
The entrance to the lounge is just a short walk beyond that. Keep your eyes peeled for the free newspaper stand lurking just past WHSmith.
The Plaza Premium Lounge
The Plaza Premium Lounge is another solid option in Gatwick’s North Terminal.
This lounge focuses on a more relaxed atmosphere with:
- Complimentary drinks
- Buffet food
- Free WiFi
- Comfortable seating areas
- Kids zone and games
Guests also receive a complimentary glass of Prosecco when they arrive.
It’s a good middle ground between comfort and value, especially if you’re travelling with family.
Opening times:
05:00 – 20:00
Clubrooms
If you’re looking for something a little more upmarket, Clubrooms at Gatwick North Terminal is one of the posher lounge options.
Prices start at around £44 per person, and the experience is designed to be a bit more premium than the standard lounges.
Expect table service, a more refined food menu, and complimentary drinks in a quieter setting with fewer guests.
We haven’t personally tried Clubrooms yet, but if you’re after a calmer lounge experience before your flight, this could be worth a look.
The Gateway – Easyjet Lounge
If you’re flying EasyJet, you might come across The Gateway Lounge, operated by No1 Lounges.
It’s generally the most budget-friendly lounge option in the North Terminal.
You’ll still get the essentials:
- Complimentary snacks and drinks
- Hot beverages
- Free WiFi
- Newspapers and magazines
It’s a simple lounge without too many extras, but still far nicer than sitting at a crowded gate.
Opening times:
04:00 – 21:00
How to get Free or Discounted Airport Lounges
Airport lounge access sometimes comes included with things you already pay for.
Examples include:
- Premium bank accounts
- Travel insurance packages
- Certain credit cards
- Airline loyalty programmes
For example, we previously used Barclays Travel Pack Insurance
- Family travel insurance
- EU breakdown cover
- Six airport lounge visits per year
At roughly £15 per month for the household, it works out great value if you travel a few times per year.
We now use Monzo Max. The only reason we switched is that Monzo offers more perks that we use, so it made sense. You can check out our guide on Monzo Max here.
You can also get lounge access through O2 Priority, although usually only if your flight is delayed.
Final Thoughts
Airport lounges at Gatwick’s North Terminal are a nice way to start your trip if you can get them at the right price.
The No1 Lounge is the most well-known as it’s in loads of bundles and perk packages.
Would we pay £35 every time? Probably not.
But if you can grab a deal, have it included with your travel package, or get access through a bank account, it’s a comfortable way to enjoy breakfast, a drink, and escape the airport crowds before your flight.
You May Also Like:
- Sofitel Gatwick North Terminal Review
- Premier Inn North Terminal Review
- Walking Around Gatwick: Pubs, Hotels, Big Tesco & More
If this post saved you or helped you book smarter, that’s a massive win for us.
If you fancy supporting what we do, you can grab us a beer below. It genuinely keeps the site running (and funds the holiday hunting).
No pressure. Just good vibes.
¡Adiós amigos!
Share This Post
