No 1 Lounge at Gatwick North Terminal Review

Before my recent flight to Menorca, I decided to spend a few hours and review the No 1 Lounge at Gatwick Airport’s North Terminal. I love having lounge access, and this time I was utilising my Priority Pass which comes with the American Express Platinum Card.

Having visited in the past, I was curious to see how it’s holding up in 2025, what’s changed, what’s improved, and whether it still offers good value compared to Gatwick’s other lounges.

A quick disclaimer on photos. When visiting the lounge is was extremely busy, and whilst trying to take some general photos of the lounge I was asked not to by a really lovely member of staff. Some of the photos are therefore taken from the No.1 Lounge website. Just a quick thank you to the staff who asked me not to photograph the lounge, you were so kind, polite and apologetic about it and your great customer service was appreciated.

Photo Courtesy of No. 1 Lounge

Location and Entry

The No 1 Lounge is located airside in the North Terminal’s main lounge corridor, just behind Boots and next to My Lounge. The signage is fairly easy to follow: simply clear security, turn left, and follow the signs to the lounges.

The entrance is always staffed, and as I arrived around 10:00 am - a typically busy time - there was already a short queue. This cleared within a minute, and the member of staff who I spoke to was efficient, professional and attentive.

Entry is available to anyone who pre-books directly through No 1 Lounges or via third-party providers. Membership cards including Priority Pass, Lounge Key, and DragonPass are accepted, though access can be restricted during peak hours. As mentioned I used my Priority Pass to pre-book; while the lounge entry itself is free, the booking incurs a small £6 fee on the Priority Pass app. If you are travelling at peak times I would say that the £6 is worth the guarantee of getting in to the lounge if you really want a guaranteed space.

Opening Hours and Pricing

The lounge operates daily from 04:00 to 20:00. Advance bookings start from £38 per adult for a three-hour stay, children aged 2–11 are charged at £24, and infants under two enter free. These are the prices when you book directly on the No.1 Lounge website, where as if you book via the Gatwick website these prices are higher.

Priority Pass and similar memberships typically allow a three-hour stay before departure, keeping things fair during busier times.

Layout and Seating

Upon entering, guests are greeted by a striking central 360-degree bar, surrounded by dining tables, soft seating and window-side spots with views over the apron.

Photo Courtesy of No. 1 Lounge

There’s also a smaller quiet room for those seeking a calmer space. I chose to sit in the so-called “Library” - despite the name, there are no books - which turned out to be peaceful enough to get some work done.

I was there at roughly 10:00, and it was pretty busy at this point.

The décor features purple and grey tones, giving the lounge a defined and contemporary feel, although some furnishings are looking a little tired. Unfortunately, the faux-leather work desk I chose was more than a little sticky from previous spills, a reminder that these lounges handle a lot of traffic.

This was the unfortunate offending sticky desk! Photo Courtesy of No. 1 Lounge

While the lounge isn’t as large as others I have been in, staff do an impressive job of managing turnover. Tables and placements were cleared quickly. During peak periods, you may need to wait briefly for seats to open up. On the plus side, power sockets are plentiful, and the Wi-Fi is fast and reliable - ideal for streaming, video calls, or last-minute downloads.

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Food and Drink

The buffet selection changes throughout the day and always includes at least one vegetarian option. Breakfast typically offers everything needed for a full English, with vegan sausages available on request. There was also a dedicated pancake station which was oh so tempting, but I'd filled myself up at the hotel I stayed at the night before. Later in the day, expect dishes such as pasta, curry or light salads.

First up we have a pancake station!

There are various hot food options

As well as some fruit, pastries and cereals

More hot food options

Coffee lovers are well catered for, with three machines in the main area and another in the "Library". There’s even a syrup station for those who enjoy a vanilla twist to their morning cup, aka me! Soft drink dispensers, fruit juices, and a range of milks are available, though the “sweet treat” section was rather limited, I spotted only fruit and yoghurt.

Soft drinks options are on tap in the lounge

There are a large range of Twinings Tea in the lounge

There is a great little station of additions for your coffee

The bar is a stylish, in the round set up right at the front of the lounge. Service appeared to be quick and friendly, even during the busy period I was there. Sparkling wine such as Prosecco comes as standard, while champagne and select premium spirits are available for an extra charge.

Facilities

The Wi-Fi is free and quick, and there are also newspapers and magazines to hand for lounge goers.

There are two private shower rooms equipped with towels, available on a first-come basis at no extra cost. Families are also looked after: there’s a small TV snug showing children’s programmes, high chairs in the dining area, and baby-changing stations in the main washrooms.

The Toilets in the No.1 Lounge Gatwick North are quite dark, but were clean.

The toilets spaces were clean and tidy throughout.

The hand soap in the toilets are from Rituals.

There are also baby changing facilities within the toilets.

The toilets were clean and tidy upon use, with Rituals hand wash available in the bathrooms.

Dress Code

As with all lounges, No 1 Lounges maintains a smart-casual dress code. Fancy dress, sports kits, flip-flops, vests, and overly revealing outfits may lead to refusal of entry without refund. Offensive slogans or imagery are also a no-go, and should be a no go when travelling anyway!

In practice, the policy is loosely enforced - most guests simply looked neat and travel-ready.

No 1 Lounge at Gatwick North Terminal Review: Verdict

For travellers flying from Gatwick’s North Terminal, the No 1 Lounge remains a good value option. It delivers comfort, decent food, inclusive drinks and reliable Wi-Fi, all within a calm and tranquil environment with runway views!

While seating can be tight at busy times and dessert options are minimal, its attentive staff and clean facilities make it an enjoyable experience.

With advance bookings starting from £38 per person, the No 1 Lounge is an easy way to upgrade your airport experience - especially when compared to the cost of dining and drinking in Gatwick’s main concourse.

Helena

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