The UK airport lounges that are actually worth paying for: Standards have slipped in too many - experts who've been to them all would spend their own money on these ones By Tom Chesshyre Published: 07:23 EDT, 25 June 2024 | Updated: 07:32 EDT, 25 June 2024 e-mail 13 View comments You no longer have to fly in business or first class to enjoy a bit of pampering at a UK airport lounge - but how do you know if the entry fee is worth the cost? Pay-as-you-go lounges have been around for a while. The only problem is that some have become so popular they've started to suffer from overcrowding - and standards have slipped. But not all of them - and with new and refurbished lounges regularly opening as operators tap in to growing demand, there are plenty of enticing spots to relax away from the hugger-mugger of the main departure halls while sipping on champagne.
To pick out the very best, we've consulted aviation experts and scoured thousands of reviews. These lounges can be booked in advance or on the door and offer the perfect experience to kick off a holiday in style. HEATHROW Plaza Premium, Terminal 5 The buffet, above, and the bar, below, both win praise from travel writers Tucked away on the far left-hand side of the ground floor of T5, Plaza Premium gets the thumbs up from Ben Smithson, senior writer at The Points Guy.
It's part of a major worldwide chain that has been voted the world's best independent airport lounge operator for seven years by the airport consultancy Skytrax..