WHSmith

Gate-side basics in T2 before check-in closes

Terminal 2’s WHSmith sits landside, just before the check-in desks, and it’s the default stop if you realise you forgot something on the drive in. It carries the usual UK newsstand mix: crisps, chocolate, bottled drinks, a short run of travel-size toiletries, and the day’s papers. Prices run higher than the high street — think around £1.50 for a standard bottle of water and £1.20–£1.50 for a chocolate bar.

Hours roughly mirror the T2 flight schedule, opening early for morning departures and closing after the last check-in winds down, but it’s rarely worth arriving before 04:30. You’ll find basic cables, headphones and power banks on the rack closest to the tills, handy if you’re flying with T2 charter carriers and your bag is already checked. Prepacked sandwiches and cold drinks work for a quick bite, but hot food options are limited to packaged items.

Selection in this smaller T2 branch is thinner than WHSmith in Terminal 1, especially for magazines and books, so if you care about reading choices and your timing allows, browse T1’s post-security store instead. Expect the usual 3‑for‑2 deals on snacks and occasional “meal deal” combos around £4–£5, though they can sell out by late afternoon on busy holiday weekends.

Tip: grab water and any last‑minute toiletries here in T2, but save non-urgent snack and reading runs for airside in Terminal 1 if you have a few extra minutes and are already heading that way.