Lounge Experience
Plaza Premium Lounge in Gatwick’s North Terminal aims for a modern, all-purpose feel: practical rather than boutique-luxury. The design leans contemporary with a mix of dining-style tables and lounge chairs, and the space generally feels brighter than many contract lounges thanks to its runway/tarmac-facing windows. If you can grab a seat by the glass, it’s a pleasant spot for plane-spotting and a better-than-average way to pass time before boarding.
Comfort and calm depend heavily on timing. At peak morning and early afternoon waves, the lounge can feel busy, with seating turnover and a livelier background hum from conversations and clinking dishes. When it’s quieter, it’s genuinely relaxing—easy to settle in with a coffee, spread out a laptop, and enjoy the view. Seating is adequate for short stays, though don’t expect the deeply cushioned, high-partition privacy you’d see in premium airline lounges; for focused work, aim for the more upright seats near power points and away from the busiest buffet traffic.
Access Options
- Day passes: Available from £40 per adult (pricing can vary by time and pre-booking).
- Memberships: Access is commonly available via Priority Pass.
- Credit cards: Often accessible with American Express Platinum (via its lounge benefits).
- Entry notes: As with most third-party lounges at LGW, access can be capacity-controlled—pre-booking is wise if you’re traveling at peak times.
- Guest policies: Guest rules depend on your program (e.g., Priority Pass or card issuer). Expect guests to require either included guest allowances or an extra fee.
Food & Beverages
Food is served buffet-style, which suits a high-throughput airport lounge and works well for families and short visits. Expect a rotation of light hot dishes alongside cold items, soup/salad options, and snack-style bites. Quality is broadly in line with good contract-lounge standards: filling and convenient rather than destination dining. If you arrive at the start of a service period, the buffet tends to look fresher and better stocked; later on, selection can narrow until refills arrive.
Drinks are included, with a mix of soft drinks, coffee/tea, and alcoholic options. The offering is typically geared toward mainstream tastes rather than a curated “craft” bar—think house pours and standard beer/wine rather than rare premium spirits. For dietary needs, buffets usually provide at least a couple of vegetarian-friendly choices, and you can often assemble something lighter from salads and sides; however, if you require strict allergen handling or a wide vegan/gluten-free selection, manage expectations and ask staff about labeling and ingredients.
Amenities
- Wi‑Fi: Available and generally suitable for email, browsing, and light work. During busy periods, performance can dip as more guests connect.
- Work-friendly features: A mix of seating types, with some spots better suited to laptops. Power access is typically available but may be in demand at peak times.
- Families: Notably, there is a kids zone, which helps keep the main seating area calmer and makes this lounge more family-friendly than many North Terminal alternatives.
- Showers/spa: Current publicly available lounge listings for LGW do not clearly confirm shower facilities or any spa services for this lounge. If a shower is important for your trip, verify directly with Plaza Premium or Gatwick before relying on it.
- Quiet/napping: There is no widely advertised nap room; relaxation is mainly about choosing a quieter corner away from the buffet and family areas.
Verdict
Plaza Premium Lounge at Gatwick North is best for families (thanks to the kids zone), travelers who want a reliable buffet and included drinks, and anyone who values runway views while they work or unwind. For business travelers, it can be productive outside peak rushes, but it doesn’t offer the hushed, high-privacy feel of more premium concepts.
Compared with other North Terminal options, Plaza Premium sits in the comfortable middle: more polished than ultra-basic spaces, but not as “special occasion” as the top-tier, table-service experiences. If you’re deciding where to spend money, it’s generally worth paying when you’ll stay long enough to eat and drink—especially if you can enter via Priority Pass or Amex Platinum, or if you pre-book at a fair rate. If the lounge is busy and you primarily want quiet, you may find better value in choosing a lounge with stronger quiet zones or going off-peak.
Location
North Terminal