British Airways Lounges in London: The Complete Guide to Heathrow, Gatwick and London City Airport (2026)

Start your British Airways journey with Carrot Cars

If you are flying British Airways from London, the easiest way to actually enjoy your lounge time is to make sure you arrive at the airport calm, on time, and door to door. Carrot Cars automatically gives priority bookings to all British Airways customers, in every cabin: First, Club World, Club Europe, World Traveller Plus, World Traveller and Euro Traveller. You get the same chauffeur class service whether your seat is in the front of the cabin or the back. Lock in your Carrot Cars airport transfer here.

At a glance: where are the British Airways lounges in London?

British Airways flies from three London airports: Heathrow, London City and Gatwick. The lounge picture is different at each one.

• Heathrow is BA’s main London hub and where you find the biggest network of British Airways lounges, in Terminal 5 and Terminal 3.
• London City Airport does not currently have a dedicated British Airways lounge.
• Gatwick has a single combined British Airways Club Lounge and First Lounge in the South Terminal.

Is the British Airways lounge free? The quick eligibility check

Lounge access with British Airways is included (not paid for separately) if you meet at least one of these:

• Flying in Club Europe (short haul business), Club World (long haul business) or First.
• Hold British Airways Executive Club Silver or Gold status.
• Have oneworld Sapphire or Emerald status with another oneworld airline.
• Travelling as a guest of an eligible Gold or Silver member, on a BA or oneworld flight.

If you are flying Euro Traveller, World Traveller or World Traveller Plus (premium economy) without status, you do not get free lounge access, and British Airways does not sell day passes to its own lounges. The Plaza Premium Lounge in Heathrow Terminal 3 is one paid alternative for travellers who do not have BA lounge access.

British Airways lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 5

Terminal 5 is the British Airways London Heathrow lounge experience for nearly all travellers. T5 opened on 14 March 2008, was purpose built for British Airways, and houses around 90 per cent of BA’s Heathrow flying. The British Airways lounge complex in Terminal 5 is not one big lounge, it is a cluster of separate lounges spread across the main building (T5A) and the satellite terminal (T5B), each one for a different cabin or status tier.

The T5 lounges are on the upper level, accessed after security. Look for “Lounges South” and “Lounges North” on overhead airport signage, or the oneworld logo (the small blue circle).

Flying BA from Heathrow Terminal 5? Book your Carrot Cars transfer to T5 now and travel door to door from anywhere in London. With priority booking, fixed pricing, an executive class vehicle and a professional chauffeur, you can arrive with enough time to clear security and enjoy Galleries Club or Galleries First before your flight.

Galleries Club: the British Airways business class lounge at London Heathrow

If you have searched for the British Airways business class lounge at London Heathrow, this is the lounge you mean. Galleries Club is the main BA business class lounge at LHR Terminal 5. There are actually three Galleries Club lounges in T5:

• Galleries Club, T5A South.
• Galleries Club, T5A North (closer to the A20s gates).
• Galleries Club, T5B (in the satellite terminal, reached by the underground transit train).

You can use any Galleries Club at Heathrow Terminal 5 if you are:

• Flying Club World (long haul business class) on British Airways or a oneworld partner.
• Flying Club Europe (short haul business class) on British Airways.
• A British Airways Executive Club Gold member, in any cabin.
• A oneworld Sapphire frequent flyer with another oneworld airline.

Inside, expect a buffet of hot and cold food, a self service bar with wine, beer and spirits, plenty of seating zones from quiet booths to runway-view armchairs, work stations, fast wifi and shower suites. Galleries Club is open early until late, roughly 04:30 to 22:30, lining up with first and last BA departures.

The biggest complaint in reviews is overcrowding around peak business hours, particularly mid-morning during peak holidays. If T5A South is rammed and you have time, T5B Galleries Club is often noticeably calmer.

Galleries First: the British Airways first class lounge at London Heathrow

Galleries First is the British Airways first class lounge at London Heathrow. It sits in the same T5A South lounge complex as Galleries Club, with a smaller version in T5B for satellite gate flights. It is a clear step up from Galleries Club in food, drink, calm and privacy.

You can use Galleries First if you are:

• Flying First Class on British Airways.
• A oneworld Emerald frequent flyer with another oneworld airline.

What you actually get is a la carte dining rather than buffet, a more serious bar including champagne, more private seating, walk-in shower suites and a quieter atmosphere because the eligible group is so much smaller.

The Concorde Room: BA’s most exclusive lounge in London

The Concorde Room sits one step above Galleries First and is named after the supersonic aircraft. It is BA’s flagship lounge, located in T5A South.

Access is restricted to:

• Passengers flying First Class on British Airways.
• Concorde Room cardholders, an invite only tier given to BA’s longest standing top customers.

The Concorde Room is much smaller and quieter than Galleries First. It includes private cabanas with day beds, an Elemis Travel Spa offering free 15 minute treatments by booking, a champagne bar, table-service dining in a separate dining room, and a recently refreshed look featuring hand blown glass lighting and ochre silk lining touches. If you are flying First with British Airways from Heathrow, this is where you go.

Note that holding BA Gold status alone does not get you into the Concorde Room. You either need a First ticket or the cardholder tier, which BA grants by invitation.

With Carrot Cars, the standard you expect inside the Concorde Room is the standard you get on the road, with priority booking for BA First passengers, executive class vehicles and a professional chauffeur door to door.

The British Airways Arrivals Lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 5

This one catches people out, because most lounges are about pre-flight comfort, but the Arrivals Lounge is for after you land.

The Heathrow T5 Arrivals Lounge is for passengers who have just arrived on a British Airways flight in First Class, or who are oneworld Emerald or Concorde Room cardholders, or BA Gold members on certain qualifying long haul flights. It is open from 05:00 to 14:00, lining up with the long haul morning bank.

Inside there are shower suites, breakfast, hot food, work zones and quiet seating. It exists so you can shower, change, eat and head straight into a meeting in central London on the same morning your flight arrived. Anyone who has gone from a 10 hour overnight flight to a 9am London meeting will understand why this lounge actually matters.

The Arrivals Lounge was the first project in BA’s five year refurbishment programme that began in late 2024.

Once you have showered and eaten, the next step is the drive into central London. Carrot Cars can meet you at Heathrow Arrivals, track your inbound BA flight, wait at the right meeting point regardless of early or late arrival, and take you door to door to your hotel, office or meeting.

British Airways lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 5C

Terminal 5C is a satellite pier reached by the same underground train that serves T5B, but it does not currently have its own dedicated branded BA lounge. If your flight departs from a T5C gate, BA generally advises using the lounges in T5A or T5B before walking or taking the train across, and allowing extra time to reach the gate.

British Airways lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 3

British Airways uses Terminal 3 for some long haul departures, particularly on flights operated by oneworld partners under joint business agreements. There are two BA lounges in Heathrow Terminal 3, both in Lounge Zone F:

• The Galleries First Lounge, T3.
• The Galleries Club Lounge, T3.

These are smaller and a touch more dated than the T5 versions, but they are noticeably quieter, which suits some travellers better. Access rules mirror T5: First plus oneworld Emerald in the First Lounge, Club plus BA Gold plus oneworld Sapphire in the Club Lounge.

There is one nice perk of flying from T3 with BA status: you can also use the Cathay Pacific lounge and the Qantas lounge in Terminal 3 if you hold the right oneworld tier. Many frequent flyers actually prefer those to the BA T3 lounges. If you are arriving in T3 in a long haul premium cabin, the American Airlines Arrivals Lounge is also an option for eligible passengers, in addition to anything BA offers.

For Heathrow Terminal 3 departures with British Airways or a oneworld partner, book your Carrot Cars transfer to LHR Terminal 3 here. Just give us your flight number when you book and your chauffeur will drop you at the right terminal entrance, every time. No second guessing on the day, no expensive last minute rebookings.

British Airways London Heathrow lounge access rules at a glance

If you are scanning rather than reading top to bottom, here is the British Airways London Heathrow lounge access cheat sheet:

• Concorde Room: First Class plus Concorde Room cardholders only.
• Galleries First (T5 and T3): First Class plus oneworld Emerald.
• Galleries Club (T5 and T3): Club World, Club Europe, BA Gold, oneworld Sapphire.
• Arrivals Lounge T5: arriving First, Concorde Room cardholders, oneworld Emerald, plus eligible BA Gold members on qualifying flights.

If you are flying World Traveller Plus (BA’s premium economy) you do not get a Heathrow lounge purely on the cabin. You only get in if you also hold BA Silver status or higher, or oneworld Sapphire / Emerald.

You also cannot pay for a day pass to a British Airways lounge. BA does not sell lounge access. If you are flying out of Heathrow on a non BA ticket and want a lounge, look at the independent Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal 3 instead.

Is there a British Airways lounge at London City Airport?

Now to the question a lot of people search for: is there a British Airways lounge at London City Airport?

The straight answer is no, British Airways does not currently operate its own dedicated lounge at London City Airport. There is no Galleries Club, no Galleries First and no Concorde Room at LCY. London City Airport itself confirms it does not currently have a business lounge facility in the main terminal. This surprises many travellers, because BA CityFlyer is by far the largest airline at the airport, having flown there for over 25 years (the milestone was marked on 5 November 2024).

The reason is mostly to do with how London City works as an airport. It is small, time pressured, and built around fast short haul European flights. BA recommends clearing security at least 20 minutes before departure and being at the gate at least 15 minutes before, which gives you a sense of how compact the airport experience really is. Most passengers go from kerb to gate in under half an hour. There is much less time to use a lounge.

What you actually get if you fly British Airways from London City

Even though there is no British Airways lounge at London City Airport, premium passengers and Executive Club Gold members are not stranded. The options are:

• Priority security and priority boarding for Club Europe passengers, which is the BA equivalent of a pre flight lounge perk at LCY.
• Paid access to the London City Airport Private Jet Centre lounges. There is a Business Lounge at roughly £35 per person and a First Class Lounge at roughly £95 per person. Anyone can book these, you do not have to be flying premium with BA.
• The bars and restaurants on the airside concourse. Because LCY is small, all of them are within a short walk of the BA gates.

So if you are searching “British Airways lounge London City Airport”, “London City British Airways lounge”, “London City Airport British Airways lounge” or “London City Airport lounge British Airways”, expecting to find a Galleries-style BA lounge, the honest answer is that the lounge you are picturing does not exist at LCY. What you do get is fast track, fast bag drop, fast security and a much shorter walk to the gate than at any other London airport.

Because LCY does not give you a dedicated British Airways lounge, the journey to the airport is where you can bring back some of that premium feeling. Book Carrot Cars to London City Airport and the door to door part of the trip becomes part of the experience. Priority booking for British Airways customers, executive class vehicles, fixed pricing to the Royal Docks, and professional chauffeurs in every car. It is the level of calm and comfort you would expect from a Galleries lounge, just in the car instead of the terminal.

Connecting from London City to a Heathrow long haul flight

If you are flying short haul from London City and connecting to a BA Heathrow long haul flight on the same day, you can use the Heathrow T5 or T3 lounges according to the rules above when you arrive at Heathrow. There is no BA lounge at LCY itself, but the lounge you are entitled to at Heathrow does not change because you started at City.

British Airways lounge at London Gatwick Airport

British Airways uses the South Terminal at London Gatwick. Worth saying clearly because many passengers still search whether BA flies from Gatwick North or South Terminal. The answer is South.

There are two British Airways lounges at Gatwick, in one combined facility on the Upper Mezzanine of the South Terminal, between Dixons Travel and InMotion, with lift access from the main concourse. Follow signs for “Lounges” after security.

• The British Airways Club Lounge at Gatwick, for eligible Club World and Club Europe passengers, BA Silver members and oneworld Sapphire members.
• The British Airways First Lounge at Gatwick, for First Class passengers, BA Gold members and oneworld Emerald members.

The lounge opened in early 2017 after BA consolidated all its operations to South Terminal in November 2016. The Club section was refreshed in 2025, with a new bar, updated furniture and new décor, so the experience is fresher than the dates might suggest. There are runway views, a hot and cold food offering, a bar, work zones and shower suites. It is generally less crowded than the Heathrow T5 equivalents.

Eligible BA passengers at Gatwick also get Premium Security, a faster security lane available to First, Club World, Club Europe, BA Gold and Silver members, and certain oneworld and AerClub status passengers.

This lounge serves a wide mix of departures, from BA Euroflyer European leisure routes to long haul Caribbean flights to Barbados, Antigua, Kingston and St Lucia, plus the new winter Colombo route.

Gatwick is a longer drive from central London than Heathrow, which is exactly why it helps to have the transfer planned in advance. Book Carrot Cars to Gatwick South Terminal and travel with priority booking for British Airways passengers, fixed pricing, executive vehicles and chauffeur class service. Whether you are flying long haul Caribbean with BA mainline or short haul European with BA Euroflyer, your chauffeur is ready at the right time. No M23 stress on the morning of an early departure.

A note on Stansted, Luton and the other London airports

For completeness, British Airways does not currently operate its own lounges at London Stansted, London Luton, London Southend or any of the smaller airports in the London cluster. BA CityFlyer runs some weekend leisure flights from Stansted under the BA brand (Florence, Ibiza, Nice, Split, with Olbia added for summer 2026), but there is no British Airways branded lounge there. Stansted does have an Escape Lounge that some travellers use for paid access, but it is not a BA facility.

If you are searching for British Airways lounge options at Luton, the answer is straightforward: BA does not currently fly from London Luton, so there is no British Airways lounge there.

Why British Airways customers should book Carrot Cars

The British Airways premium experience is built around one idea: the journey should feel calm and considered from the first moment to the last. The lounges are a big part of that. The drive to the airport is the other part, and it is the part British Airways does not control.

Carrot Cars automatically gives priority bookings to British Airways passengers, no matter which cabin you are flying.

• British Airways First or Club World: book Carrot Cars First Class chauffeur transfer. Same calibre of service as Galleries First and the Concorde Room, end to end. Executive class vehicle, professional chauffeur, meet and greet, fixed price.
• Club Europe: book Carrot Cars to Heathrow T5, T3, Gatwick South or London City. Priority booking gets you to the terminal on time, every time, so you can actually use the Galleries Club lounge access you are entitled to rather than rushing past it.
• World Traveller Plus, World Traveller or Euro Traveller: book Carrot Cars anyway. The BA lounge may not be in your ticket, but the chauffeur experience can still be. Carrot Cars treats every BA passenger to the same priority service, so the standard of comfort starts at your front door regardless of cabin class.

What that priority booking actually means in practice:

• BA flight tracking, so the driver waits in the right place if your inbound flight is early or delayed.
• Fixed transparent pricing to Heathrow Terminal 5, Heathrow Terminal 3, Gatwick South Terminal and London City Airport, with no surge surprises.
• Executive class vehicles as standard, professional chauffeurs, and meet and greet at airport arrivals.
• One simple booking flow that holds the slot for your specific BA flight, including early morning long haul departures and late night arrivals.

Your British Airways journey can start with a Carrot Cars airport transfer. The lounge takes care of you once you reach the airport. Carrot Cars handles everything before that.

How to find your British Airways lounge in London: practical tips

A few small things that save people time on the day of travel:

• Open the British Airways app on the day of your flight. Your digital boarding pass will often display “Lounge Access” plus the specific lounge you can use, so you do not have to puzzle out the rules at the airport.
• Look for the oneworld logo (a small blue circle) on overhead airport signage, alongside “Lounges” signs. It is the easiest visual marker.
• At Heathrow Terminal 5, allow 10 minutes to walk from security to the lounge in T5A South, longer if you are heading to the T5B satellite via the underground transit train.
• For early morning Heathrow long haul departures, arrive at the lounge around two hours before take off. For Heathrow Club Europe short haul, 90 minutes is usually enough. For London City Club Europe, 60 to 75 minutes is plenty given how compact the airport is.
• For arrivals: if you land at Heathrow T5 on a long haul BA flight in First, oneworld Emerald or as a Concorde Room cardholder, the Arrivals Lounge is downstairs after baggage reclaim and is open 05:00 to 14:00.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the British Airways lounge in Heathrow Terminal 5?

The British Airways lounge complex in Heathrow Terminal 5 is on the upper level after security. The main Galleries First, Galleries Club and Concorde Room are in T5A South. There is a second Galleries Club in T5A North closer to the A20s gates, and another Galleries Club and Galleries First in T5B (the satellite terminal, reached by underground train).

Is there a British Airways lounge at London City Airport?

No, British Airways does not operate a dedicated lounge at London City Airport. BA premium passengers can use paid access to the Private Jet Centre’s Business Lounge (about £35) or First Class Lounge (about £95), or use the airport’s main concourse bars and restaurants. London City is built for speed, with most passengers going from check in to gate in under 30 minutes.

Can I pay to get into the British Airways lounge at London Heathrow?

No. British Airways does not sell day passes to its own lounges. Access is via cabin class (Club Europe, Club World, First) or via Executive Club status (Silver, Gold) or via oneworld status (Sapphire, Emerald). The independent Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal 3 sells paid access if you need a paid option at Heathrow.

Can premium economy passengers use the British Airways lounge at London Heathrow?

Not on the cabin alone. World Traveller Plus passengers need British Airways Executive Club Silver or higher, or oneworld Sapphire or Emerald, to use any BA lounge. The chauffeur experience does not have to depend on cabin. With Carrot Cars, you get the same priority chauffeur service whichever cabin you are flying.

What is the difference between Galleries Club and Galleries First?

Galleries Club is the British Airways business class lounge at London Heathrow, used by Club World, Club Europe, BA Gold and oneworld Sapphire. Galleries First is the British Airways first class lounge at London Heathrow, used by First Class and oneworld Emerald. Galleries First has a la carte dining, a more private feel, premium drinks, and is meaningfully quieter.

Is the Concorde Room worth it?

Yes if you have access. It is BA’s flagship lounge in London with day beds, Elemis spa treatments and a proper dining room. Access is restricted to BA First Class passengers and Concorde Room cardholders, so for most travellers the question is academic.

Which terminal does British Airways fly from at Heathrow?

British Airways flies from Heathrow Terminal 5 and Heathrow Terminal 3. Terminal 5 is the main BA hub for long haul and short haul. Terminal 3 is used mainly for some long haul flights and oneworld partner connections.

Which terminal does British Airways fly from at Gatwick?

British Airways flies from Gatwick South Terminal. The BA First and Club Lounge is located on the Upper Mezzanine after security, between Dixons Travel and InMotion.

How do I get to the British Airways lounge at Heathrow Terminal 5?

The British Airways lounges at Heathrow Terminal 5 are after security, so you need to allow enough time for check in, bag drop and security before you reach them. A pre-booked Carrot Cars transfer can help you arrive calmly at the T5 departures level, giving you time to clear security and enjoy the lounge before your flight.

Can I book a chauffeur to take me to my British Airways flight?

Yes. Carrot Cars provides pre-booked London chauffeur transfers for British Airways passengers across every cabin, from First and Club World to World Traveller Plus, World Traveller and Euro Traveller. Once your BA flight is booked, you can arrange your Carrot Cars transfer, add your flight number, and leave the door to door journey to your chauffeur.

Final word: book Carrot Cars for your next British Airways flight

For most travellers, the answer to “British Airways lounge London” is Heathrow Terminal 5. Galleries Club is the British Airways business class lounge at London Heathrow that handles the bulk of premium passengers. Galleries First is the British Airways first class lounge at London Heathrow, and the Concorde Room sits one tier above for First passengers and Concorde Room cardholders. Terminal 3 has smaller versions for partner-operated long haul flights, plus the option of using the Cathay Pacific or Qantas lounges if you hold the right status.

London City Airport does not have a dedicated British Airways lounge, which is the simple, clear answer to the most common search on the topic. Gatwick has a single combined BA Club and First Lounge in the South Terminal, recently refreshed in 2025.

Whichever London airport you are flying from with British Airways, knowing the lounge access rules in advance turns what is otherwise a stressful pre flight rush into a more relaxed, properly enjoyable start to the trip.

And whichever cabin you are flying, Carrot Cars can take you there. Reserve your Carrot Cars airport transfer for your next British Airways flight here. Priority bookings for all BA customers, executive class vehicles, professional chauffeurs, fixed pricing, BA flight tracking, and meet and greet at every London airport. The standard you get inside the lounge starts at your own front door.

CHOOSE THE VEHICLE THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU