The British Airways Galleries First Lounge in London Heathrow Terminal 5 South is no Concorde Room, but a nice step up from the crowded business class lounge one floor above.
British Airways Galleries First Lounge London (LHR T5 South) Review
This lounge is also not on par with the Cathay Pacific or Qatar Airways lounge, but it is comfortable with a large selection of food and beverages.
Access + Hours + Location
You’ll find this lounge in the south concourse of Terminal 5. If you have British Airways Gold status, oneworld Emerald status, or are traveling in first class, you can enter the lounge (with one guest) through the special Gold check-in area in the east corner of the terminal. After checking and dropping off your bag, there is a dedicated security checkpoint and hallway that empties out in the lounge.
If you’re coming from the general security checkpoint, after clearing security, head downstairs and turn right. You’ll walk past a busy gate area and some stores before reaching an escalator or elevator up to the lounge.
This lounge is open daily from 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM and serves the following passengers:
- oneworld emerald members (plus one guest)
- First class passengers traveling on a oneworld carrier
British Airways first class passengers are welcome to use this lounge, but also have access to the Concorde Room, which is a superior lounge.
Tip: Children two and older count toward the guest limit. On a prior visit I showed up with my wife, four-year-old son, and one-year-old daughter. I wasn’t sure how British Airways handled families and was politely told that I would need to use the business class lounge upstairs, as I was only allowed one guest. I knew my infant daughter did not count as a guest, but children are counted when they turn two.
This is probably a good thing as a young family behind us tried the same thing was also sent upstairs…
Unlike the Galleries lounge directly above, I loved that this Galleries First lounge was not nearly as crowded. It makes a huge difference in creating a premium experience.
Seating
As you walk into the lounge you pass those iconic British Airways horse lamps, which I used to find odd but now, due to their association with BA, I quite like.
Inside is a bar straight on, then seating off to the right and left. The wood floors are really showing their age and there are insufficient power plugs. That said, you typically won’t experience heavy crowding in this lounge, which will make it less of a scavenger hunt to find a plug for your device.
The lounge was scented by Charabanc.
Terrace
The terrace offers additional seating in an environment that still doesn’t feel like you are outside, but does have a much higher ceiling. Only drinks are available on the terrace.
Food + Drink
I wasn’t hungry by the time I got to this lounge, but had I been there was a wide assortment of food including multiple soups, a salad bar, sandwiches, and hot dishes like chicken peri-peri style and Spanish-style chickpea stew.
There was even a live cooking station with Indian food.
Crisps and whole fruit were available at various stations around the lounge plus ice cream from Jude’s:
AS for
Green juice and a G&T…
During the pandemic, there was simply an a la carte menu via a sticker with QR code placed on virtually every table (to pinpoint your location for delivery). The QR codes can now be used to order drinks, but all food has returned to self-serve buffet style.
Pandemic-era pictures (for historical purposes…):
Pandemic-Era A La Carte Menu
Here’s a look at the pandemic-era menu:
Coffee House
When I saw the sign for “coffee house” I got excited and hoped it meant barista-made coffee like in the Concorde Room. But no, it was just the same machines as upstairs and Union Coffee (not at all my favorite – I find it very bitter).
Champagne Bar
Further back in the lounge was another bar area, this one self-serve, that BA calls its Champagne bar.
Other Drinks
There’s a tended bar near the entrance and self-serve drink stations throughout the lounge.
Sleeping Area (Forty Winks)
In partnership with Restworks, BA has seven sleep pods in this lounge which constitute the quiet area. sleep pods were not fully flat and it was so bright I’m not sure I would have been able to sleep, even if I was tired.
Restrooms
It wouldn’t be a British Airways London lounge without the train-like restrooms. Showers were available down the hall.
Flight Help
T5 was crowded then and is even more crowded now. Perhaps the greatest benefit to this lounge is the availability of agents to help if your travel plans are disrupted. The British Airways app is light years behind that of its American counterparts so don’t expect to be able to rebook yourself if your flight is cancelled or severely delayed.
CONCLUSION
I found this lounge to be a big step up from the business lounge upstairs and it it turned out to be a comfortable place with plenty of food and beverage options to wait for my (delayed) flight.
While the lounge is showing its age, it remains a welcome refuge from the hectic gate areas of Heathrow Terminal 5.
Looks the same as the Galleries business lunge. Food choices didn’t look al that premium either.
I guess its better than nothing. I was there a month ago and BA could barely operate flights . Spent a lot of time there as BA was delayed for no apparent reason.
I haven’t been in the Concorde room in a while but used to be very nice. A little Champagne buzz to start things off is always welcome. However, if you’re only in business, I prefer the North lounge to South. Usually not as crowded.
Matthew, seems like you need to pay another visit for a couple of reasons. 1) Services here are returned. 2) You took 10 minutes. 3) Any lounge with an ala carte menu deserves a post covid & more thorough review for posting date relevance. As in, food selection, taste, etc.
I typically search back for your lounge reviews (your old traveling buddy is less nuts & bolts) prior to landing but this is a bit of a gloss over for me.
Hope you take this as constructive.
Fair points, Sam. I do look forward to returning and spending more time here. The only defense I’d make is that you can use the QR code I included in this report to pull up what the a la carte menu looks like today. It’s also my understanding the Elemis spa is still closed and will remain closed.
It might be worth mentioning that those flying in first class on BA and those flying AA in first class AND departing from T5 have access to the Concorde Room.
I was there last month and the Terrace was open as part of the Galleries First lounge. I presume the Concorde Room has now opened, as well.
Were you allowed in with 2 guests in the business lounge? I’m flying into LHR later this week with my husband and teenage son. I have one world emerald status but it seems like even in the upstairs lounge I will only get one guest inside.
One guest. I visited alone (left my family briefly upstairs in the business lounge on top floor).
These are the sleep pods that used to be in the Concorde Room. They’re VERY good….
That’s a shocking cheese:cracker ratio they have going on there! LOL
I’m probably in this lounge ~10-12 times a year, and I actually think I love it more each time. Look, it’s not perfect, and despite what your review says, it actually does get quite crowded. However, if you can snag a seat on the patio, you don’t really feel the crowds. The champagne selection is great, and if you order via QR code, your drinks arrive almost immediately. Entering through the First wing is always dependable and efficient. I feel like this is the opposite of the Turkish Lounge in Istanbul in that people seem to hate on it when I think it’s actually very good; while people obsess about the TK lounge and I really don’t care for it.
I went to the Galleries First Lounge in July 2024 (used my temporary BA Gold status) with my wife & 5 year-old daughter. I told my wife let’s try it out as Virgin always gives us access (Gold) and was pleasantly surprised when they said they would make an exception and let us in. Unfortunately, the lounge was not much better than the business lounge other than lack of crowding and the kids play room.
I am in LHR this year flying from T5 and have emerald status. Does anyone know if you can easily transit to T3 to see the Cathay lounge etc but stay within security? I will have around 5 hours so want to lounge hop however, just dont know if it is worth clearing security everytime. I should state I am not transiting LHR and I am travelling to Barcelona from LHR