Review: No1 Lounge London Gatwick (LGW – South Terminal)

Before my Norwegian Air flight from London Gatwick to Los Angeles, I spent about 15 minutes in the No1 Lounge South Terminal…boy was it crowded.

When checking in for my flight, a Norwegian Air staff member presented me with a lounge pass.

I easily found the lounge toward the center of the terminal. A lounge associate exchanged my invitation for a printed menu. In that sense, this lounge is very similar to the Terminal 3 Lounge in Heathrow bearing the same name.

This lounge, however, was so packed it wasn’t funny. Midday seemed to be the peak time of day for this lounge and it took me several minutes to find a seat. Once I did, I ended up just sending a few emails and leaving. In addition to being used by several airlines for premium guests, entry is sold for 26GBP and this is also a Priority Pass lounge.

That said, the menu was impressive (all items complimentary)–

It actually may be smart to eat here rather than on your flight (especially if flying Norwegian). If you want to order food, place your order at the bar.

There was also a decent little buffet as well as a beverage station with soft drinks, coffee, water and cakes.

Unlike in Heathrow, the bar did not include a barista coffee station. Restrooms were available but too crowded to photograph.

Note the sign on the door: No1 lounge and clubrooms. On the way out, I noticed that several private rooms were empty or virtually empty. I could have used these: for an additional 45GBP. Considering this includes full table service with a two-course meal and complimentary alcohol, perhaps that is not a terrible deal.

CONCLUSION

If you have a Priority Pass card, I recommend you check out the Grain Store Bar & Cafe instead. Had I been hungry, that is exactly where I would have gone. The No1 lounge is very attractive in layout and a la carte menu, but it was simply too crowded for me to enjoy. It is open daily from 4:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M.

> Read More: No1 Lounge – London Heathrow T3 (LHR) Review