No1 Lounge operates two separate outposts at Gatwick — one in the North Terminal, one in the South — and both accept Priority Pass, DragonPass, Lounge Club, Wexas and Diners Club cardholders alongside anyone willing to pay the walk-up rate (from roughly £34-40 for a three-hour stay). Crucially, entry isn't gated by cabin class or airline: any checked-in passenger can buy their way in, which makes this one of the more democratic lounge experiences at the airport. The South Terminal lounge sits on the upper level of the departure hall between JD Sports and InMotion; the North Terminal branch is reached through the glass doors just after the lounge signage post-security. Both keep long hours, roughly 04:00 to 20:00 or 21:00 depending on the terminal.
On looks alone, No1 earns its reputation. The South Terminal space in particular is an open-plan, naturally lit room with a mix of armchairs, sofas and café-style tables, plants scattered throughout, and a bar set up in the round near the entrance pouring complimentary Prosecco alongside premium spirits and Champagne for an upcharge. The North Terminal lounge goes a step further with two private shower rooms included in general admission and a standalone Travel Spa offering massages, manicures, facials and hair treatments from around £15-20 — a genuinely unusual amenity for a Priority Pass lounge at a leisure-heavy airport like Gatwick.
The food is where the polish comes off. Post-pandemic, the hot buffet has shrunk noticeably — some visits report as little as three hot dishes (potato cubes, sausage patties, bacon), though other reports describe a rotating spread of stews, roasted vegetables, pasta and a nut roast on better days. Reviewers are consistent on one point: the catering is serviceable rather than memorable, and doesn't do much to justify the lounge's full cash rate. It's the kind of food you eat because you're there, not a reason to visit.
The bigger issue for FlightLogic readers travelling on Priority Pass is simply getting in. No1 Lounges are popular enough that both terminals regularly hit capacity and turn Priority Pass and DragonPass holders away, or push them into an online queue that can run 30-40 minutes — sometimes cutting it uncomfortably close to boarding. Pre-booking (a small guarantee fee, around £6, for Priority Pass and DragonPass holders) removes this risk almost entirely and is close to mandatory if you're travelling at a peak time, particularly weekday mornings. Treat it as a comfortable, good-value pre-flight stop with real showers and a proper bar — just don't roll up on spec and expect a seat.
