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Destination Traveller

Lounge review

Sample

The Quiet Lounge

At the far end of the pier, past the last shop, in the one part of Terminal 5 where the noise drops: showers, a proper kitchen and chairs you can actually read in.

7/10genuinely quiet, though food is simple at peak times.

Access

Business-class tickets and top-tier status, or a day pass bought online in advance. The pass is not sold at the door and it does not cover the peak at seven in the morning, when the room fills before most flights have begun boarding.

The space

Low lighting, deep armchairs and a layout that puts the dining room away from the workstations. There is a quiet room with no screens and no announcements, which is the reason to come here rather than to the pay-in lounge by the gates.

Food and drink

A hot buffet that is genuinely cooked, a chef station until two in the afternoon, and a wine list with a sommelier who will pour you a decent glass without steering you to the top of it. The breakfast is the best in the terminal.

Showers and quiet

Six shower rooms with towels, toiletries and a hairdryer, free to all guests and rarely needing a booking. There is no bath; for that you need the airline hotel.

Who it suits

Travellers who want a shower, a sit-down meal and an hour of quiet before a long flight, and who would rather not pay for a bar scene.

Questions

Can I pay to get in?

Yes, but only by buying a day pass online in advance. The lounge does not sell them at the door and the passes run out on busy mornings.

Do I need to book a shower?

Not usually. There are six rooms and we have only ever waited once, at eight in the morning on a Friday.

Is it better than the pay-in lounge near the gates?

For eating and sleeping, yes. The pay-in lounge is closer to the gates and louder, and it has no showers.

Last updated 30 October 2026

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