No1 Lounge vs Plaza Premium Lounge Gatwick North is one of the most common lounge comparisons for passengers flying from London Gatwick North Terminal. This guide compares food, drinks, seating, runway views, Wi-Fi, comfort, facilities, and overall value to help you decide which lounge is better before your flight.
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Quick comparison: No1 Lounge vs Plaza Premium Lounge Gatwick North Terminal
Both lounges are located airside at London Gatwick North Terminal, and both offer hot food, drinks, runway views, Wi-Fi, and seating away from the main terminal.
The Plaza Premium Lounge Gatwick North
Best for space, natural light, runway views, a calmer atmosphere, family facilities, and a more premium lounge setting.
The No1 Lounge Gatwick North
Best for a staffed bar, included Prosecco, hot food, varied seating, and a more social pre-flight atmosphere.
Our overall winner:
The Plaza Premium Lounge Gatwick North Terminal
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Book Your Lounge Access
To access the No1 Lounge or the Plaza Premium Lounge, compare Priority Pass membership (up to 20% off through our link) versus a one-off lounge booking at Lounge Pass using the buttons below.
After you click Lounge Pass, simply search your airport name, choose your lounge, then pick your date and time to book your spot. The Plaza Premium Lounge at London Gatwick North terminal costs £46 per person, whereas the No1 Lounge costs £48 per person.
After you click Priority Pass, simply scroll down to the ‘Your Journey Starts Here’ section to purchase a lounge membership that suits you. A ‘Standard’ membership is best for more infrequent travellers which allows access to all lounges for a discounted fee (£24 or currency equivalent). ‘Standard Plus’ membership will provide 9 free visits per year, and then at the discounted rate after that. The ‘Prestige’ membership is for the frequent flier, which grants unlimited lounge access for the year!
*Please note, all guests would enter at the discounted entry fee.
Location and Opening Hours
The Plaza Premium Lounge Gatwick North Terminal is located airside in the Lounge Pavilion on the fourth floor. The lounge occupies the former Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse space, which gives it one of the strongest lounge locations in the terminal.
The No1 Lounge Gatwick North Terminal is also located airside in the airport lounges area after security. After passing through security, follow the signs for airport lounges, walk through the glass double doors, and the entrance is straight ahead on floor 3.
The No1 Lounge is open daily from 4:00 AM to 8:00 PM. From our visit, entry can be strict when the lounge is full, and walk-ins may be turned away during busy periods.
The Plaza Premium Lounge has the stronger location and setting, while the No1 Lounge is still easy enough to find after security.
Seating and Atmosphere
This is where the Plaza Premium Lounge has the clear advantage.
The Plaza Premium Lounge Gatwick North is one of the largest contract lounges at the airport. Because it sits in the former Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse space, it feels much bigger and more open than many paid access lounges. The design is modern, bright, and calm, with large panoramic windows overlooking the tarmac. Even though the lounge was busy during our visit, the space handled the passenger numbers well and still felt comfortable.
Seating is spread across a wide area, with armchairs by the windows, café style tables, and different zones for eating, relaxing, and watching the runway. The natural light makes a big difference, and the whole lounge feels spacious.
The No1 Lounge Gatwick North also has a lot going for it. It has floor to ceiling windows, plenty of natural light, runway views, café style seating, sofas, armchairs, and a dedicated workstation area. The circular bar gives the room a more social feel, and it is one of the better features of the lounge.
However, the main issue is crowding. During our visit, the lounge was extremely busy, with queues, slow service at the bar, and tables that were not cleared quickly enough. The lounge itself has plenty of positives, but the atmosphere suffers when passenger numbers are high.
For seating and atmosphere, the Plaza Premium Lounge wins because it feels a lot larger and calmer.
Food and drinks: No1 Lounge vs Plaza Premium Lounge Gatwick North
Food and drink are much closer than the seating category.
At the Plaza Premium Lounge Gatwick North, breakfast was served in a self serve format. Hot food included bacon, sausages, scrambled eggs, baked beans, and cooked tomatoes. Cold items included yoghurt, fruit salad, cereals, mini blueberry muffins, and pastries. The selection was well presented and covered most of what you would expect from a morning lounge buffet.
Drinks included red wine, white wine, Angelo Poretti draught beer from the bar, Gordon’s gin, white rum, whisky, soft drinks, juices, coffee, and alcohol free alternatives. The main downside is that sparkling wine was not included. Prosecco and cocktails were available for an extra charge, which slightly weakens the drinks offering.
At the No1 Lounge Gatwick North, the breakfast buffet also had plenty of choice. Hot items included bacon, sausages, scrambled eggs, hash browns, mushrooms, and baked beans. There were also pastries, muffins, cereals, yoghurts, and fruit. From past evening visits, hot mains such as tomato penne pasta and vegetarian curry have also been available, alongside salad items and cheese and crackers.
The No1 Lounge has the better included bar offering. There is a staffed circular bar with spirits, red and white wine, rosé, and Prosecco included. Champagne costs extra, but the included Prosecco gives the No1 Lounge a clear drinks advantage over the Plaza Premium Lounge. Staff were also willing to make a simple drink such as an Aperol Spritz when asked.
For food we could not separate the two. For drinks, the No1 Lounge wins because Prosecco is included and the staffed bar feels more complete.
Overall, this category is a draw. The Plaza Premium Lounge has the nicer environment for eating, while the No1 Lounge has the better included bar.
Wi-Fi, Power and Amenities
Both lounges cover the basics well, but there are some differences.
The Plaza Premium Lounge Gatwick North had working Wi-Fi, several flight information screens, plenty of toilets, and a children’s area with TVs showing cartoons. This makes it a good option for families, especially during a busy morning at Gatwick. Staff were also active in clearing plates and maintaining the space.
The main weakness is power access. Power ports were available at some seats, but not all, which could be annoying if you need to charge multiple devices before your flight.
The No1 Lounge Gatwick North had fast Wi-Fi, numerous charging points, flight information screens, and a dedicated conference room, although the conference room was closed during our visit. For passengers who need to charge devices or work before boarding, the No1 Lounge may be slightly more practical.
Neither lounge has showers, which is a shame given that Gatwick has a lot of leisure and long haul passengers.
For amenities, the Plaza Premium Lounge wins for families and general comfort. The No1 Lounge wins for charging devices and working.
Which Lounge Is Better at Gatwick North Terminal?
The Plaza Premium Lounge Gatwick North Terminal is the better lounge overall.
It has the better space, the better setting, stronger runway views, and a calmer atmosphere. The old Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse layout gives it an advantage that most contract lounges do not have.
The No1 Lounge Gatwick North still has some real strengths. The bar is better, Prosecco is included, the hot food range is good, and there are plenty of charging points. However, the crowds can seriously weaken the experience.
If you want the best overall lounge at Gatwick North Terminal, the Plaza Premium Lounge is the one we would choose.
Pros and Cons
The Plaza Premium Lounge Gatwick North pros
- Large, bright lounge in the former Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse space.
- Strong panoramic runway and apron views.
- Good breakfast selection with hot and cold options.
The Plaza Premium Lounge Gatwick North cons
- Prosecco and Champange cost extra.
- Power ports are not available at every seat.
- No shower facilities.
The No1 Lounge Gatwick North pros
- Staffed circular bar with included Prosecco.
- Decent runway-facing windows and plenty of natural light.
- Lots of charging points.
The No1 Lounge Gatwick North cons
- Can get very busy.
- Walk-ins may be turned away when the lounge is full.
- Tables were not cleared quickly enough during our visit.
- No shower facilities.
Final verdict: No1 Lounge vs Plaza Premium Lounge Gatwick North
The winner is the Plaza Premium Lounge Gatwick North Terminal.
It is the better all-round lounge thanks to its size, natural light, panoramic runway views, calmer feel, and more premium setting in the former Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse space. It feels more comfortable, more open, and easier to enjoy before a flight.
The No1 Lounge Gatwick North is still worth considering, especially if drinks are your priority. The staffed circular bar, included Prosecco, and hot buffet make it a solid lounge on paper. The problem is that it can become too crowded, and that can make the experience feel far less relaxing.
If both lounges are available, we would choose the Plaza Premium Lounge Gatwick North Terminal.
The Plaza Premium Lounge Gatwick North Rating: 8/10
The No1 Lounge Gatwick North Rating: 7/10
Overall winner: The Plaza Premium Lounge Gatwick North Terminal
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FAQs: No1 Lounge vs Plaza Premium Lounge Gatwick North
The Plaza Premium Lounge Gatwick North is better overall. It is larger, brighter and often calmer.
The Plaza Premium Lounge has the better views overall, thanks to its large panoramic windows and open former Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse setting. However, the No1 Lounge still has decent views.
The No1 Lounge is better for drinks because it has a staffed circular bar and includes Prosecco. At the Plaza Premium Lounge, Prosecco and cocktails cost extra.
Both lounges have a good breakfast spread. The lunch and dinner offerings are pretty average and are similar in quality.
No, neither the Plaza Premium Lounge Gatwick North nor the No1 Lounge Gatwick North has shower facilities.
For additional airport information, you can visit the official London Gatwick website here.
Secure Your Lounge Access
To access the No1 Lounge or the Plaza Premium Lounge, compare Priority Pass membership (up to 20% off through our link) versus a one-off lounge booking at Lounge Pass using the buttons below.
After you click Lounge Pass, simply search your airport name, choose your lounge, then pick your date and time to book your spot. The Plaza Premium Lounge at London Gatwick North terminal costs £46 per person, whereas the No1 Lounge costs £48 per person.
After you click Priority Pass, simply scroll down to the ‘Your Journey Starts Here’ section to purchase a lounge membership that suits you. A ‘Standard’ membership is best for more infrequent travellers which allows access to all lounges for a discounted fee (£24 or currency equivalent). ‘Standard Plus’ membership will provide 9 free visits per year, and then at the discounted rate after that. The ‘Prestige’ membership is for the frequent flier, which grants unlimited lounge access for the year!
*Please note, all guests would enter at the discounted entry fee.
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