- Mr Plane Guy
- 1 day ago
- 10 min read
British Airways Galleries Club South Lounge Review
Stuck in 2015? Grey Carpets, Scrambled Eggs & a Giant Plastic Horse
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British Airways calls this the Galleries Club South Lounge. I call it: The Lounge That Time Forgot.
Tucked away inside Heathrow Terminal 5, somewhere between modern premium travel and a particularly ambitious Debenhams café, you'll find grey carpets, grey furniture, scrambled eggs and a giant plastic horse. Nothing says British Airways quite like a giant plastic horse. Add in the faint aroma of polyester, scrambled egg and aviation fuel drifting in from the ramp and you've got yourself one of Heathrow's most British experiences. Welcome to the British Airways Galleries Club South Lounge. Or perhaps more accurately: Welcome to 2015.
Flying from Heathrow but don't have Club Europe or British Airways status?
Here's the good news: you don't need to be flying Business Class to enjoy an airport lounge.
A Priority Pass membership gives you access to hundreds of airport lounges worldwide, including several at Heathrow. It's how I access airport lounges throughout the year, often for less than I'd spend on breakfast and a coffee in the terminal.
Read my honest Priority Pass review and check the latest discount before you travel.
Where Is The British Airways Galleries Club South Lounge?
The British Airways Galleries Club South Lounge is located in Heathrow Terminal 5A and serves the majority of British Airways premium passengers.
If you're flying:
Club Europe
Club World
oneworld Business Class
British Airways Silver status
oneworld Sapphire status
this is probably the lounge you'll use. The first challenge? Actually getting there.
After security you'll find yourself walking.
And walking.
And walking some more. At some point a designer clearly sat in a meeting and thought:
"I KNOW. Let's put the premium lounge somewhere right out of the way."
Fortunately Heathrow Fast Track remains excellent. Despite Heathrow being one of Europe's busiest airports, I was through security in minutes.
One thing Heathrow gets absolutely right is having lots of smaller security channels rather than one giant queue. Heathrow security feels surprisingly efficient considering the sheer number of passengers passing through every day.
The lounge is generally open from around: 05:00 – 22:00 daily
First Impressions: Airport Lounge or Horse Stable?
The first thing you'll notice? A giant plastic horse. I don't know why. Maybe it's art.
Maybe it's symbolism. Maybe somebody at British Airways just really likes horses.
Either way, it dominates the lounge. Nothing says BA quite like a giant plastic horse watching over passengers eating scrambled eggs.
The lounge itself feels very British Airways and that's both a compliment and a criticism.
There are grey carpets, grey walls, grey furniture and grey partitions. Combined with diamanté lighting and velour textures that were probably very fashionable ten years ago, the whole place feels oddly corporate.
Not bad, just tired and dated. It's giving "Debenhams premium café."
Plenty Of Seating And Surprisingly Relaxing
Credit where it's due. The lounge is huge. Finding a seat wasn't difficult and despite Heathrow being one of Europe's busiest airports, the atmosphere felt surprisingly calm. There were even some modern tunes gently pumping through the speakers, helping stop the lounge feeling completely corporate. I settled into one of the cocoon-style velour chairs overlooking the apron and instantly found myself relaxing. The seating is excellent, comfortable and private. Perfect for escaping Heathrow for an hour or two.
The floor-to-ceiling windows provide fantastic views towards the rolling hills of... Hounslow and of British Airways aircraft preparing for departure.
Ground crews rushing around preparing aircraft for the first morning departures. Or as we say in the industry, 'The First Wave.'
Why Is There Advertising Everywhere?
One thing that genuinely surprised me was the amount of commercial advertising throughout the lounge. Sponsored displays. Partner promotions.
Marketing messages. Now look, I understand partnerships generate revenue.
But when you've paid for Business Class or earned status through years of loyalty, the last thing you expect is to feel like you're sitting inside a premium shopping centre.
Premium lounges should feel like an escape. Not another opportunity to sell me something.
It cheapens the experience and honestly felt a little tacky.
This Lounge Puts The BLAnd In BA
Breakfast wasn't terrible. Let's get that out of the way.
It wasn't amazing either. It was just...there. The buffet offered scrambled eggs, mushrooms, sausages, pastries, fruit, yoghurt and toast. Nobody is leaving hungry. The pastries were fresh. The fruit looked good.
There was plenty of toast. But this is British Airways. This is Heathrow.
This is supposed to be one of the airline's showcase lounges.
For a Galleries Club Lounge, I expected something more sophisticated.
Where was:
Avocado on toast?
Smoked salmon?
Poached eggs?
Overnight oats?
Better vegetarian options?
Instead I found what can only be described as the British breakfast trinity:
Eggs. Sausage. Beige.
The smell of bacon and sausage drifted through the lounge while the occasional whiff of aviation fuel floated in from outside.
Add the velour seating and grey décor and the whole thing felt strangely nostalgic.
British Airways Galleries Club South Lounge Bar
The drinks selection was actually pretty good.
There was:
BrewDog beer
Wine
Spirits
Bucks Fizz
Champagne on request
Ready-made cocktails
My favourite BrewDog beer was sitting there ready and waiting. Although even I felt it was a little early (was around 7am!) I'm clearly not your typical Brit. So I settled for a Bucks Fizz instead. The ready-made cocktails were a clever addition. But if British Airways really wants to impress me?
Go and read my British Airways Lounge Gatwick South Review. That lounge has a proper manned bar and an excellent cocktail maker.
Want an espresso martini?
They'll make one. Here? It's more: Unscrew cap, pour it yourself job done.
The Most Exciting Thing In The British Airways Galleries Club Lounge Is Ice Cream
The Jude's Ice Cream stand might actually be the biggest wow moment in the entire lounge.
Cute. And one of the few things that actually made me smile.
When the highlight of your Heathrow business class lounge is a freezer full of ice cream tubs, there may be questions that need asking. Ground-breaking stuff, BA.
Is This Better Than Other Heathrow Lounges?
This is where things become difficult for British Airways. Because Heathrow has some genuinely excellent lounges.
The Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse remains my favourite lounge at Heathrow. No1 Lounge, Heathrow Terminal 2 feels more up to date and premium.
Even Plaza Premium Terminal 5 feels fresher and more modern in places. If you're curious where this sits among the competition, check out: The Best Lounges at Heathrow – Ranked from Champagne to Chaos. The Galleries Club South Lounge isn't bad. It just struggles to stand out.
Which British Airways Lounge Is Best At Terminal 5?
British Airways actually operates multiple lounges at Terminal 5.
Galleries South
The biggest and busiest.
Galleries North
Often quieter and famous for its outdoor terrace.
Galleries B
The hidden gem.
Many frequent BA travellers deliberately head to Galleries B because it's calmer and less crowded. If you're short on time, Galleries South is the obvious choice. If you've got longer, I'd probably seek out Galleries B.
Is Club Europe Worth It For The Lounge?
This is probably the most common question. If you're considering paying extra for Club Europe, lounge access is one of the biggest benefits. The blocked middle seat is nice. Priority boarding is useful. The extra baggage allowance helps. But for many travellers, the lounge is where the real value sits. If you're considering upgrading, check out my British Airways upgrade guide.
Flying Club Europe
After leaving the lounge I boarded my British Airways Club Europe flight from Heathrow to Newcastle onboard an Airbus A320.
Club Europe includes:
Lounge access
Priority boarding
Additional baggage allowance
Complimentary food and drinks
Blocked middle seat
The breakfast onboard was surprisingly fresh and light. Although there was one moment when I genuinely thought I'd lost a filling.
The strange texture turned out to be coconut. It somehow managed to be both watery and gritty at the same time. The champagne, however, was excellent: cold, crisp and refreshing. A very British Airways ending to a very British Airways morning.
What I Want British Airways To Build Next
Here's the thing. I don't hate this lounge. I hate what it represents.
British Airways still seems to think premium means grey carpets, grey furniture, scrambled eggs and self-service drinks.
What I want is:
Fresh British strawberries
Organic overnight oats
Contemporary British design
Proper Earl Grey served in Royal Doulton
Art that celebrates Britain
Freshly shaken espresso martinis
Nap pods
Proper vegetarian options
I want trickling water features. I want locally roasted coffee.
I want something that showcases modern Britain. This is Heathrow. This is British Airways.
This should be Britain's lounge. Instead it feels like Britain's lounge from ten years ago.
Early Flight? Stay Nearby
If you're flying from Heathrow early in the morning, I'd strongly consider staying nearby the night before.
I recently stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn Heathrow Airport and honestly, I'd happily pay cash for it despite redeeming Hilton Honors points. Hatton Cross Underground Station is only a short walk away, making Terminal 5 surprisingly easy to reach.
It's one of the better Heathrow airport hotels I've reviewed.
What Drinks Are Available In The British Airways Galleries Club South Lounge?
The self-service bar is one of the stronger parts of the lounge. During my visit, the selection included:
Beer
BrewDog IPA
Heineken
Heineken 0.0
Wine & Bubbles
Champagne (available on request)
Prosecco
Rosé
White wines
Red wines
Spirits
Tanqueray Gin
Gordon's Gin
Ketel One Vodka
Cîroc Vodka
Don Julio Tequila
Bacardi Rum
Johnnie Walker Whisky
Baileys
Ready-Made Cocktails
Old Fashioned
Negroni
Non-alcoholic Tom Collins
Bloody Mary
Are There Showers in the British Airways Lounge Heathrow?
One thing notably missing from the British Airways Galleries Club South Lounge is shower facilities.
During my visit, there were clearly construction works taking place behind screening downstairs and it certainly looked like British Airways might be building something significant. Whether that's new shower suites, additional seating or another facility remains to be seen.
For now, if you're specifically looking for Heathrow lounges with shower facilities, the Plaza Premium Lounge and several other Heathrow lounges remain stronger options.
Wi-Fi, Workspaces & Facilities in the British Airways Lounge Heathrow
The lounge offers:
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Plenty of charging points
Dedicated work desks
Internal toilets
Family area
Flight information screens
What you won't find are private work pods or enclosed office-style booths that have become increasingly common in newer premium lounges.
If you're looking to answer a few emails before departure, you'll be perfectly happy here. If you're hoping for a private Zoom room, you may be disappointed.
No Business Class Ticket? Here Are Better Heathrow Lounge Alternatives
The awkward reality for British Airways is that some of Heathrow's best lounges aren't actually operated by British Airways.
If you don't have access to the British Airways Lounge Heathrow through Club Europe, Club World or status, I'd personally choose one of these:
Plaza Premium Lounge Heathrow Terminal 5 lounge, Still my favourite lounge in Terminal 5.
Why?
Great food
Available through Priority Pass
If you are travelling in Economy, this is great value and beats spending £20 to £30 in the terminal on food and drinks.
Read: Plaza Premium Lounge Heathrow Terminal 5, My Favourite Heathrow Terminal 5 Lounge
Aspire Lounge Heathrow Terminal 5
Another solid option.
Less glamorous than Plaza Premium but often quieter and perfectly comfortable for a short visit before departure. Read: Aspire Lounge Heathrow Review
If you're considering airport lounge access more regularly, check out: What Is Priority Pass?
A Priority Pass membership can often work out cheaper than paying for Heathrow food and drinks individually, especially when a Pret salad now costs about the same as a small mortgage.
Plane Related Heathrow & British Airways Guides
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Final Boarding Call
The British Airways Galleries Club South Lounge isn't bad.
Far from it. It's comfortable. It's spacious, but this lounge should showcase the very best of modern Britain.
Right now, it showcases grey carpets, scrambled eggs and a giant plastic horse.
That's why, for me, the Galleries Club South Lounge still puts the BLAnd in BA.
Lounge Rating: 3/5
London Heathrow Lounge Reviews
Looking for more Heathrow lounge reviews? You’ll find full write-ups linked throughout this post.
How to Access Airport Lounges in 2026
Whether you’re planning to visit these brand-new spaces or already dreaming of your next trip, securing lounge access doesn’t have to be costly. Here are some easy ways to gain complimentary access:
Credit Cards Offering Free Lounge Access:
American Express Platinum Card:
Comes with two Priority Pass memberships, allowing a family of four to enjoy lounge access.
Includes entry to over 1,800 lounges globally, plus Eurostar, Lufthansa, and Delta lounges.
American Express Preferred Rewards Gold:
Provides four complimentary lounge visits per year.
Additional visits are priced affordably at £24 per entry.
Using these cards can make premium lounge experiences more accessible without breaking the bank.
3. Priority Pass, If you don't get access to airport lounges from your credit card you can just buy a Priority Pass directly.
Before you jet off, why not start your trip in style? I’ve secured up to a 30% discount on the Standard plan, just for my readers, but it won't last long.
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Flying from Heathrow?
If you're driving to the airport, I always recommend booking official Heathrow Airport Parking in advance, with flexible cancellation up to 2 hours before travel.
Hello, I’m Paul a professional jet-setter and all-around plane travel pro. After 15 years working in and around planes, I became a flight delay expert at a London airport and mastered plane travel hacks, a PLANE flight expert with BIG travel plans but small carry-on.
Now, I share PLANE travel news, tips, reviews, and deals with honesty, humour, and zero baggage! Thanks for reading British Airways Galleries Club South Lounge Review: Stuck in 2015? Grey Carpets, Scrambled Eggs & a Giant Plastic Horse.
Airport lounges, free upgrades, travel chaos and the occasional meltdown. Real travel, not influencer nonsense.
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