- Mr Plane Guy
- Nov 27
- 7 min read
Is the Escape Airport Lounge T2 Manchester Actually an Escape? My Honest Pre-Flight Verdict
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This keeps the site running and covers the real travel costs. From speedy boarding fees to extra baggage, so I can test every lounge properly and give you the truth.
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Manchester Airport T2: A Modern Terminal With Big Crowds
Manchester Airport’s newly expanded Terminal 2 has improved dramatically: wider walkways, bright interiors, modern shops, bigger dining areas and a much more international feel. It finally looks like an airport ready for the 2030s.
But sounding good on paper doesn’t stop Terminal 2 from being:
Busy at all times of day
Prone to long queues
Noisy during peak flights
Difficult to find seating in and
Home to some of the priciest Manchester Airport food in the UK.
That’s why lounges in Manchester Airport Terminal 2 are more important than ever. Whether you’re travelling to Europe or long-haul with airlines like TUI, Singapore Airlines, Etihad or Virgin Atlantic, having a quiet space makes a world of difference.
The Escape Lounge Manchester Airport T2 is marketed as a warm, relaxing hideaway where you can switch off before a flight.
So, does it actually live up to its name?
Escape Lounge Manchester Terminal 2 Location
Terminal: Manchester Airport Terminal 2
Airside: Yes (after security)
Level: Upper Departure Level
Directions: After security and Duty Free, follow signs for Premium Lounges
Access: Via stairs or elevator to the Executive Lounge level
Plane First Impressions
My first thought walking in? Relief. The lighting is warm, the atmosphere calmer, and it does feel like a genuine buffer between you and the busy terminal behind the glass.
But then reality: the lounge was approximately 90% full when I arrived.
Not only was the main seating area busy, but the large overflow room tucked behind the lounge wasn’t open. My guess? They only open it during peak holiday seasons, but honestly, it would have helped today.
The biggest irritation was where I ended up sitting. My seat happened to be right beside the area where staff scrape plates, empty slop buckets and sort the dirty dishes. It completely broke the illusion of premium calm, the scraping, clattering and slop buckets being filled with half-eaten hummus, gave it “school dinner canteen” energy.
But even with this flaw, it’s still a significant upgrade from waiting around the crowded gate areas in T2.
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Food and Drink at the Escape Lounge Manchester Airport T2
This is where the lounge excels.
The food was a genuine surprise, fresh, flavourful and presented with care. Some airport lounges (naming no names) serve food like it’s been sitting in trays since the 90s. Here, everything looked and tasted fresh.
The standout dishes:
Aubergine moussaka — rich, comforting, well-seasoned; I went back for seconds
Potato salad — genuinely excellent
Garlic bread — soft centre, crisp edges
Mexican rice — warm, spiced and satisfying
Sandwich selection — fresh, not dried out
Cheese and crackers — classic and well stocked
Everything was clearly labelled a blessing if you’re an allergy-checker or a lactose-free flexitarian like me and replenished frequently.
Hot food quality:
Better than many UK lounges. Not greasy, not dry, not lazy. More thoughtful and more balanced than I expected.
Drinks at Escape Lounge Manchester T2:
I was served immediately at the bar. Options included:
Sparkling wine on tap
Mancunian IPA
Spirits
Still and sparkling water stations
Soft drinks
Coffee machines
It’s not a premium champagne lounge, but for a mid-range lounge at Manchester Airport Terminal 2, it delivers well.
Plane Tip: Bring an empty bottle and fill it from the sparkling or still water taps before you head to the gate. Much better than paying terminal prices.
Atmosphere, Seating & Crowd Flow
The seating ranges from armchairs to high stools to dining tables. However, because the lounge often operates near full capacity, it can feel cramped.
Some seating areas have great natural light
Some are darker and quieter
Power sockets are scarcer than they should be
Best seats fill immediately
Noise levels:
Better than the terminal, but not the serene peace you might expect.
When the overflow seating area is closed, the lounge struggles with crowd flow. Combine that with the plate-scraping area and this isn’t the quietest lounge in the UK, but it’s still better than T2’s main concourse.
Facilities at Escape Lounge Manchester Terminal 2
Here’s where Escape Lounge scores surprisingly well.
Wi-Fi:
Strong enough for emails, uploading content and browsing.
Charging Points:
Limited, wall seats are your friend.
Views:
Partial apron view. Nice enough for plane spotting.
Toilets:
Shared with 1903 Lounge and these are excellent. Genuinely spotless, modern, spa-like and better than most UK airport restrooms.
Escape Lounge vs 1903 Lounge Manchester Airport T2
I visited the 1903 Lounge immediately after Escape Lounge, and there’s no way to sugar-coat this: the difference is huge.
And crucially, you CAN access 1903 Lounge with Priority Pass using a small upgrade fee.
Most Mancunians today didn’t bother paying extra, but honestly… they’re missing out.
Here’s the blunt truth:
Escape Lounge T2
Busy
Fresh buffet
Decent drink options
Good value
Comfortable
1903 Lounge T2
Quiet
Elegant
Spacious
Hors d'oeuvres, refined dishes
Premium spirits
Champagne included
Feels like a genuine premium lounge
If Escape Lounge is Argos Café, 1903 Lounge is Selfridges Café. Once you’ve experienced both, it’s impossible to unsee the difference.
Read my full 1903 review here: 1903 Lounge Manchester Airport Review, Is It Worth the Upgrade?
Escape Lounge for TUI Premium Passengers
Escape Lounge is frequently used by TUI Premium long-haul passengers. When big TUI services depart (Barbados, Cancun, Montego Bay, Melbourne), the lounge fills quickly.
If you’re flying TUI long-haul, here are my dedicated reviews:
Other Manchester Airport Lounge Reviews You’ll Like
Aspire Lounge Manchester T1, Honest Review
Busy but budget-friendly 👉 Read Review
1903 Lounge Manchester – The Premium One
Manchester Terminal 2 Premium Lounge 👉 Read Review
Priority Pass: Save Money & Access More Lounges
Priority Pass gives you access to Escape Lounge for a reduced fee and also allows you to upgrade to 1903 Lounge for a small extra cost. If you travel more than a couple of times a year, it’s a smart investment.
Plane Tip for Couples: If one of you has Priority Pass, you can bring the other in as a guest for a reduced fee. One membership = two entries. Quietly brilliant.
🅿️ Check Live Airport Parking Deals:
Manchester Airport Parking
Manchester parking fluctuates wildly in price. Booking last-minute is almost always the most expensive option.
Compare JetParks, Meet & Greet, official parking and independent alternatives in my guide.
You can also see how the Terminal 1 closure affects parking here: Manchester Airport Terminal 1 Closing – What Travellers Need to Know and my Aspire Lounge T1 review: Aspire Lounge Manchester Terminal 1 Review
Final Boarding Call
Escape Lounge T2 is a good, functional lounge. Fresh food, quick bar service, excellent toilets, and a genuine break from the chaos of Terminal 2 make it worth considering, especially if you’re entering with Priority Pass.
But it has its limitations:
It gets very busy
Clearing operations need to be moved out of sight
Overflow space should be open more often
Seating feels tight at peak times
If you want the best lounge in Manchester Terminal 2: Upgrade to 1903 Lounge. The difference in space, food, comfort and atmosphere is night and day.
Escape Lounge is good.1903 Lounge is better, Simple.
Location & Opening Hours
Location: Terminal 2, Airside, Upper Departure Level. After Security and Duty Free, follow signs for Lounges.
Opening Hours:
03:00–18:30 daily
03:00–19:00 on Tuesdays
Food and drink service ends 30 minutes before closing.
If you want lounge access without paying £40–£50 on the day,
Plane Related Manchester Airport Reads
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 Is the Escape Airport Lounge T2 Manchester Actually an Escape? My Honest Pre-Flight Verdict.
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