No1 Lounges is bringing a residential-style retreat to London Heathrow airport, complete with garden-inspired bar and relaxation zone. Travellers just need to pay to enter.

Airport lounge operator No1 Lounges has announced plans to open a new flagship lounge at Heathrow Terminal 5 in spring 2027, replacing the existing Club Aspire Lounge with a larger, redesigned facility.

The new space will take its design cues from a contemporary British country home, replacing the conventional open-plan airport lounge format with a series of interconnected rooms. Guests will enter through a reception area with chequerboard flooring and fluted brass screens before moving into spaces designed for different activities and preferences.

The Library and The Lounge will provide quieter seating areas, while The Pantry will offer all-day refreshments. A feature bar called The Orangery will sit beneath a mature tree, with full-height glazing overlooking the airport apron. Another space, The Greenhouse, will extend along the length of the lounge.

The current lounge will close on November 2, 2026, for redevelopment, with the new space reopening under the No1 Lounge brand. The investment will increase the lounge's footprint from 435 sqm to 557 sqm, a 28% expansion, while seating will rise more from 139 to 152 and almost all will come with plug sockets.

The announcement comes amid rising demand for premium airport experiences regardless of whether passengers are flying first of business class. In the case of No1 Lounges, all travellers need to do is pay from £38 per person for entry.

According to Airport Dimensions' Airport Experience Study 2026 (AX26), global lounge usage among regular travellers has reached a record 52%. In the UK, lounge usage among frequent flyers increased by 16% year-on-year, the strongest growth recorded by the study.

The research also identifies growing interest in private spaces, reserved seating, wellness facilities and showers, suggesting that travellers are placing greater value on comfort and personal space before departure.

"Terminal 5 is one of the most important aviation gateways in the world, and this investment reflects both the demand we're seeing today and our ambitions for the future," says Sharon Jevans, Managing Director of No1 Lounges.

"Travellers increasingly view lounge access as an essential part of their journey rather than an occasional luxury. Our new flagship lounge will provide more space, greater comfort and an elevated experience that showcases the very best of the No1 Lounges brand."

My Lounge introduces pre-flight wellness programme

In a separate development, No1 Lounges has appointed integrative health coach, yoga teacher and lifestyle journalist Rosie Underwood as the first Wellness Ambassador for its more informal My Lounge brand.

The partnership introduces The My Lounge Pre-Flight Reset, a wellbeing programme designed to help passengers manage travel-related stress through short exercises covering movement, breathing, nutrition, sleep and recovery.

Launched on October 15, 2026, the programme is designed to fit into the time passengers already spend in airport lounges, with exercises requiring no specialist equipment. Content will remain accessible throughout the year via the No1 Lounges website.

The initiative reflects a growing interest in incorporating wellbeing into the airport experience, with lounge operators exploring services that go beyond conventional food, drink and seating.