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Getting a Shower at London’s Heathrow Airport – Travel Insider Tip

Long haul travel can really take its toll on the traveler. Transiting multiple continents can be a grind and the airlines don’t make it any easier for travelers – even their most loyal frequent flyers. Yes, there are some tips for making flights easier, but they are still…well…long. And when you get to the other side, all you really want to do is relax. Here is our definitive guide to London Heathrow showers.

London’s Heathrow airport is one of the busiest transit hubs in the world and we recently flew through there en route to South Africa. We also really needed a shower. This guide was borne out of our own feverish web searches on, “Are there showers at Heathrow airport?” The answer is absolutely yes, if you know where to look.

Assuming you don’t want to explore London on your Heathrow layover, you can relax at the terminal. There are a number of excellent restaurants at Heathrow and plenty of opportunities for duty free shopping. But, if you are travelling for 48-72 hours, sometimes all you really want is a shower!

Showers at the Sofitel Heathrow Terminal 5.
The Sofitel Spa

Getting a shower at London Heathrow’s Terminal 5 is not as obvious as one might expect. The other terminals seem equally confusing. All the Heathrow showers cost money or require membership.

Unless you have status with one of the airlines, your best bet for shower access is to pay for access to one of the many Plaza Premium Lounges. You can pre-book your lounge access here for a discount.

However, if you are a Priority Pass member, you also have access to Plaza Premium Lounges. In some cases, it may make sense to buy a Priority Pass membership, especially if you plan to spend multiple hours in the lounge or you plan to visit on both legs of your trip (coming and going). Or if you plan to take other trips, either domestically or internationally. You can get the latest Priority Pass membership discounts here.

Woman working at a spa
The luxury spa in the adjacent hotel

Below, we give a terminal-by-terminal breakdown on showers at Heathrow, plus an in-depth look at Heathrow’s Terminal 5 (including the luxurious spa in the adjacent hotel!).

Terminal 2

  • Aer Lingus Gold Circle Lounge (departures area, passenger side). Membership or category of travel requirements in place.
  • Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge (departures area, passenger side). Membership or category of travel requirements in place.
  • Plaza Premium Lounge (arrivals area, public side). 1 hour pass costs £30. 2 hour pass costs £40. Shower use an additional £15. (You can pre-book and save here or use your Priority Pass membership.)
  • Plaza Premium Lounge (departures area, passenger side). 2 hour pass costs £40. (You can pre-book and save here or use your Priority Pass membership.)
  • Star Alliance Arrivals Lounge (arrivals area, public side). Membership or category of travel requirements in place.
  • United Club Lounge (Business class)/United Global First Lounge hybrid (departures area, passenger side). Membership or category of travel requirements in place.

Terminal 3

  • American Airlines Arrivals Lounge (arrivals area, public side). Membership or category of travel requirements in place.
  • Cathay Pacific Lounge (departures area, passenger side). Membership or category of travel requirements in place.
  • Emirates Lounge (departures area, passenger side). Membership or category of travel requirements in place.
  • No. 1 Traveller Lounge (departures area, passenger side)
  • Plaza Premium Lounge (arrivals area, public side). 1 hour pass costs £30. 2 hour pass costs £40. Shower use an additional £15. (You can pre-book and save here or use your Priority Pass membership.)
  • Qantas Lounge(departures area, passenger side). Membership or category of travel requirements in place.

Terminal 4

  • Etihad Airways First & Business Class Lounge (departures area, passenger side). Membership or category of travel requirements in place.
  • Malaysia Airlines Golden Lounge (departures area, passenger side). Membership or category of travel requirements in place.
  • Plaza Premium Lounge (departures area, passenger side). 2 hour pass costs £40. Shower use an additional £15. (You can pre-book and save here or use your Priority Pass membership.)
  • Plaza Premium Lounge (arrivals area, public side). 1 hour pass costs £30. 2 hour pass costs £40. Shower use an additional £15. (You can pre-book and save here or use your Priority Pass membership.)
  • Qatar Airways Lounge (departures area, passenger side). Membership or category of travel requirements in place.
  • Skyteam Lounge (departures area, passenger side). Membership or category of travel requirements in place.

Terminal 5

  • Aspire Lounge and Spa (departures area, passenger side)
  • British Airways Arrivals Lounge, now called the Elemis Travel Spa (arrivals area, public side). Membership or category of travel requirements in place.
  • British Airways Galleries Lounge North (departures area, passenger side). Membership or category of travel requirements in place.
  • British Airways Galleries Lounge South (departures area, passenger side). Membership or category of travel requirements in place.
  • Note: The Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal 5 (departures area, passenger side) does not have shower facilities.
The shower cabinet in the British Airways lounge.  These BA Lounge Heathrow Terminal 5 Showers are basic, but clean and convenient making them our favorite Heathrow airport shower.
British Airways lounge shower cabinet

If you are coming on an international flight, you’re probably in Terminal 5. Based on our experience, there were really only three viable options available for a London Heathrow Terminal 5 shower—

First, within the transit area, the British Airways Galleries Lounge North has shower cabinets. Depending on your long haul arrival, you might need to re-clear security to get to the departures area. At the time of this writing, these are not actually listed on the OneWorld website, but we can assure you they are there.

We were a bit surprised to find out these Heathrow showers existed and are free for OneWorld members (Sapphire status or better), plus one guest. The shower cabinets are pretty standard – sink, toilet and shower. It’s pretty basic, but gets the job done.

The private showers in the  British Airways lounge at Heathrow Terminal 5. Showers in the BA lounges Heathrow Terminal 5 are private and free for club members or first-class travelers, as well as OneWorld Priority members.
British Airways lounge shower

Second, for those leaving the airport, on the land-side, there are showers at the British Airways Arrivals Lounge (now rebranded to be called the Elemis Travel Spa) on the second floor. This requires you are traveling in First Class or Club World on British Airways, are a Gold Executive Club Member of British Airways arriving on a BA long-haul flight, or are a OneWorld Emerald member. Please note, unlike other lounges, no guests are allowed.

Finally, you can freshen up at Sofitel Heathrow hotel, which is connected to the terminal by a short covered walkway. The Sofitel offers both a day pass for their spa as well as the opportunity to rent a day room if you want to sleep. While this is the most expensive option, it is also the most luxurious. The Sofitel spa gives you the opportunity to take a dip in a whirlpool, sweat it out in the sauna, enjoy a cold beverage and get a massage. Sofitel Heathrow spa day passes are £30.00 per person. (Read reviews of the Sofitel Heathrow Hotel here.)

Heathrow showers on a layover - the Sofitel Hotel at Heathrow's T5 is a great spot to get a shower at Heathrow in total luxury.

It turns out that it was easier for us to freshen up than we might imagine (in the BA Galleries Lounge North), however, out of date websites left a certain amount of ambiguity to the process. If you’re researching the Heathrow showers situation like we did, the good news is that you have several options to freshen up before hitting the town or connecting to your next long haul flight.

Bonus reading: There are some long-haul flight tips that will make your experience less painful. We won’t go so far as to say truly enjoyable, but it will be tolerable.

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Wayne Stiles

Wednesday 21st of February 2024

Thanks for all the info, Lance. We're arriving T3 on Saturday, but the Plaza lounge only serves Departures-- not arrivals. Also I wonder since I have a membership in the AA Lounge and can access the BA lounge, can I stay inside security and access the lounge on arrival for a shower? They'd have to scan a boarding pass I just used, as opposed to one I'm about to use. Thanks for any help you can offer. I appreciate it.

Lance Longwell

Wednesday 21st of February 2024

That's incorrect. The Plaza Lounge T3 is in ARRIVALS. It's land side after you leave the secure zone and is located near the taxi queues. What you are looking for is an AIR side lounge. The answer is yes depending on how your flight connections stack up (do you need to transit to T5 and are you clearing immigration?). We did exactly what you suggested in December (arriving into T5, transiting to T3, and get a shower in T3 before the onward flight).

Ashley

Monday 11th of December 2023

I have OneWorld Ruby status on American Airlines. I am also an Admirals Club member due to the AA credit card I have. I am flying from PHX to Warsaw through Heathrow. I have a 5 hour layover in Heathrow. My flight from PHX to LHR is a BA flight, not an AA flight. Will I be able to access the Admirals club in Heathrow or are they (infuriatingly) going to tell me that because I flew on BA, I don't have access and won't be able to take a shower?

Lance Longwell

Friday 15th of December 2023

OneWorld Ruby status will not get you lounge access in Heathrow, but will allow you use a priority check-in line. There is an AA lounge in T3 air side so if your connection is through there, that might work for you (for example, our onward flight to Budapest was out of T3 instead of T5). You should be able to check that now. Otherwise, a paid lounge is your best bet for a shower.

PN

Tuesday 22nd of August 2023

If i am traveling on BA World traveller Plus from chicago to heathrow to hyderabad with a 8 hour layover at terminal 5 what are my options for a shower ? will BA provide any facilities ?

Lance Longwell

Tuesday 22nd of August 2023

See above for your options. Lounge access depends on your status. It is not included in BA World Traveller Plus tickets.

JL

Sunday 13th of August 2023

Im not sure, as yet, which terminal Ill be arriving at however Im wondering if I can claim checked baggage prior to using shower facilities. Also, if needed, can I use shower facilities in a different terminal from my arrival terminal?

Lance Longwell

Tuesday 15th of August 2023

The BA Arrivals Lounge is on the public side (post baggage). I'd always pack anything I needed.

Gil Kiaha

Sunday 26th of February 2023

First, mahalo for the awesome information.

We are coming from Las Vegas, NV. on BA & arrive on March 06, 2023 LHR (2:50 p.m.). We have a 5 hour, 50 minute layover until we depart to TLV (Israel).

Can we walk to Terminal 4? If so, do we need to check in again? I wondered if booking a room (2 guests, Crown Plaza, $100 US) would make more sense. This way I can catch a workout, shower, & sleep/nap. Better yet, can you please suggest where we can catch a workout & shower?

Sorry, I am asking too much questions & mahalo again, for your precious time.

Lance Longwell

Tuesday 7th of March 2023

If you're looking to workout, shower and sleep, then a hotel may be a better bet. We've done this at the Sofitel located at Terminal 5.

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