“Hello, my fellow globetrotters! The journey truly begins now.
We are at Stansted Airport, where you have travelled to get to our next spot! That thrill of arriving is nice and all but let’s face it, the main terminal can be a bit overwhelming (even for low-cost carriers where you may be opting for the fast path). It’s a lot of people who want to get somewhere else! As a traveller, I like to think of it as a flow, not a race, and the best way to get your trip (and my trip) off to a good, relaxed start is to get your pre-flight sanctuary. This is my moment to sit and breathe and focus on enjoying a treat that I have “earned.” I am going to share with you where we can do this at Stansted. Join me as we discover how many lounges Stansted Airport has to delight us with hospitality all through the lens of my brand World Flight Vibes with a special love and focus on the truly magical Escape Lounge Stansted experience. Prepare to exchange terminal hurriedness for pure calmness.
How Many lounges Will We Find at Stansted?
Let us get straight to the point, shall we? Usually, a major hub in the UK like Stansted would expect a vast network of lounges (with any kind of elegance).
At London Stansted Airport, however, there is a grand total of two dedicated lounges for passengers.
That’s right, two lounges. And, importantly, they both mean totally different things for your travel experience providing a wonderful depth of options for both the everyman (and everywoman) travelling economy class and also the royalty of the premium jet setter.
- The Escape Lounge London Stansted – this is the open-access lounge, the very clever and excellent one that is open to all of us at either pre-booked fee, membership card, or just paying on the day. This is the people’s lounge, and a cracking good lounge in it. If you’re looking for a comfortable pre-flight spot, the options for airport lounges stansted are limited but high quality.
- The Emirates Lounge – this is the private lounge, reserved solely for the high flying premium cabin passengers or elite frequent flyer passengers on Emirates’ longer-haul promotions to Dubai.
If you’re one of the many travellers out of Stansted Airport, the Escape Lounge is the only place to commence your trip in comfort and luxury. And it’s worth every dollar and minute to relax.This is essential information when looking for a stansted lounge experience.
The People’s Paradise: An Investigation of the Escape Lounge.
Let’s talk about an amazing escape lounge stansted. Operated by CAVU and part of the Manchester Airport Group, they understand what any modern traveller wants: peace, power, and feed.
As soon as you find the entrance (located conveniently between Pret A Manger and the Terracota Italian Kitchen after security), you immediately feel a lovely decrease in pace of life. The terminal’s background roar (the announcements, hurried foot travel etc.) becomes less annoying and just becomes a something like background quiet hum.
The Atmosphere: A Place of Style
Entering the Stansted Escape Lounge feels like entering an upscale salon. The decor is represented as smart-casual stylish. Think plush leather lounge chairs, thoughtful lighting, and an overall sense of space and freshness. A well-balanced consideration of both form and function and conceived for customers traveling alone or for a quiet moment with a traveling companion.
What I like to do is find a seat by the window. Yes, the view isn’t always sweeping (it is a working airport), but the natural light is a great mood enhancer that can make the space bright and cheery at the hour the lounge opens its doors, which can seem early for some diva travellers!
The most important element to the atmosphere, however, is the quiet. It is the freedom to power down, settle in, and start reading a book (or catching up on the day’s headlines) at your leisure. It is provocative tranquility at the Stansted Escape Lounge, making it the most accessible stansted lounge option.
Important Food: Eating and Drinking Well
For me, one of the best things about an airport lounges stansted is the chance to turn a basic meal into a lovely, pre-holiday moment. The food and drink at the Escape Lounge is incredibly generous and free once you are in.
The Food is Free: Say goodbye to tiny, cellophane-wrapped snacks from the airport. There is a decent selection of hot and cold food on offer, whether you are in for a big breakfast to kick-start your early flight, or a nice, light lunch or dinner spread from the afternoon flight. Fresh and pretty good every time I visited. They try and use as much locally sourced food as they can, which I think is a nice touch, to be sustainable and to have a link back to the UK just before you were leaving it.
The Bar Area: Ah, it’s at the heart of the unwind. The bar is fantastic. Fully stocked with an excellent range of soft drinks, fine teas and coffees (the essentials), and most importantly, a free selection of house wines, beers, and house spirits. If you want to upgrade to something high-end like a fine single malt or a special cocktail, those are available for a small charge. But seriously, the free options are usually sufficient to celebrate the start of your adventure.
The Practicalities: Power and Preparation
In today’s interconnected world, Power Outlets are the new gold. Don’t worry fellow traveller! The Escape Lounge stansted is perfect for the modern jetsetter. There are numerous dedicated work areas and outlets to charge all your essential devices: laptops, phones, tablets and more. The complimentary Wi-Fi is good, very fast and reliable, so you can quickly download a film, finish a last-minute work email, or browse this travel itinerary without any concerns.
I always recommend finding a separate work booth if you need to be particularly productive. They afford a really nice and quiet level of privacy for your last minute work meeting, or if you simply need to write a few last notes about your holiday.
Tips for Easy Entry: Your Way Into Relaxation
The Escape Lounge aims to be accessible to all, which is why it is so popular. But the trick to get a guaranteed entry will be ready to book! This is key when considering how many lounges at Stansted Airport are available for general access.
Direct Booking: The walk-in price factor is around £49 and is subject to capacity. My number one travel tip to keep in mind? Always book ahead online! The cost drops to a much nicer price (from about £38.99). Plus you secure the spot, which is essential when travelling during peak seasons.
The 3-Hour Rule: Entry is until three hours before unless your travel company books for different times. Make sure you factor this into your plans! There is plenty of time to eat, have a drink or two, and truly relax, knowing you have time, with out feeling rushed.
Membership Magic (Priority Pass & Dragon Pass): If you have a Priority Pass or Dragon Pass membership, which usually comes with a nice credit card, you can get into the Escape Lounge for free. But here’s the big insider tip you didn’t know – it’s free, but it’s “subject to availability”. This means you can be turned away at the lounge if it’s full. You can often pre-book a time with your membership provider, especially at busy times, for a small fee that could be around £6 (occasionally). Honestly, for £6 you skip the queue and can have your comfy seat relaxed before your flight. At that point, it’d be a phenomenal price.Those with an Amex Platinum card, seeking a Stansted Amex lounge experience, often leverage their Priority Pass membership here, as there isn’t a dedicated Amex Centurion Lounge.
Dressing for the occasion
One final thing to note about the Escape Lounge: there is a smart-casual dress code. This is for the benefit of everyone and creates a fancier experience for all guests. It just makes the point that we are going from the chaos of the terminal to a more sophisticated environment. So, please do not wear your tracksuits, sport shirts, or any revealing or novelty items! A nice pair of trousers, some smart jeans, and a casual shirt or dress will suffice.
The Exclusive Enclave: The Emirates Lounge
The Escape Lounge belongs to the masses, but at Stansted, the Emirates Lounge, it exists for its premium passengers’ individual luxury needs. If you are travelling to Dubai with Emirates, flying first or business class, or a top-tier (Gold, Platinum) Skywards member, this is your haven.
It was opened in 2024 after being gifted by Emirates to show their commitment to their UK network, setting the standard for a London Stansted VIP lounge.The Escape Lounge belongs to the masses, but at Stansted, the Emirates Lounge, it exists for its premium passengers’ individual luxury needs. If you are travelling to Dubai with Emirates, flying first or business class, or a top-tier (Gold, Platinum) Skywards member, this is your haven.
It was opened in 2024 after being gifted by Emirates to show their commitment to their UK network, setting the standard for a London Stansted VIP lounge.
Clear-cut Luxury and Elegance
This is a room of sheer luxury. Its size is 900m², so it is a very large lounge for 125 passengers, enough space for everyone to not feel crowded. The decor is the Emirates vibe; sleek creamy and beige colours to embody calm and timeless elegance. High-end and exclusive look.
The Dining Experience: This is where the lounge focuses upon. The hot/cold buffet is first-rate. Locally and responsibly sourced high-quality ingredients are used. The bar service is exceptional, featuring high-end spirits (yes, a free glass or two of Moët & Chandon champagne for your significant adventure, which is a lovely fashion statement).·
The Essentials: Outside of the Escape Lounge, the Emirates Lounge has showers. Being on a long-haul transfer or travelling home after a busy day provides long-haul travellers with a chance to freshen up and recharge before going on a flight. There is a business area as well and (of course) brilliant airport views from oversized windows showcasing brilliant take-off activity. This is the premier stansted lounge option.
Location and Timing
You can find the Emirates Lounge at the departure gates of Satellite 1 (gates 1-19), at select times that match up with the up to two daily Dubai flights depart, usually lunchtime and light dinner time (1150-1550 and 1750-2110) times, to make sure it is open at the exact times the passengers using the Lounge require it. Answering the question, how many lounges at Stansted Airport caters specifically to one airline’s premium passengers; the answer is just one: the Emirates Lounge.
A Final Note for Travellers: Using Stansted
So here it is, travellers: two great places to spend time at Stansted Airport. The question “How many lounges at Stansted Airport?” pairs nicely with “which ones are actually worth your time?” While the Emirates Lounge may be a lovely dream for many of us, the Escape Lounge is a far more achievable reality and a beautifully relaxing one at that. It’s a genuinely good spot to pause, lounge, and let your holiday begin, because once you walk through that door, you’re technically already “on holiday” (even if you haven’t boarded yet). Never underestimate the value of a little peace and quiet, some decent complimentary refreshments, and strong Wi-Fi before you fly. This is the true key to enjoying any of the airport lounges at Stansted, and it’s exactly the kind of moment we celebrate at World Flight Vibes.
A Priority Pass Alternative
My last insider tip for fellow Priority Pass or DragonPass travellers: if you find the Escape Lounge at Stansted full (and yes, it does happen), don’t let it ruin your flow. Your membership may still grant you an experience credit elsewhere in the terminal. At Stansted, this usually means a monetary credit often around £18 that you can use at places like The Camden Bar & Kitchen. It’s not a lounge, but it is a guaranteed way to enjoy a meal and a pint or a glass of wine before your flight. Always good to have a Plan B! And if you’re carrying an Amex card, remember that your Priority Pass access can sometimes serve as your Amex lounge access too.
Wherever you’re heading, and however you choose to savour those precious pre-flight moments, may your journey begin in the most stylish, relaxing, and memorable way possible. Knowing how many lounges Stansted Airport offers simply helps you plan your perfect pocket of calm before takeoff.
For official airport updates, travel guidance, and passenger information, you can also visit the UK Government–linked Stansted Airport page.
Have a good flight, and safe travels!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How many lounges are at Stansted Airport?
There are two lounges: The Escape lounge and The Emirates lounge.
2. I am flying economy and do not have elite status which lounge can I go to in Stansted?
The Escape Lounge is available for all passengers (for a fee), and you can also use a membership card like Priority Pass (if they have space). You reserve it online ahead of time for a better price.
3. Is there an Amex or Centurion lounge at Stansted Airport?
No, there is no Amex Centurion Lounge. Amex Platinum cardholders usually use their included Priority Pass card to enter the Escape Lounge.
4. What’s the difference between the Escape Lounge and the Emirates Lounge?
The Escape Lounge is for all passengers (for a fee) and has a good amount of food/drink and comfort. The Emirates Lounge is only for Emirates’ First and Business Class passengers and elite frequent flyers, and has more premium dining and facilities such as showers.
5. What is the dress code for the Escape Lounge?
The dress code will usually be smart casual. Things like tracksuits, sport shirts, or revealing/novelty clothing will usually be rejected.
