In 2018, American Express announced that a Centurion Lounge would be coming to London. The lounge was initially supposed to open in 2019. I believe construction was delayed a bit, and then the pandemic hit, which greatly reduced the demand for this lounge. There’s now an update — surprise, the lounge has opened as of today!
In this post:
Basics of the new Heathrow Centurion Lounge
Today (Tuesday, October 12, 2021), American Express has opened the new Centurion Lounge in Terminal 3 of London Heathrow Airport (LHR). This is the first Centurion Lounge in Europe, and only the second Centurion Lounge outside the United States, after the Hong Kong location (there will be some Centurion Lounges coming to Australia soon as well).
The new lounge is just over 7,000 square feet (650 square meters), and is described as embodying “London’s vibrancy and charm while incorporating the signature features Card Members know and love.” Some of the unique design elements of the new Centurion Lounge include the following:
- A menu curated by Michelin-star chef Assaf Granit of Coal Office in London; dishes include Kubalah bread, fried pita chips with tahini, shakshukit, a beef & lamb dish with confit tomatoes and tahini, and a baklava olive oil cake for dessert (yum to all of that!)
- A British-inspired tea cart with a hot and cold beverage selection, as well as pastries; in the mornings there will be immune booster drinks, mango infused coconut water, and peach iced tea
- The bar will offer cocktails from mixologist Jim Meehan, with a menu featuring British cocktails like the Wayne’s Collins (a mashup of the Tom Collins and White Negroni)
- There will be seasonal scented bath and body care products from London-based Soapsmith
- There will be British art and design, from a moss wall that nods to London’s Hyde Park, to a series of architectural pencil artwork by Minty Sainsbury
Below are some pictures of the lounge — it looks nice, and ultimately quite similar to other Centurion Lounges.
Heathrow Centurion Lounge location, hours, and access
As mentioned above, the new Centurion Lounge is located in Terminal 3 at Heathrow Airport. This terminal is used by several airlines, though the biggest airlines in the terminal are American Airlines and Virgin Atlantic. Heathrow terminals aren’t connected airside, so you’re only going to be able to access this lounge if departing from the terminal.
After you go through security, take the elevators to the left of the Flight Connections access point in the main shopping and dining area to Level 2.
For the time being, the lounge is open daily from 6AM until 6PM, which should cover a vast majority of flights.
Centurion Lounges are open to those with the Amex Platinum. and members can bring two guests with them (though this policy will change in 2023).
Bottom line
The Amex Centurion Lounge London Heathrow has finally opened — it’s the first lounge location in Europe, and only the second outside the United States. The lounge looks nice, and the food sounds delicious, and right up my alley.
That being said, at just over 7,000 square feet, the lounge isn’t exactly huge. I’m curious to see if the Centurion Lounge ends up being as crowded as those in the United States, or if it doesn’t get quite as packed, since the Amex Platinum isn’t quite as popular in the UK as is in the US.
What do you make of the new Centurion Lounge LHR?
As others stated, the terminals assigned to airlines are “on the move”, as the operator says. T4 is still closed and airlines traditionally operating from T2 (e.g. MH) or T3 (e.g KL), bit will eventually move back to T4, at least some of them. Meanwile, some flights have been moved from T3 to T5, e.g. AA, although those except JFK have already moved back to T3.
Bottom line, it’s quite hard to tell which airlines...
As others stated, the terminals assigned to airlines are “on the move”, as the operator says. T4 is still closed and airlines traditionally operating from T2 (e.g. MH) or T3 (e.g KL), bit will eventually move back to T4, at least some of them. Meanwile, some flights have been moved from T3 to T5, e.g. AA, although those except JFK have already moved back to T3.
Bottom line, it’s quite hard to tell which airlines will operate out of T3 in the future. Terminals are connected airside, but only for pax departing on a same day flight (no moving back and forth). So if your flight departs from T3, regardless in which terminal you arrive, you will be able to use the Centurion lounge, otherwise not.
If departing from Terminal 2, couldn't one take the airside bus from T2 to T3 to use the Centurion Lounge, then return to T2 via the bus for departure? Do you have to hold a connecting ticket to use the bus?
Afraid not - when arriving at the terminal they scan your boarding pass. If departing from another terminal you’ll be denied access.
Also Ben you state AA is in Terminal 3 - I believe they moved to Terminal 5 with BA
I think there is still only a difference in your ability to access the lounges if you hold the Centurion card versus a Platinum card - i.e. hours permitted to stay and guest entry requirements
I was just at an Amex lounge in Mexico City. Is that not considered a Centurion lounge or is there some other reason you overlooked it?
It's an Amex lounge, but not a "Centurion" lounge. So the amenities are not up to the Centurion standard.
Looks great, but this will be so stupidly busy...potentially made worse by Delta reserve skymiles cardholders being allowed access too.
Massive shame it has no natural light too.
Is this really the second lounge outside the US? What about EZE where personally I have visited - the website also lists two in India, one in MEX and one in GRU
I think it is semantics in the names - Argentina was originally something like an "american express international lounge" not a "centurion lounge", but now is called exactly that.
Australia and India both have 2 "American Express Lounge" each, and the six in mexico are "centurion clubs".
Leaving London tomorrow.
Sadly, Virgin canceled their Dulles flights (for how long idk?), so we’re leaving from Terminal 2 on United.
Maybe next time!
IAD flights with VS have been cancelled upto and including 28th February 2022, but bizarrely the Clubhouse has reopened but as it’s managed by Plaza Premium now I assume it’s for passengers who want to pay to enter.