Aspire Lounge

IF you can get in early enough to find a private pod, THEN and only THEN are you in for a treat.
Since London is a always a layover en route to D.C. for business, it’s essential for me to find a place to snooze, recharge my phone & computer, eat, shower, and sleep. If you’re looking for the same, this is a great lounge. However, you have to get in early enough to get a pod. The pods are kinda awesome. Long lounge chair (fully reclines), private charging stations, free wifi, a small desk, a personal television, a place to rest and relax privately (there is a curtain you can close for privacy). If you have a long layover and need to sleep, just ask the staff to wake you before boarding begins. They’re normally pretty good about this, unless they’re über busy.
The food is great. I’m not sure what the bad reviews are, my experience here is always great. Unless, I get here at «rush hour», then I’m out of luck because it’s small and the pods are few. BUT, come on in if you can. Use the charging stations, get some grub and drinks, and use the showers if you need to. This airport is huge and there are plenty of other places to snooze.
Remember, you have book the pods and showers at reception on arrival. Showers are open daily from 6am to 9pm. After you rest, get your last minute presentation completed, shower and then it’s time to… you guessed it… head to the BAR… or spa…
The bar has Moratti beer, a London Local brew. Give it try, because when in London… right? Or have a wine flight. Yeah, they have wine flights! Yeeaaaahh!!! It’s a flight of three tasting glasses of wine and they’ll bring them to your table and/​or pod for you.
Now on to the spa. Honestly, I never have time for this, but the services seem great. They have mani/pedi’s, shoulder and neck massages, facials, and some other treatments. You have to book these as well. NO walk-ins…as I have recently learned.
Look, it’s not the four seasons. BUT, it’s an oasis in this airport jungle. This is a welcome oasis especially for jet lagged business travelers or if you’re traveling with children. Although the pods are not big enough for a family, they provide a private area for a breast feeding mother, a toddler to rest, relax, and recharge. Teenagers will prefer the tables with free chargers and the wifi. Also, the fingers foods are great for the kids too. If you have a child with allergies, ask them to provide an alternative to milk (like soy or almond) and peanut free food. They are happy to do so. Again, it’s not so bad… ENJOY!!!

Aspire Lounge, thanks to one horrendous employee, managed to earn the distinction of being the worst lounge I have ever visited (I am @ 30+ and counting).
We arrived on a Saturday morning, only to be told that there will be a 30 minute wait, as they were full. No problem at all, gave us time for some duty free shopping. Unfortunately, in those 20 minutes, the very nice woman at the front desk was replaced by an extremely rude dude named ‘Nathan, the lounge consultant’. Nathan should not be allowed to interact with costumers, much less to be able to proclaim himself as the ‘consultant’ of anyting.
We found out about the shift change, when Nathan appeared, quickly mumbling and crossing names off the waiting list of customers waiting to get in. As no one could hear the names being called out except for the few people directly in front of him, I went up to him to ask if he called my name. At which point, he rudely exclaims: ‘Is your name Robert? Your name is not Robert. Go sit down!’ I am flabbergasted, but clearly see that he is cracking under the pressure of having to interact with his fellow human beings. I very gently try asking him if he perchance called my name before Robert, as he listed and crossed multiple names off his magical list. He again yells: ‘You are not Robert! Sit down!’ Still keeping my cool, I ask to see where my name is on the waitlist, both to try to gauge how much longer we have to wait, as it this point, our promised 30 minute wait was already over 45 minutes. He again yells, screaming that the list is confidential, as there are names on it. Mind you, they were taking first names, not family names… Livid, I tell him that he needs to call the names in a way that is audible, then proceed to wait another 20 minutes.
Thanks to my one hour+ wait, I had plenty time to watch Nathan interact with customers. In just a few interactions, both my partner and I noticed that he was extremely rude to all the women, while being very respectful to the men! He would send the women away, while both showing his super secret list to the men and also putting them on the waitlist! As soon as he called my name, I told him that it is unacceptable how he is treating women with utter disrespect. He was clearly uncomfortable even interacting with me, and continuously kept expecting my male traveling partner (who was my guest in the lounge) to handle the business transaction. I requested to talk to his supervisor, who was sweet and very appologetic. She insisted that Nathan, when not serving customers, is jovial and funny. Of course, this does not excuse his behavior toward all the female customers!
Other than the above customer service nightmare, the lounge is below average. Not horrid, but definitely crowded, hot, smelly, loud, lacking a restroom, with barely edible food, and with staff who look perpetually overwhelmed. Of course, given the above overall quality and impression of the place, I would never consider trying their so called spa, as I am sure it would also be horrendously disapointing. If you hve enough time at this airport, I would highly recommend one of the other lounges! Stay away from Aspire, unless you Aspire to spend time in the lounge from hell!

Don’t understand all the bad reviews. This is a free Passport Membership lounge at an airport. The food is good and fresh. They have showers and resting pods. They have ample seating and free alcohol. You have to pay for premium beverages which is standard if it’s even offered.

The other reviewers are right. Terribly crowded and the restroom is outside of the lounge in the common area. Food and bevs are just okay. Staffs are so-​so. I wouldn’t waste my time with it unless I had at least a couple of hours to wait at LHR. Another thing to consider is that if your gate is in another terminal, it could take quite a bit of time to transit from here. Good thing is that they do have monitors with flight information.

My first and probably last time at this lounge. Who are they fooling? No toilets! Why would one want to go to a lounge if they cannot go to the bathroom! Not a single smiling face among the staff as if they are doing you a favor to serve you!
Food is really disgusting. If that is what it means to have free food you re much better off paying for it!!!

Vastly overcrowded. Not enough seats for everyone. I waited over 40 mins at a table that needed cleaned. Staff were busy but not clearing tables despite several people asking them to & some even aknowledging that the tables needs cleared & cleaned.
Bar intermittently staffed despite the crowds. Waited at the bar for 20 minutes & couldnt get served.
Disappointing first visit. Won’t rush back.

Horrible lounge. Small, tables not cleaned often enough. Most of the power outlets are dead. Food is terrible. Have to leave the lounge to use restrooms. Stay away

Worst lounge I’ve ever been to. Food and beverages are subpar. The guy at the front desk is unfriendly and hard to understand. Showers are £20. Spent two hours here and rest pods were occupied the entire time. No restrooms either, you have to leave the lounge and use the facilities in the general terminal. If you’re a priority pass member, do yourself a favor and skip this lounge.

Aspire Lounge at T5 had been a haven for me for the many layovers I’ve had at LHR during my most recent European trip. I’ve been here a handful of times since it always happened to be the closest airport lounge to the gates I was flying out of. For admission to this lounge, I used my Priority Pass membership.
I came here during lunch and morning hours – both of which had hot food offerings. For the time I was there during lunchtime, I had a slice of spinach quiche, spicy penne pasta and a cup of mushroom soup. The penne pasta was tasty (I like spicy) and the mushroom was flavorful and robust. For the time I was there during breakfast, I had scrambled eggs, a mini lox bagel, sausage, bacon and fruit. Typical hot &cold hearty breakfast food options to fill my hungry early morning tummy.
Of note, I didn’t utilize the spa facilities as it was not included with normal/​Priority Pass admission. I also didn’t drink any alcohol, although they have a few beers on tap and other alcohols for traveler consumption!
While my layovers in LHR were short, I was satisfied with my stays at the Aspire Lounge. I usually judge a lounge by its food offerings, and the food I had here definitely did the job as there were both cold and hot food options that were tasty and hit the spot. If I am ever in T5 again, I will definitely be back here!