Edinburgh Airport lounge reviews: how is the No 1 Lounge?

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This article is my review of the No 1 Lounge at Edinburgh Airport.

A long layover at Edinburgh Airport last week gave me a chance to take a look at three of the lounges – No 1 Lounge, Aspire (reviewed here) and the British Airways Galleries. I will take a look at all three over the next few days.

You can learn more about the lounge on the No 1 Lounges website here.

I like No 1 Lounges. There is something about their design aesthetic that appeals to me, and I have always found that their food offerings suited my tastes. I hadn’t been to the Edinburgh one before but I had a decent idea of what to expect.

The No 1 Lounge is probably the most central of the lounges in the terminal, although that isn’t saying much. Aspire and the British Airways lounges are tucked away around a corner, about a minutes walk away. My British Airways 767 back to Heathrow departed from a gate opposite the No 1 Lounge, so the BA lounge is clearly not next to any dedicated BA gates.

I got in using my Priority Pass, which comes with my American Express Platinum card (or you can buy one) and allows unlimited free lounge visits. It also accepts Lounge Club, which comes with American Express Gold (two free visits per year) or HSBC Premier’s LoungeKey card.

The London lounges operated by No 1 Lounges are often very busy and will often refuse Priority Pass walk-ups because they are full. This was not a problem in Edinburgh on a midweek lunchtime. The lounge only had about 10 guests.

It occupies a large square space as you can see below:

There are four zones – a dining area with formal tables and semi-formal white chairs, an area with table but lower slung green comfy chairs, a boardroom table more suited for working (just visible at top right in my photo) and a very casual sofa-based seating area (top left). It is cleverly laid out with something for everyone.

The only thing it lacked was privacy. There are no hidden nooks or corners, which means there is nowhere to hide if your child (or travelling companion!) is playing up.

Hot food can be ordered from the bar. You are limited to one hot item per visit – you need to hand over the menu you are given on entry when ordering.

Breakfast options are a bacon roll, beans on toast, florentine quesadilla or toast and jam. For the rest of the day, you can currently choose from:

beef-filled Yorkshire pudding

forest mushroom risotto (can be done gluten free)

fish finger wrap (can be done dairy free)

beetroot and goat’s cheese salad (can be done vegan, gluten free or dairy free)

cheese and biscuits

I took the fish finger wrap, which was well presented although could have been a little warmer:

The buffet had a decent range of salads:

Drinks must be ordered at the bar. Standard drinks are free and you can pay for premium options – there was a variety of Moet & Chandon champagnes on offer.

Here a couple more general shots from different angles:

and

If you wanted something to read, there was a small but high quality selection of magazines and newspapers by the entrance.

I liked the No 1 Lounge at Edinburgh. I preferred it to the Aspire Lounge (see my other review) unless you need more privacy or want a hot food buffet, so pick No 1 if you are using a Priority Pass, Lounge Club etc card.

It is a closer call between No 1 and the British Airways lounge. The BA lounge, as my review will show, is bigger with more facilities but somehow feels less inspiring, and is a lot busier.

You can find out more about the lounge, and pre-book a cash visit, on the No 1 Lounges website here.

Getting airport lounge access for free from a credit card

How to get FREE airport lounge access via UK credit cards (December 2021)

As a reminder, here are the three options to get FREE airport lounge access via a credit or charge card:

The Platinum Card from American Express

30,000 points and an unbeatable set of travel benefits – for a fee Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express comes with two free Priority Pass cards, one for you and one for a supplementary cardholder. Each card admits two so a family of four gets in free. You get access to all 1,300 lounges in the Priority Pass network – search it here.

You also get access to Plaza Premium, Delta and Eurostar lounges. Our American Express Platinum review is here. You can apply here.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 20,000 points, FREE for a year & two airport lounge passes Read our full review

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold is FREE for the first year. It comes with a Priority Pass card loaded with two free visits to any Priority Pass lounge – see the list here.

Additional lounge visits are charged at £20. You get two more free visits for every year you keep the card.

There is no annual fee for Amex Gold in Year 1 and you get a 20,000 points sign-up bonus. Full details are in our American Express Preferred Rewards Gold review here.

HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard

A huge bonus, but only available to HSBC Premier clients Read our full review

HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard gets you get a free LoungeKey card, allowing you access to the LoungeKey network. Guests are charged at £20 although it may be cheaper to pay £60 for a supplementary credit card for your partner.

The card has a fee of £195 and there are strict financial requirements to become a HSBC Premier customer. Full details are in my HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard review.

PS. You can find all of HfP’s UK airport lounge reviews – and we’ve been to most of them – indexed here.

Category

General

This article is closed to new posts. Discussion continues in the HfP Forums.

Leo says:

10 Nov10 November 08:46

I once actually paid cash to use this lounge. Won’t be happening again.
Chris says:

10 Nov10 November 08:52

I’ve been in this lounge about 50x and not once have I ever been given a menu on entrance or had it taken off me when ordering food
- CV3V says:
  
  10 Nov10 November 10:43
  
  happened to me at the weekend, first time, must be new system. A chap in the lounge asked for 2 bacon rolls (wanted one for the plane), and was politely refused.
- Alan says:
  
  10 Nov10 November 11:58
  
  Out of interest when was your most recent visit? My last one was a couple of weeks ago and they said it was a new policy – I was given a menu upon arrival.
Malcolm says:

10 Nov10 November 09:02

Slightly OT. You make an interesting point re dedicated gates at Edinburgh for BA. Flights to LCY often fly from gate 5 which is right across from the BA Lounge, having said that it often seems that easyjet get better gates at EDI – is that because they pay more?

In recent months, flying BA from EDI to LCY we’ve ‘departed’ from gate 22 (which is right at the far end of the terminal) – been rammed on to a bus and then driven back to the other end of the terminal. Hardly a premium service.
- CV3V says:
  
  10 Nov10 November 10:41
  
  I have a general dislike for EDI airport. They have blocked off the doors which allowed you to walk straight across to the multi storey car park, you have to go out the other set of doors and double back on yourself or walk through the car park to get back to the main entrance (and the lifts). Or follow the signs through to the new building up to the tram entrance to then walk back even more.
  
  The security screening system is (to me) stupid and the staff rude, i dont appreciate being barked at when being told what number to go stand on. If you happen to have your tray put on to the rollers at the very back of the line it can take 10 mins to get screened whilst everyone else keeps putting their trays on in front of yours.
  
  One day the security queue was back through to the cafes, and staff were shouting to stop queuing up?!
  
  If you park in the multi storey and have fast track you get to use the pedestrian bridge which takes you into the staff screening area first, cue staff barking at you to keep walking (some signs would help).
  
  The terminal is congested, its a mix of shopping centre and passengers arriving and departing all in the one area, with some of the gates right in the middle of it with passengers having to queue up across the walking area.
  - Sussex Bantam says:
    
    10 Nov10 November 11:05
    
    I agree with all of this ! Quite possibly the rudest, most dis-organised security screening process outside of the United States.
    - Alan says:
      
      10 Nov10 November 12:03
      
      I’ve found LHR massively worse, although new First Wing is fine. USA OK when you’ve got precheck, which sadly you can’t get on BA flights. Oz and NZ have much more efficient security for their internal flights, was a breath of fresh air!
    - Nick says:
      
      10 Nov10 November 17:22
      
      NZ doesn’t have security at all for some domestic flights!!
    - Derek Scott says:
      
      10 Nov10 November 20:18
      
      The BA Lounge is pretty central for he mix of fates they use across the day. The early morning 767’s often leave from Gate 3, which the BA Lounge is closest to compares to the others.
      
      The No1 Lounge used to be the BA Lounge until around 4(?) year ago
  - Alan says:
    
    10 Nov10 November 12:02
    
    Doors opposite multistorey have reopened. I find security staff friendly and helpful, a massive improvement cf LHR! Also prefer the system they have with the trays to the LHR one, at most you’re only stuck behind one person being slow. Lots of pax still inconsiderate and don’t return their trays at both airports though!
    - CV3V says:
      
      10 Nov10 November 13:11
      
      Oz security is a breeze, and i was amazed that at the Brisbane Domestic terminal they let non fliers airside, just have to pass through security. It did mean however i couldn’t use the lounge as family had came airside with me!
      
      At EDI at the weekend i saw someone take their ipad out their bag but place it on top of the bag, to be told ‘that defeats the purpose doesn’t it?’ Meantime staff shouted ‘4’ at me, which i had already worked out on my own.
      
      At LHR i sometimes wonder (from the actions i see and general attitude) whether the security staff at LHR are on some sort of go slow – they are often have group conversations which i don’t witness at any other airport.
  - Derek Scott says:
    
    10 Nov10 November 20:22
    
    Having worked at EDI airport in central search I am pleased to say that your experience is not one I recognise. Every day, passengers would comment on the friendliness of the security officers, and more often than not, that was from America passengers who can easily be displeased when they are slowed down.
    
    In terms of the Welcome Team who control the queue lanes, they are not airport employees but an outsource partner.
    
    The airport is growing faster than they can expand and the footprint they can build on is limited. But at least they’ve started work on another extension to add more space around the Gate 12 area.
    - Alan says:
      
      10 Nov10 November 20:27
      
      I must say I agree, I’ve not had any issues with friendliness of security staff at EDI. The mandatory duty free visit is very frustrating – esp when time is tight and one is held up behind folk taking their time shopping! Hopefully the new developments will go well.
- Malcolm says:
  
  10 Nov10 November 19:29
  
  Yes I’d agree with all these comments – Edinburgh Airport has expanded rapidly over the years and has ended up being very poorly designed. The old security system was excellent but was replaced by the new, awful, system to make way for the huge duty free shop.
  - Kinkell says:
    
    10 Nov10 November 20:30
    
    I dislike EDI, had miles to walk just to get into the terminal from the long stay bus drop off, security was unpleasant , barked at by a scurity chap when i gasped and jumped when the security woman put her freezing cold hands inside the waistband of my jeans without telling me she was going to do it first. Then came the long winding walk through WDF with no escape!
totaltool says:

10 Nov10 November 11:06

Slightly O/T but related. Flying QATAR business class from EDI in March. What access do I get to any of the 3 lounges being reviewed?
- kt1974 says:
  
  10 Nov10 November 11:12
  
  You get an invitation to No 1, but can use BA through oneworld status. Try both – that’s what I did last week
Rob says:

10 Nov10 November 15:56

This deal is better (£127):

PP 10 visits for £127
- Rob says:
  
  10 Nov10 November 16:54
  
  Will drop it in next week, didn’t know it was still live to be honest.
- TripRep says:
  
  10 Nov10 November 18:53
  
  Hmmm, shame the 10 passes don’t include the facility for your guest to use one, I don’t think I’ll need 10 in the next year as still have Amex Gold 2x Lounge Club passes + when flying BA CW/CE should have access to their lounges. Will keep my eye on it near Easter to see if its still on then, could be useful for the next financial year.
Peter K says:

10 Nov10 November 18:36

Hi Rob. Thanks for taking on board about mentioning what is gluten free, really appreciate it 😀
To someone who needs gluten free food then knowing there is something to eat (more than crisps) is more important than the seating areas etc
Graham Walsh says:

10 Nov10 November 20:44

I did this last year. Make sure you put a note to cancel just over 10 months in otherwise they charge you in month 11 for the following year at full price.
Colin JE says:

11 Nov11 November 22:32

I like the No1 Lounge at EDI, using it a lot since I moved to Edinburgh. I was in the No1 last Friday and they have indeed introduced that new policy of giving you a menu to be handed over. I didn’t realise that was how it worked. The reception girl rushed over to me at my table, apologised and handed over the menu. The beef meal was a bit disappointing, as are most of the hot meals. So I prefer the BA lounge, for more comfortable seating, serve yourself food and booze.
I wish Manchester had a No1 lounge. The BA lounge is showing its age, like the old Gatwick lounge, and the Escape lounge was packed yesterday. They had a sign at the door saying only people with a booking could get in, but let us in anyway. We’d just got in from ORD before our next flight so that was a relief, even though the seats left weren’t particularly comfortable. They have an irritating habit there of having all the decent chairs and sofas with reserved cards.