Smoking at London Gatwick Airport – LGW

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By , Author, Air Travel Writer · Updated

Yes, you can smoke at London Gatwick — and uniquely among UK airports of its size, Gatwick has one airside smoking option: the outdoor terrace at My Lounge in the South Terminal (paid lounge access required). Otherwise, like every UK airport since the Health Act 2006, Gatwick operates outdoor-only with landside curbside zones at both terminals.

My Lounge Outdoor Terrace (South Terminal Airside)

This is Gatwick’s only airside smoking facility. The My Lounge premium lounge in South Terminal has an outdoor terrace where smoking is permitted. Key details:

  • Location: South Terminal airside, after security.
  • Access: paid lounge ticket. Walk-up rate around £40; available at no extra cost with Priority Pass, LoungeKey, DragonPass, or some premium credit cards. Some airline business-class fares include access.
  • North Terminal connection: no equivalent at North Terminal. Crossing to South via the inter-terminal shuttle then re-clearing security is impractical for short layovers.

North Terminal Smoking (Landside Only)

North Terminal serves easyJet, Virgin Atlantic, Norwegian, and other carriers. The smoking zones are:

  • Departures level — outdoor zones at the curbside drop-off, marked with signage. Closer to the building than South Terminal’s equivalents.
  • Arrivals level — outdoor zones at the taxi rank and short-stay car park entrance.

There is no airside smoking at North Terminal. Re-clearing security from the curbside zone takes 30-60 minutes during peaks.

South Terminal Smoking (Landside)

South Terminal hosts British Airways, TUI, and most long-haul carriers. Beyond the My Lounge airside terrace, the landside zones are:

  • Departures forecourt — outdoor zones at curbside outside the main departure doors.
  • Arrivals level — outdoor zones near the taxi rank.

Layovers and Transit

For connecting passengers:

  • South Terminal connection: My Lounge’s airside terrace makes smoke breaks genuinely workable. Lounge access cost is the main consideration.
  • North Terminal connection or split connection: outdoor zone is landside only. Allow 60-90 minutes for the round trip.
  • Inter-terminal transfer: the free shuttle runs every 3 minutes (2 minutes one-way). It does not pass through any smoking zone. Gatwick discourages inter-terminal smoking transits because of the security re-entry overhead.

Vaping

UK law on indoor vaping is more relaxed than UK law on smoking, but Gatwick’s airport operator restricts vaping to the same designated outdoor zones (and to the My Lounge terrace airside). Heat-not-burn devices follow the same rule.

Bringing vapes through Gatwick is fully legal — UK has no possession restrictions on personal-use vape devices. UK Civil Aviation Authority rules: vapes in hand luggage only, maximum 2 spare batteries.

Tips for Smokers at Gatwick

  • My Lounge South Terminal is the only airside option — worth the £40 if your layover is 2+ hours.
  • Long-haul transit through South Terminal: factor lounge access into your booking.
  • Inter-terminal shuttle does not help with smoke breaks.
  • For tight North Terminal connections, plan to wait until destination.
  • Cigarettes ~£14-16/pack landside; duty-free competitive for international.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I smoke at Gatwick Airport?

Yes — at landside outdoor zones outside both terminals, and at one airside option: My Lounge in the South Terminal has an outdoor terrace where smoking is permitted (paid lounge access required). North Terminal has no airside smoking option at all. Both terminals have signposted landside zones at curbside arrivals and departures.

Where is the airside smoking option at Gatwick?

Yes — My Lounge in the South Terminal has an outdoor terrace that is the only airside smoking facility at Gatwick. Access requires a paid lounge ticket (around £40 walk-up; cheaper with Priority Pass or via airline lounge access). North Terminal passengers cannot use it without crossing to South Terminal via the inter-terminal shuttle (free) and re-clearing security.

Where are the landside smoking zones at North and South Terminals?

Yes — both terminals have outdoor smoking zones on the forecourt at curbside. North Terminal’s zones are near the main arrivals/departures entrances and signposted. South Terminal’s zones are at the departures forecourt and arrivals taxi rank. Specific door numbers are not published by Gatwick; follow the signs from the entrance.

Can I smoke during a Gatwick layover?

Yes — if your connection is at South Terminal, the My Lounge terrace lets you smoke airside without re-clearing security. If your connection is at North Terminal or your flights are split between the two, you’ll need to exit the secure zone, smoke at the landside outdoor zone, and re-clear — typically 60-90 minutes round trip. The inter-terminal shuttle (free, every 3 minutes, 2 minutes one-way) does not pass through any smoking-permitted area.

Are vapes and e-cigarettes allowed at Gatwick?

Yes — at the same designated outdoor zones as cigarettes (and at My Lounge’s outdoor terrace). UK national law treats vaping leniently, but Gatwick’s airport operator restricts vaping to the same zones as smoking. Heat-not-burn devices like IQOS follow the same rule. Bringing vapes through Gatwick is fully legal under UK law with no possession restrictions.