Yes, you can smoke at London Gatwick (LGW) in the clearly marked designated zones outside both terminal buildings, before security. Gatwick’s own FAQ states that there is no smoking once you have passed through security and no smoking facilities for passengers connecting international-to-international; the one exception is the outdoor terrace of My Lounge in the South Terminal, a paid lounge where passengers may smoke. Like every UK airport since the Health Act 2006, the terminals are smoke-free indoors.
Connecting on from Gatwick? Popular long-haul transfers go via Dubai and Istanbul — see smoking areas at Dubai International Airport or where to smoke at Istanbul Airport.
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.
- 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 areas are:
- Departures level — outdoor areas at the curbside drop-off, marked with signage. Closer to the building than South Terminal’s equivalents.
- Arrivals level — outdoor areas at the taxi rank and short-stay car park entrance.
There is no airside smoking at North Terminal. Check the security queue and your boarding deadline before you leave the secure area; no fixed return time is guaranteed.
South Terminal Smoking (Landside)
South Terminal hosts British Airways, TUI, and most long-haul carriers. Beyond the My Lounge airside terrace, the landside areas are:
- Departures forecourt — outdoor areas at curbside outside the main departure doors.
- Arrivals level — outdoor areas near the taxi rank.
Layovers and Transit
For connecting passengers:
- South Terminal connection: My Lounge’s airside terrace is the one option without re-clearing security; lounge entry is paid.
- North Terminal connection or split connection: outdoor area is landside only. Allow generous time for the round trip and the re-screening.
- Inter-terminal transfer: the free shuttle runs every 3 minutes (2 minutes one-way) and passes through no smoking area.
Vaping
Gatwick’s own FAQ states that e-cigarettes and vapes have the same restrictions as smoking and can only be used in the designated areas outside the terminal buildings; the My Lounge terrace is the airside exception. 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 and their spare batteries go in hand luggage only, never in checked baggage.
Summary
| Area | Smoking | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| South Terminal, after security | Lounge only | Outdoor terrace of My Lounge; paid lounge entry |
| North Terminal, after security | No | Nothing airside; the free shuttle to South means re-clearing security |
| North Terminal, landside | Yes | Marked zones outside the building, departures and arrivals forecourts |
| South Terminal, landside | Yes | Marked zones on the departures forecourt and by the arrivals taxi rank |
| Inside the terminals | No | Smoke-free, vaping included |
For United Kingdom airport smoking rules, vaping rules, and other general info, see our United Kingdom smoking guide.