Escape Lounges is a lounge operator with sites at airports across the UK, including Manchester, Stansted, East Midlands and Bristol. Its lounges are pay-per-visit: you pay once for a single visit instead of holding a membership. Most welcome any traveller, regardless of airline or ticket class. A few have specific access rules depending on the terminal.

You book a place for your flight date and time, then arrive and show your booking at the reception desk. One fixed fee includes everything. You get a complimentary bar with soft drinks, tea, coffee, wine and beer, a selection of hot and cold food, Wi-Fi, charging points, and print services. The food and drinks are unlimited, so you can help yourself as often as you like. At most locations, you can enter up to three hours before your scheduled departure. Escape Lounges are great to eat, work, or relax before you fly.

You have two ways to get in. Pre-booking through the lounge or through Enjoy Travel locks in a lower price and guarantees your seat, which helps at busy times. Pre-booking is usually open up to 24 hours before your visit. Walking up and paying on arrival is another option, though space is not guaranteed and the price is higher. Children under three usually enter free. Most lounges accept membership cards such as Priority Pass and DragonPass, with any guest charges set by your card provider.

For pay-per-visit buyers, the appeal is value and calm. A booked visit often costs about the same as a meal with a few drinks in the terminal. If you want the wider picture first, our guide to what an airport lounge is and how they work explains the basics across all operators.

How much is the Escape Lounge at Manchester Airport?

On Enjoy Travel, the Escape Lounge at Manchester starts from £48.99 per person. Manchester has two Escape Lounges, one in Terminal 2 and one in Terminal 3. You get a place and a fixed price if you book ahead. There is also a premium option in Terminal 2, The Executive by Escape Lounges, with a hot buffet and premium drinks, from £57.99 per person.

Where is the Escape Lounge at Manchester Airport?

There are two Escape Lounges at Manchester. The Terminal 2 lounge is open to all travellers. The Terminal 3 lounge is for Ryanair passengers only, and it is a 5 to 10 minute walk from the Ryanair departure gates. The Terminal 3 lounge has recently moved to a larger, brighter space with runway views. Choose the lounge in the terminal your flight leaves from, and keep in mind that the Terminal 3 lounge welcomes Ryanair travellers only.

What time does the Escape Lounge open at Manchester Airport?

The Terminal 2 Escape Lounge opens daily from 3 am, and the Terminal 3 lounge opens daily from 4 am. Both close in the evening, usually around 8 pm to 8:30 pm. From 25 October 2026, winter hours apply, and these vary by day. On some days the lounges close earlier in the afternoon, so check the opening times for your travel date before you book.

What’s included

Your visit includes unlimited food and drink for one fixed fee. There is a complimentary bar with wine, beer, soft drinks, and specialty coffee. Manchester Gin is also available in the Terminal 3 lounge. You can help yourself to a selection of hot and cold food throughout the day. Both lounges have Wi-Fi, charging points, air conditioning, flight information screens, and disabled access. Premium alcoholic drinks are available to buy on top of the complimentary range.

How to book the Escape Lounge at Manchester Airport

The easiest way to secure your place and your price is to book online before you fly. Choose your terminal, your date, and your arrival time, then pay for your visit. You can enter up to three hours before your scheduled departure. Walking up and paying on arrival is possible too, though space is limited at busy times. Children under three enter free, and you can add guests to your booking. To reserve your spot, book an Escape Lounge at Manchester.

How much is the Escape Lounge at Stansted Airport?

The Escape Lounge at Stansted is now Essence by Escape Lounges, a newer lounge concept at the airport. You can pre-book from £28.99 per person, or pay £35 if you walk up. Infants under three enter free.

Is the Escape Lounge at Stansted open?

Yes. Essence by Escape Lounges is open daily from 04:45 to 20:15. The old Escape Lounge in the main terminal has closed, and Essence has taken its place. Opening hours can change, so check before you travel.

Where is the Escape Lounge at Stansted Airport?

Essence is located near Gates 1 to 19. You can reach it on the Stansted Transit System, then take the escalators up and follow the signs for the Premium Lounge. Because of this location, the lounge is open to passengers on eligible airlines only, which include British Airways Cityflyer, Emirates, Jet2, TUI and Turkish Airlines. Ryanair and easyJet passengers cannot access it, so check your airline first.

What’s included

The food is cold only: sandwiches, salads and light bites. Complimentary drinks include tea, coffee, soft drinks, wine and bottled beer, and you can buy premium alcoholic drinks on top. There is private Wi-Fi, charging points, print services, and digital newspapers and magazines through Pressreader.

How to book

Pre-book your place at least 24 hours ahead, and arrive up to three hours before departure. To reserve your spot, book an Escape Lounge at Stansted.

How much is the Escape Lounge at East Midlands Airport?

On Enjoy Travel, the Escape Lounge at East Midlands starts from £48.99 per person. It is the only lounge at the airport, and it welcomes all travellers, whatever airline or ticket class you fly. The lounge was recently refurbished and reopened with a fresh look.

*Prices correct at time of writing and may change.

Where is the Escape Lounge at East Midlands Airport?

The lounge is on the lower level of the terminal, towards Gates 8 to 23. The refurbished space is split into four zones, named after local landmarks and traditions, with artwork from local artists.

Is the Escape Lounge at East Midlands open?

Yes. The lounge opens daily from 3:30 am, and closing times fall in the late afternoon or early evening, often around 5 pm to 6:30 pm. Hours vary by day. From 25 October 2026, a winter schedule continues until March 2027, so check the opening times for your travel date before you book.

What’s included

You get a generous selection of hot and cold food, with gluten-free and vegan options available. The complimentary bar includes coffee, tea, soft drinks, wine, beer and spirits, and you can buy premium drinks on top. There is private Wi-Fi, charging ports, print services, and the Lounge Hub app for menus and flight tracking. Children under three enter free.

How to book

The simplest way to secure your place and your price is to book online before you fly. Pick your date and arrival time, then pay for your visit. You can enter up to three hours before your scheduled departure, and walking up and paying on arrival is possible too. To reserve your spot, book an Escape Lounge at East Midlands.

Escape Lounges compared: Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands

Is the Escape Lounge worth it?

It depends on how long you wait and how you travel. An Escape Lounge is worth the price when you have two hours or more before boarding, and you would eat and drink in the terminal anyway. A meal with a couple of drinks at an airport bar can reach £35 to £45. At a similar price, you get the food, the bar, a seat and Wi-Fi.

Early flights make the case stronger, because a hot breakfast and a calm corner beat a crowded gate at 5 am. Families gain the most from the space, and anyone who needs to work will value the quiet ambience.

If your layover is tight, you cannot really get three hours of value from a lounge you leave after thirty minutes. If you only want a coffee before a quick flight, the terminal is cheaper. Price matters here too. Stansted at £28.99 is easy to justify, while Manchester and East Midlands at around £49 need more use before the price makes sense. Stansted also has cold food only.

In short: book an Escape Lounge when you have time to use it and an appetite to match, and skip it for a dash through the airport. For the full breakdown, read our guide on whether airport lounges are worth it.

How do you book an Escape Lounge?

Booking an Escape Lounge takes a couple of minutes online. Choose your airport and terminal, pick your date and arrival time, then enter the number of adults and children in your party. You will see the price before you pay, and your place is held once the booking is confirmed. Pre-book at least 24 hours ahead, and plan to arrive up to three hours before your flight leaves. Children under three usually enter free.

Ready to go? You can book an Escape Lounge at Manchester, Stansted or East Midlands, and start your trip the calm way.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Escape Lounge at Manchester Airport open?

Yes. Manchester has two Escape Lounges. The Terminal 2 lounge opens from 3 am, and the Terminal 3 lounge, for Ryanair passengers, opens from 4 am, both closing in the evening. Winter hours apply from 25 October 2026 and vary by day, so check your travel date before you go.

How do I find Essence by Escape Lounges at Stansted?

The lounge is past security, near Gates 1 to 19. Take the Stansted Transit System, leave at the Gates 1 to 19 stop, then ride the escalators up and follow the Premium Lounge signs. Only eligible airlines reach it, so Ryanair and easyJet passengers cannot visit.

What time does the Escape Lounge open at East Midlands Airport?

The East Midlands Escape Lounge opens daily from 3:30 am and closes in the late afternoon or early evening, with times that change by day. A winter schedule runs from 25 October 2026 to March 2027, so confirm the hours for your flight date before booking.

How much does it cost to book an Escape Lounge?

It depends on the airport and the date. At Stansted, you can pre-book from £28.99 per person, while Manchester and East Midlands start from around £49 on Enjoy Travel. Walk-up entry costs more, and children under three usually go free. Prices were checked in October 2026.