New first-class lounge at the UK’s ‘best train station’ serves free food and drink

LNER’s first class lounge at London’s King’s Cross Station has had a glow-up — and it’s open to the public for the first time today.

The London North Eastern Railway company closed its private lounge in January for a ‘major refurbishment,’ focused on better seating, greater privacy, dedicated working zones, more greenery, and more comfort.

Now, the lounge has space for 122 guests who are all entitled to complimentary food and drink (yes, that’s right, once you’re in, it’s free).

Sounds like the perfect place to sit back and relax before a journey.

But, there’s a catch: the lounge is exclusively available to passengers holding a valid same-day LNER first-class ticket or a first-class ticket for a connecting LNER train. Upgraded first-class tickets on LNER services also work.

This means that standard ticketholders can’t just pay an entry fee to access the freebies.

How much is a standard ticket vs a first-class ticket?

The price of either ticket depends on where you go.

However, for those travelling on popular cross-country routes from London to Leeds, standard tickets can be as cheap as £24. Bump that up to first-class, and it can cost a much steeper £125.

Going further to Edinburgh, standard tickets average around £77. A first-class upgrade basically doubles to £150.

Let’s take a look inside the refurb, from everything that’s been added to what people have to say.

The lounge details

The lounge’s previous layout featured a central refreshment area. However, to open up the space, this has been moved to the front wall and transformed into banquette seating with booths and tables.

In the morning, passengers can enjoy a selection of pastries, while the afternoon sees the spread flip to muffins, biscuits and crisps. Tea, coffee and fruit juices are available all day.

Away from the dining area, six new booths have been installed, all designed for ultimate privacy. Each includes charging ports, a desk, and elegant lamps with mood lighting.

LNER’s colours are red and white, and the company has filtered the scheme into its lounge.

The deep red walls, complete with paisley wallpaper and brass features, provide an Art Deco vibe, while the plush, earth-tone furniture provides a calming effect you certainly don’t get on the main concourse.

Vintage-inspired posters of LNER routes and destinations hang on the walls throughout, and indoor plants elevate the space.

The newly upgraded toilet facilities follow the same interior theme, with maximalist wallpaper and brown stone sinks.

The reception area has also been redesigned to welcome customers.

What has LNER said about the lounge?

Before the renovation, Colette Casey, Customer Experience Director at LNER, said in a statement: ‘We recognise how much our customers enjoy using the First Class Lounge at London King’s Cross ahead of their journey.

‘Throughout this investment, we have listened to what our customers would like from the space, and this redesign will bring some wonderful improvements that will be enjoyed by hundreds of customers every day.’

Following the refurbishment, Casey confirmed the lounge has been ‘transformed into a modern, comfortable, relaxing area’ for first-class customers to spend time in and enjoy before or after travelling with LNER.

Where is LNER’s first-class lounge?

The LNER first-class lounge is located on the ground floor, next to Waitrose. If you’re upstairs, you can access the entrance on the mezzanine.

As for opening times, it’s available to customers on weekdays from 7am until 9.25pm. On Saturdays, it’s 8am to 8.15pm, and on Sundays, 9am to 8.15pm.

What other improvements have been made?

The lounge hasn’t just been upgraded for aesthetic purposes — there are plenty of practical improvements, too.

For example, additional luggage and pushchair storage areas have been added, and customer information screens have been installed. Each shows departure information and platform numbers with British Sign Language interpretation.