If you’re dealing with a long layover or an early morning flight departure at London Luton airport, you might be wondering if it is possible to sleep in the airport. Our guide to sleeping in London Luton airport provides essential information for seasoned airport sleepers and newbies to help travellers arrive prepared for the experience.
We keep this guide up-to-date with the help of airport sleepers who have generously shared their experiences and airport reviews. If you have any tips or photos to contribute, please take a moment to write a review. Your feedback will help us stay informed about the latest advice for future sleepy travellers.
Sleeping in London Luton Airport
Locations & Seating
With limited seating, a small terminal full of shops, and many travellers, good sleep spots are few and far between. Keep your eyes peeled for a seat, even if it’s hard and has armrests. In general, there is more seating on the airside. Most travellers point to the benches in the Arrivals area as the best area for napping. Sleeping or sitting on the hard floor is the likeliest option, so bring along an extra layer, or even a sleeping bag, to make the best of your time here.
Here are good sleep spots that travellers have reported:
- Gates 5-6 have a few sofas and three soft armchairs.
- Push together chairs in the food court at night, when cafes and eateries are closed.
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Rest Zones
At the time of this update, there are no designated rest zones within the airport.
Hotels
Prefer some privacy and comfort? If you want a good, solid hotel sleep, you have some options, but you must leave the terminal. Several hotels are located within a 10-minute walk or a 5-minute drive; some offer free or paid shuttle service. See the hotel section in our Airport Guide for locations, or visit Tripadvisor to find hotel deals at Luton Airport.
Lounges
If you are looking for a private place to nap for a few hours between flights, check out the Aspire Lounge. In addition to offering a comfortable place to hang out, they have a few semi-private sleep pods that can be rented for 20 minutes at a time (talk about a cat nap!). Rooms can be booked at the lounge door. For more information, check out our London Luton Airport Guide.
More Airport Services & Facilities
For information about drinking water, 24-hour food & drink options, luggage storage, showers, mobile charging and WiFi, visit our Luton Airport Guide.
Airport Conditions
If you plan to spend the night at the airport, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Temperature – Plan on cold temperatures inside the terminal, particularly at night. Arrive prepared with a blanket or even a sleeping bag. A hoodie provides extra warmth if the terminal gets even colder.
- Lighting -At the time of this update, we have not received reports from travellers related to terminal brightness. Arrive prepared with eyeshades or something else to cover your eyes, such as a shirt or towel.
- Noise -Noise is pretty much nonstop here, but nothing that your earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones can’t fix for you. During the day, expect the usual sounds of boarding calls on loudspeakers, travellers chatting, and music and TVs blaring. At night, the loudest sounds come from the other travellers around you and occasional cleaning crews. The terminal starts waking up around 3:00 AM, so don’t expect much quiet beyond this point.
Security & Safety
Airport staff and security do seem to tolerate a lot of overnight sleepers.
We have no recent reports from travellers commenting on safety issues at London Luton Airport. Older reports indicated some homeless or vagrant folks wandering the public/landside zones, especially at night. However, sleeping in any airport can include a certain level of risk, especially when travelling alone. It’s important to take certain precautions to ensure your safety and the security of your valuables. Here are a few tips:
- Safety First. It’s a good idea to know where the security office is located and look for video cameras where you plan to sleep. You can also ask the security personnel for advice on the safest places to spend the night.
- Don’t Seclude Yourself. If you’re travelling alone, we recommend you stay near other travellers or close to security. This will help you feel more secure and deter potential thieves.
- Hide Your Valuables. It’s also important to hide your valuables. Don’t leave them out in plain view, as this could make you a target for theft. Additionally, if you are a deep sleeper, you may want to padlock your bag to something or sleep with your bag up against a wall to make it harder for someone to access zippers and pockets. We have received reports of sleepers who woke up without their phones and laptop bags. The travellers were left with just their headphones and laptop bag strap.
- Stay Alert. It’s best to stay alert and awake if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable. Drink coffee or other caffeinated beverages to help you stay awake, and remember that you can always catch up on sleep during your flight. These simple precautions can help you enjoy a safe night at the airport.
Pro-tip: If you sleep in the public zone, don’t be surprised if you receive an early morning wake-up call. Security is known to make the rounds, waking people up as travellers arrive for morning flights.
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Airport Photo Gallery
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