Stansted Airport to London is a journey made by thousands of people daily. It’s the capital’s third busiest airport, with hundreds of thousands of take-offs and landings every year. No surprise that getting from Stansted to London is a hot topic when taking a flight.
London Stansted Airport is located about 30 miles from Central London (measured in a straight line), and there are several ways to get into town. In this guide, we’ll cover how to travel on the dedicated train service, the pros and cons of taking the coach, plus looking at your options for driving or using private taxi transfers. And if all that sounds like something you’d prefer to do the day after you arrive, then we’ll check out some London Stansted Airport hotel options, too. Read on to find out everything you need to know!
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Stansted Airport to London: By train
Hunting for a Stansted Airport to London train? It’s certainly the most efficient way to get into the centre, with the dedicated Stansted Express service running trains to both London Liverpool Street and Stratford stations every 15 minutes during the day. Journey times to both stations are similar, taking between 50 minutes and an hour.
Stansted Express is a full train service (not a Tube train) that runs at the following times:
- To Liverpool Street: 05:30 - 00:30 every day
- To Stratford: 05:30 - 22:30 Mon–Sat; 07:15 - 22:30 Sun
The cost of catching the Stansted Express can vary. A standard single is £25, and a standard return is £38. Book well in advance, though, and the price could drop to £9.90 for a single and £19.80 for a return. For up-to-date prices on your chosen dates, search our Journey Planner.
Return tickets on this service are 'open' returns, meaning you can catch any return train within a month of your outbound journey.
If you’re looking to get from Stansted Airport to London Victoria Station, or any other London station, then your best bet is to take either of the Stansted Express routes, then make a journey by tube to Victoria. It will take about 25 minutes from Liverpool Street, or roughly 35 minutes from Stratford.
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Stansted Airport to London: By bus/coach
If you're looking to keep costs low, it's worth considering catching the bus from Stansted Airport to London. While prices vary, they are almost always cheaper than the standard single rail price. Many are less than half the price, at around £11.
The main operators are Flixbus and National Express. They run multiple services every hour. The key advantage of the coach option is that they travel to several different London destinations. These include Liverpool Street and Waterloo stations, but also places like London Victoria, Shoreditch High Street, Stratford City Bus Station and Golders Green.
Travel time varies due to the different destinations, but it can be as low as 50 minutes, which is the same as the train. Most are just over an hour. To get up-to-date prices and times that suit you, search our Journey Planner.
Stansted Airport to London: By car
If you're wondering how to get from Stansted Airport to London with the ultimate flexibility, then driving is hard to beat. There are no timetables, no tickets and no set destinations. You and your travel companions' luggage simply go in the boot and off you go!
The flip side to this convenience is, of course, cost. If you hire a vehicle, then there will be a substantial bill, particularly if you drop the car off at a different location. And if you want to go in your car, then London Stansted Airport parking isn't cheap either - the bill will be in three figures for a ten-day trip. It's also worth noting that driving into Central London is costly, with the Congestion Charge standing at £15 per day. Spread the cost out across a car full of family, though, and it might feel more justifiable.
To make the journey, you'll follow signs for the M11 motorway, then head southbound towards London. You then have two main options, depending on which part of London you're aiming for. The interchange for the M25 London Orbital motorway is at Junction 6 of the M11, but if you stay on the M11, you'll transfer onto the A406 North Circular at Junction 4. (The M11 actually stops at J4, as J1–3 were never built!) These two ring roads will take you wherever you need to be in Greater London.
Photo by Thomas Nugent
Stansted Airport to London: By taxi
If you want to avoid the hassle of driving and parking, but you like the exclusivity of a private vehicle, then an airport taxi could work for you. It has all the benefits and none of the downsides of a private car journey.
To get one, try our Airport Transfers page. Pick your start and end points - London Stansted Airport to London (you can actually input your flight number and postcode, so your driver knows whether your flight is on time) - and see what prices are like.
The cost is determined by which part of London you're travelling to. It ranges from about £115 to nearly £200. Of course, luxury and larger vehicles are available for an additional cost. It's worth remembering that this price will only take you one way, but if you have a large family, or perhaps multiple couples travelling together, it could well be a sensible option.
Need to stay at Stansted Airport instead?
If your flight arrives at an awkward time, or if it's just convenient to delay your transfer to the next day, then there's no need to worry. There are loads of options for staying the night near the airport.
The Hampton by Hilton London Stansted Airport is just a five-minute walk from the terminals. They offer free hot breakfast, a fitness centre and free Wi-Fi. Prices are in the region of £100–£150 a night.
The Novotel London Stansted Airport is six minutes away by shuttle bus. Guests can enjoy Wi-Fi, air-conditioning and an on-site restaurant and bar. Their rates are around £90-£100 a night. Breakfast adds roughly £10 per guest.
The Premier Inn London Stansted Airport Hotel is on the opposite side of the airport, about two miles away. Taxis will reach it in ten minutes, but they also run a shuttle bus every 30 minutes (adults £4; children free). There's an on-site bar and grill restaurant, and upgrade rooms are available. Prices are roughly £67–£115 a night. Breakfast is about £12 per guest.