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London Stansted Airport

Find out how to travel between Stansted Airport and central London by train, coach or taxi, plus your guide to hotel transfers and car parking.
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A group of passengers are walking with their suitcases in hands in Stansted arrival hall.
Arrival hall at Stansted Airport, photo courtesy of Stansted Airport.

Key Stansted Airport information

  • London Stansted Airport (STN) is located to the north-east of London.
  • Many low-cost airlines offer cheap flights between London Stansted and Europe.
  • The Stansted Express is the quickest way into central London, with trains to London Liverpool Street taking 47 minutes.
  • National Express and Airport Bus Express offer coach services to London.
  • Black cabs do not operate from Stansted, so book a licensed minicab instead.
  • Short and long-stay car parks are available for travellers driving to the airport.

London Stansted Airport (STN) is the UK's fourth busiest airport. The airport is located 64km (40 miles) north-east of London and is home to many of the UK's low-cost airlines, mostly serving destinations in Europe.

Arriving and departing from Stansted Airport

The Stansted Airport Arrivals hall has a range of shops, restaurants, currency exchange services and car hire desks.

Stansted Airport Departures can be found on the ground floor. After checking-in, passengers must clear security control before entering the departure area, which has a selection of shops, bars and restaurants.

Find more information on flying to and from Stansted Airport. 

How to travel by train from Stansted Airport to central London

The Stansted Express is the quickest way from London Stansted Airport to central London. Services depart every 30 minutes from Stansted Airport's train station, located directly below the airport terminal.

The journey time to London Liverpool Street is 47 minutes and 36 minutes to Tottenham Hale, which has connections to Stratford in east London as well as the London Underground Victoria line.

For easy journeys on the London Underground, it's worth buying a Visitor Oyster Card* in advance. The Visitor Oyster Card is delivered to your home before you arrive in London.

If you do not have a Visitor Oyster Card before you arrive, you can use contactless payment cards or mobile payments to ride the London Underground, or you can buy an Oyster card at Stansted Airport's train station. Oyster cards are not valid for travel to or from Stansted Airport, but you can use your Oyster card for onward journeys from Tottenham Hale or London Liverpool Street station.

Visit the Transport for London website to plan your journey.

How to travel by coach from Stansted Airport to London

National Express operates more than 200 daily buses on four lines between Stansted Airport and London. Routes stop at major train and Tube stations, including Victoria Coach Station, Liverpool Street, Baker Street, Waterloo, King's Cross and Stratford.

Airport Bus Express has services to Liverpool Street, Stratford, Victoria Coach Station and Baker Street, which run every 30 minutes between 6am and 2am.

How to travel by taxi from Stansted Airport to London

Book a taxi in advance using a service such as Minicabit. To find a taxi when you arrive, 24x7 Stansted has a reservation desk in the arrivals hall.

A taxi journey into London for one to four people costs about £99. Black cabs do not operate from Stansted, but you can catch one to the airport. For more information, visit the Stansted Airport website.

Taxis are metered and fares are displayed inside the cab. Extra charges, such as evening and weekend journeys, are also shown on the meter.

Never use unauthorised drivers who offer their services at airports or stations.

Alternatively, opt for a more luxurious journey with a private transfer to or from Stansted Airport*.

Accessible transport from Stansted Airport

The Stansted Express welcomes travellers with specific needs or disabilities, including wheelchair users and those with mobility difficulties. Visit the Stansted Express website for more information on its Assisted Travel service.

National Express can help with accessibility requirements if you contact them at least 36 hours before travel. See the National Express website for more information.

Stansted Airport parking

If you to drive to London Stansted and want to leave your car, the airport has long-stay, mid-stay and short-stay car parks available. The short-stay car park is a short walk from the terminal, and the mid-stay and long-stay car parks are accessible by shuttle bus. Pre-book a parking space for the best price.

Stansted Airport hotels

London Stansted has a number of nearby airport hotels, with the majority offering airport transfers.

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