London Stansted Airport: parking, flights and your way into London
Plan a smooth trip through London Stansted, all in one place. Pre-book your parking and save up to 80%, reach central London from £9.90 on the Stansted Express in about 48 minutes, and check live arrivals and departures before you leave home. Find the lounges, shops, restaurants and hotels that make the wait easy, and travel through the UK's home of low-cost flying knowing exactly what to expect.
Start anywhere
To and from London
| Service | Fare | Journey | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stansted Express | from £9.90 | about 48 min | Every 15 minutes to Liverpool Street, advance fare |
| National Express coach | from £7 | about 1h 10 | 24 hours a day to Liverpool Street and Victoria |
| Taxi or minicab | £75 to £120 | 50 to 80 min | Pre-booked fixed price; there is no public rank |
| Driving via the M11 | Fuel and parking | 60 to 75 min | Junction 8, no congestion charge and no ULEZ |
Book ahead for the best price on the train and coach. The Stansted Express also stops at Tottenham Hale and Stratford for the Underground and Elizabeth line. See the full comparison of ways into London.
By how long you are away
Pre-book to save up to 80% on the drive-up price. Find the cheapest car park on cheap Stansted parking, or compare them all on the parking hub.
Where to stay near Stansted
Two hotels are a short covered walk from the terminal; the rest run a free shuttle. Compare them all, with walk and shuttle times, on the Stansted hotels hub.
Once you're airside
Or watch the planes from the viewing area before your flight.
Common Stansted questions
How do I get from Stansted to central London?
The Stansted Express is the fastest, reaching London Liverpool Street in about 48 minutes with trains every 15 minutes, from £9.90 when you book ahead. National Express coaches are cheaper, from about £7, and run 24 hours a day to Liverpool Street and Victoria, but take an hour or more. A taxi or minicab runs roughly £75 to £120 and has to be pre-booked, because there is no public taxi rank. Driving takes about 60 to 75 minutes off-peak via the M11.
How much does it cost to drop someone off at Stansted?
The Express Set Down area outside the terminal costs £10 for up to 15 minutes and £28 for up to 30, which is the maximum, with no free period. Re-entering within 30 minutes adds another £28. The free alternative is the Mid Stay car park, which gives up to 60 minutes free for pick-up or drop-off with a free shuttle to the terminal. Pay any Express Set Down charge by midnight the day after your visit, or it becomes a £100 charge notice.
Where is Stansted Airport and what is the postcode?
Stansted sits in Essex, about 30 miles north-east of central London, just off the M11 at junction 8. For a sat nav, the terminal postcode is CM24 1RW, but each car park has its own postcode, so use the one for your booking if you are parking. There is no congestion charge and no ULEZ on the drive to the airport.
How early should I arrive at Stansted?
The airport advises being at security at least two hours before departure. Add time for the early-morning peak, roughly 05:00 to 09:00, when the Ryanair and Jet2 departures bunch together and security queues are longest. Bag drop and the gate close well before take-off, with Ryanair closing the boarding gate 30 minutes ahead, so do not leave it to the last minute.
How many terminals does Stansted have?
One. Stansted has a single terminal building, so you do not pick a terminal the way you would at Heathrow or Gatwick. The departure gates sit in three satellites reached from the terminal, and the furthest gates, 40 to 59, are about a 15-minute walk, so check your gate and leave a little extra time.
Which airlines fly from Stansted, and is there a lounge?
Ryanair runs the largest operation, with over 150 destinations, then Jet2.com, easyJet, TUI and Pegasus Airlines, almost all of it short-haul to Europe, plus Emirates flights to Dubai. There is one pay-in lounge, Essence by Escape, but it sits airside at gates 1 to 19 and Ryanair and easyJet passengers cannot use it, so most budget travellers are not eligible.
Check live arrivals and departures before you travel, then sort your parking, your route into London and everything you need at the airport, right here.