How to Get from London Stansted (STN) to City Centre

Stansted Express — fastest train

• Duration: 47 minutes non-stop to London Liverpool Street.
• Frequency: every 15 minutes peak, 30 minutes off-peak.
• Hours: 5:30am-12:30am daily.
• Price: £20.70 single, £32.10 return. Advance fares from £10.
• Children under 5: free.
• Where to board: below airport — escalator from main terminal to Stansted Airport rail station.
• Liverpool Street station: Central + Circle + Hammersmith & City + Metropolitan Line tube. Within walking distance of Bank/Bishopsgate.
• Tickets: stanstedexpress.com (cheaper online), at station. NOT included in Oyster.
• Direct beats Tube: faster than National Express coach for centre.

National Express coach — cheapest

• Duration: 1h30-2h depending on traffic + destination.
• Routes: A6/A7 to Victoria Coach Station (1h45), A8 to Stratford (1h), A9 to Liverpool Street (1h15).
• Frequency: every 15-30 minutes 24/7.
• Price: £10-15 single. £20 return. Advance fares £6.
• Pros: 24/7 service (only option late nights). Cheap. WiFi onboard.
• Cons: traffic-dependent. M11 + M25 jams especially morning rush.
• Where to board: coach station outside terminal. Signs to “Coaches/Buses.”
• Tickets: nationalexpress.com, app, ticket machines, or driver (cash/card).
• Best for: budget travelers, late-night arrivals, going to Victoria/Stratford.

Terravision coach + alternative buses

• Terravision: coach to Victoria Coach Station via Marble Arch. 1h15-1h45.
• Price: £10-12 single. Often cheaper than National Express on advance.
• Frequency: every 30 min, 24/7.
• FlixBus: some routes. Usually cheapest. Limited frequency.
• Megabus: some routes Stansted-Victoria. £5-10 advance.
• Tickets: apps + at station.
• Quality: all coaches similar standard. Choose based on departure time + destination.

Greater Anglia + Tube combo (cheapest budget)

• Greater Anglia local train: stops at Tottenham Hale, Stansted Airport. 60-70 minutes to Tottenham Hale.
• Price: £12-16 to Tottenham Hale.
• Then Tube: Victoria Line from Tottenham Hale. £2.80-£5.50 (Oyster).
• Total: £15-21 + 1h25-1h45 total journey.
• Pros: cheaper than direct Stansted Express + access to many central tube stations.
• Cons: longer total journey + transfer required.
• Tickets: Greater Anglia website, station machines.
• Combo discount: Stansted-anywhere London via Greater Anglia + Tube cheaper than Stansted Express + Tube.

Taxi + Uber/Bolt

• Duration: 1h-1h30 (traffic-dependent).
• Taxi metered: £80-120 to central London.
• Pre-booked taxis (e.g., Addison Lee): £80-100 fixed. Cheaper than airport rank.
• Where to board: taxi rank outside terminal.
• Uber: £60-90. UberX or Comfort. App-based.
• Bolt: £55-85. Often cheaper than Uber.
• Hoppa pre-booked transfer: £45-70 shared shuttle.
• Suntransfers: £50-100 private transfer fixed.
• Family of 4: Uber XL £80-110 cheaper than 4× Stansted Express (4×£20.70 = £83).
• Avoid: unmarked “minicabs” inside terminal — illegal pickups, often overcharge.
• Late night/early morning: Uber/Bolt available 24/7 unlike trains.

Stansted vs other London airports

• Distance to centre: Stansted (STN) 64 km — furthest. Heathrow (LHR) 24 km. Gatwick (LGW) 45 km. Luton (LTN) 56 km. London City (LCY) 11 km.
• Best for low-cost: Stansted (Ryanair main hub) + Luton (Wizz Air, easyJet).
• Best for time: Heathrow Express 15 min £25.
• If Heathrow flight options: often worth paying more for Heathrow vs longer Stansted journey.
• Layover at Stansted: consider train to Cambridge (90 min) — if 6h+ layover.
• Uber from Stansted center London: £60-90. Compare to Stansted Express £20.70 + Tube £2.80 = £23.50.

Practical tips

• Book Stansted Express advance: sometimes £10 single (vs £20.70 day-of).
• National Express advance fares: £6 advance, £15 day-of. Worth booking online.
• Rush hour: 7-9am + 4-7pm. Coaches slower. Train better.
• Late-night arrivals: National Express 24/7. Stansted Express stops 12:30am, restarts 5:30am.
• Hour 5am-6am: only National Express + taxi/Uber. Plan accordingly.
• Strikes: RMT rail strikes occasional — check before travel. National Express runs anyway.
• Weather delays: Stansted prone to fog November-March. Consider train as backup if flight delayed.
• Lounges: No1 Lounge, Aspire Lounge — £30-50 priority pass.

Frequently Asked Questions

Cheapest way Stansted to London?

National Express coach £10-15 single (£6 advance). 1h30-2h to Victoria/Stratford/Liverpool Street. 24/7. Cheapest option. Or Greater Anglia + Tube £15-21 total.

How long Stansted to London?

Stansted Express 47 minutes to Liverpool Street (fastest). National Express coach 1h30-2h to Victoria. Greater Anglia + Tube 1h25-1h45 total. Taxi/Uber 1h-1h30 (traffic-dependent).

Stansted Express price?

£20.70 single, £32.10 return. Advance fares from £10. Online stanstedexpress.com cheaper than at station. Children under 5 free. Not on Oyster.

Stansted to London at night?

National Express coach runs 24/7 (£10-15). Stansted Express closed midnight-5:30am. Taxi/Uber available 24/7 (£60-100). Plan late-night arrivals around National Express times.

Stansted vs Heathrow distance?

Stansted (STN) 64 km from London centre — furthest London airport. Heathrow (LHR) 24 km. Gatwick (LGW) 45 km. Luton (LTN) 56 km. London City (LCY) 11 km. Stansted journey time accordingly longer.

Family of 4 best Stansted to London?

Uber XL £80-110 often cheapest for 4 (vs 4× Stansted Express £83 + 4 single tube tickets). National Express coach 4 returns £40-60 also competitive. Compare for your route.

See also

• Things to do in London