Transfers between Stansted Airport and London

If you land at Stansted on your trip to London, here are the best ways to get to the city centre.
Transfers between Stansted Airport and London

Other popular activities in London

More about: Transfers between Stansted Airport and London

Stansted (STN) is one of London's most important airports. It is 60 kilometres from the city centre, so urban transport does not reach this far and you will have to take a train, bus or transfer to travel between Stansted and London.

My recommendation is to book a shared or private transfer to save time and money when travelling between London and Stansted. It is undoubtedly the most convenient option, as it picks you up and takes you from door to door and operates 24 hours a day, every day of the week, adapting to any flight schedule.

Shared transfer between Stansted and London

Night traffic in London| ©Phil Dolby
Night traffic in London| ©Phil Dolby

I consider this to be the ideal option if you are travelling with your family, especially with young children, and if you arrive tired after a long flight. These vehicles carry a maximum of 15 passengers and their drivers also speak Spanish and Portuguese, so you will find it very easy to communicate with them. They also take care of your luggage. Each passenger is only allowed to carry one suitcase and one handbag.

The shared vehicle service between Stansted and London is the same for both the outward and return journeys and takes approximately one hour, depending on traffic, with no more than three stops along the way.

To book your shared transfer back to Stansted from your hotel, simply provide the address of your accommodation and the time you would like to be picked up.

What does the shared vehicle transfer between Stansted and London include?

  • Professional driver
  • Travel ticket on your mobile device
  • Transport in an air-conditioned minivan or car
  • Transfer to your accommodation in central London/Stansted Airport in a shared vehicle with other travellers (maximum 15)

What is not included in the shared private vehicle transfer service between Stansted and London?

  • Food and beverages
  • Tips
  • Excess baggage charges (if applicable)

Other details of interest regarding the transfer service between Stansted and London

  • You will receive immediate confirmation after booking your service (cancellation is free up to 24 hours in advance)
  • Once your flight has landed, the driver will wait for up to 1 hour for you to disembark and collect your luggage on European flights, and 90 minutes for intercontinental flights
  • Each passenger is allowed a maximum of 1 suitcase and 1 carry-on bag (large luggage may be subject to certain restrictions)
  • The duration of the journey is approximate as it will depend on the time of day and traffic conditions
  • Child seats or booster seats are available.
  • Maximum capacity of 15 passengers.

Book your transfer from the airport to your hotel

Private transfer between Stansted and London

Stansted Airport Terminal| ©Hugh Llewelyn
Stansted Airport Terminal| ©Hugh Llewelyn

If you want to make your arrival in the British capital even more comfortable and quicker, you can book a private transfer between the airport and your hotel. With this option, you will have a completely private vehicle for you and your group, so you won't have to share it with other travellers.

The private vehicle service takes approximately one hour, depending on traffic. But in this case, the big advantage is that, as you are the only passenger, you and your group will be dropped off directly at your accommodation without any prior stops.

In principle, the luggage rules are a little more flexible with this option, as the vehicle will be exclusively for you and your group, but bear in mind that if your luggage is bulky, you should check during the booking process to ensure that there will be enough space.

Private transfer back from your hotel to Stansted

The private return transfer to Stansted works in exactly the same way as the outward transfer, but if I may offer a word of advice, when calculating the pick-up time at your hotel, allow plenty of time (especially if your flight departs at rush hour) to get to the airport on time. Traffic in London can be a bit chaotic at certain times of the day.

Book your transfer from your hotel to the airport

The Stansted Express train

Stansted Express train| ©Joshua Brown
Stansted Express train| ©Joshua Brown

It is possible to travel by train between Stansted Airport and central London. There is a train that goes directly to Liverpool Street, making only one stop along the way at Tottenham Hale. This train departs from the Stansted Airport railway line, the Stansted Express, in Terminal 2.

You can buy your Stansted Express ticket directly there or book it online in advance and take any of the trains that run every 15 minutes continuously from 4:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. A single ticket costs around £19 and a return ticket costs £32.

This is a good option to avoid any traffic delays, but once you arrive at Liverpool Street or Tottenham Hale, you will need to find the best combination of underground, bus or train to get to your accommodation from there.

Buses between Stansted and London

National Express Bus| ©martin arrand
National Express Bus| ©martin arrand

The cheapest option between Stansted Airport and central London is the bus. There are several private bus lines available: National Express, Terravision, Airport Bus Express and EasyBus, all with stops in central London. The big disadvantage is that the transfer can take longer due to intermediate stops for the large volume of passengers using this service.

Easybus

  • Prices range from £2 to £10 (depending on how far in advance you buy your ticket).
  • These buses run every 20 minutes, 24 hours a day, all year round.
  • The journey takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.
  • Luggage is also limited to one suitcase per person and one handbag.
  • Their routes vary depending on the destination, one of which is stop A on Baker Street, opposite Baker Street underground station.

National Express Buses

  • You must reserve the specific time you will take the bus.
  • The price ranges from £8 to £9 for a one-way ticket and from £15 to £16 for a return ticket.
  • There is no luggage limit.
  • Their routes make many stops along the way, so the journey to your final destination may also take longer.
  • Their different routes have different destinations (London Victoria and Liverpool Street, for example).

Terravision coaches

  • Their destinations are London Victoria and Liverpool Street.
  • There are no luggage restrictions.
  • You do not have to reserve a specific time, just an approximate time of use.
  • They depart every 30 minutes.
  • Their prices do not depend on how far in advance you purchase them, but they are cheaper if you buy your ticket online.

If you prefer a door-to-door option, the cheapest is the shared transfer, as it will drop you off at your hotel without you having to spend a lot of money on an Uber or taxi.

Book a shared transfer from the airport to your hotel

How to travel by Uber or taxi between London and Stansted

Typical London taxi| ©Calgary Reviews
Typical London taxi| ©Calgary Reviews

Travelling from Stansted to London in a private hire vehicle such as Uber is a very convenient option, as you are transported in your own vehicle, which can be larger or smaller depending on the number of passengers and requirements such as a baby seat or wheelchair-accessible vehicles.

The average price of an Uber transfer between London and Stansted is £40 each way, which is 30% cheaper than regular taxis, so it works out well if you are travelling in a group and can split the cost, as you are charged per trip rather than per person.

Transfers from other airports

Stansted Airport Terminal| ©bjaglin
Stansted Airport Terminal| ©bjaglin

When booking your flight to London, you may have several options, as the city has four airports. If so, don't worry, as transfer services are very similar at all London airports. If you find it useful, you can consult the guides on how to travel from the different airports to central London and vice versa.

We compare the different options for travelling between Stansted and central London

Private transport| ©Luxury Train Club
Private transport| ©Luxury Train Club

As you can see, there are several ways to travel between Stansted and central London, so I have created this comparison table to give you an overview of the prices and times for each option.

  • Shared or private transfer

  • From approximately £22

  • Duration: 1 hour

  • Destination: your hotel

  • Stansted Express train

  • From £20

  • Duration: 1 hour

  • Destination: Tottenham Hale or Liverpool Street

  • Easybus

  • From €3

  • Duration: 2 hours

  • Destination: London Victoria

  • Uber

  • From £45

  • 1 hour

  • Destination: customised

Reviews from other travellers

4.6
· 1694 Reviews
  • S
    S.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    Excellent private transfer service, punctual and comfortable. Made arrival and departure from the city stress free.
  • C
    C.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    The trip to London was super easy with this private transfer, I already want to use it again on my next trip!
  • R
    R.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    The private transfer from the airport to the hotel was very comfortable and punctual. I liked that the driver spoke Spanish.
  • J
    J.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    Private transfers from accommodation to airports in London are a lifesaver, especially when you're travelling with your family packed with suitcases. There's nothing like the comfort of a car waiting to take you straight to your hotel after a long flight.
  • C
    C.
    4
    (0 Reviews)
    The transfer was super comfortable and efficient, a 9 out of 10 without a doubt.