In this guide
Southend is the farthest east of London’s six main airports, but its railway station is exceptionally convenient: it is about a two-minute walk from the terminal, and direct Greater Anglia trains run to Stratford and Liverpool Street.
The short version: take the Greater Anglia train. Leave at Stratford for the Elizabeth, Central or Jubilee lines and east-London hotels, or continue to Liverpool Street for the City. Contactless is accepted from March 2026, but Oyster is not. Check the last train carefully because road alternatives are long and expensive.
Southend transport at a glance
Prices and times were checked on 28 July 2026.
| Option | Typical adult cost | Approximate time | Comfort | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Anglia to Stratford | Tickets vary; advance fares may be available | About 46 minutes | 4/5 | Stratford, Canary Wharf and east London |
| Greater Anglia to Liverpool Street | Tickets from about £13.40 in current operator examples | About 52–55 minutes | 4/5 | The City and central-London connections |
| Contactless PAYG | Adult fare calculated for the exact journey | Same train time | 4/5 | Simple adult travel without a discount |
| Local bus | Local fare varies | Varies | 2/5 | Southend, Rochford and nearby destinations |
| Taxi/private hire to central London | Obtain a live quote; likely very expensive | Roughly 75–120+ minutes | 4/5 | Groups or travel after the last practical train |
Which route is best for your hotel?
| Hotel area or destination | Usually the best first choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Stratford or the Olympic Park | Train to Stratford | Direct |
| Canary Wharf | Train to Stratford, then Elizabeth or Jubilee line | Avoids travelling to Liverpool Street first |
| Liverpool Street, Shoreditch or the City | Train to Liverpool Street | Direct |
| Farringdon, Bond Street or Paddington | Train to Stratford, then Elizabeth line | Useful east-west connection |
| London Bridge or Waterloo | Train to Stratford, then Jubilee line | Usually simpler than crossing from Liverpool Street |
| King’s Cross or Euston | Train to Liverpool Street, then Underground | Compare the final interchange |
| Southend-on-Sea | Local train, bus or taxi | The airport is close to the city, not central London |
Greater Anglia trains
Greater Anglia is the principal London route. Trains run via Rochford, Rayleigh, Wickford, Shenfield and Stratford to Liverpool Street.
Typical journey times are around 46 minutes to Stratford and 52–55 minutes to Liverpool Street. The operator normally advertises trains every 20 minutes Monday–Saturday and every 30 minutes on Sundays, with variations at peak times and during engineering work.
The station is a two-minute signed walk from the single terminal. It is step-free and staffed for much of the operating day.
Tickets, contactless and Oyster
Contactless pay as you go became available at Southend Airport on 8 March 2026. Touch in and out with the same card or device. The adult fare is calculated by the route and time.
Oyster is not accepted. The contactless extension did not extend the Oyster network.
Contactless is convenient, but compare it with a normal ticket when:
- using a Railcard;
- travelling with children;
- three to nine adults qualify for off-peak GroupSave;
- an advance or return fare is available.
Greater Anglia advertises a £2 accompanied child fare from ticket offices on eligible journeys, while under-fives travel free. Current lead fares can start around £13.40 each way, but use the live journey planner for the date.
Stratford or Liverpool Street?
Leave at Stratford for:
- Canary Wharf via the Jubilee or Elizabeth line;
- Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road or Farringdon via the Elizabeth line;
- the Olympic Park and east London;
- the DLR and London Overground.
Continue to Liverpool Street for:
- City hotels and offices;
- Spitalfields and parts of Shoreditch;
- Central, Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan line connections.
Do not automatically remain on the train to the final stop. Stratford can save time and a central-London interchange.
Buses, taxis and private hire
Local buses connect the airport with Southend, Rochford and surrounding Essex. They are useful locally but do not provide a sensible central-London alternative.
A taxi to central London covers a long distance and is vulnerable to A127, A13 and London traffic. Obtain a complete quote. If the last train has gone, compare a local hotel and the first morning train with the cost of a long taxi.
Licensed private hire must be pre-booked. Confirm the vehicle, driver, pickup point, luggage and waiting charges.
Understanding Southend Airport
Southend has one compact passenger terminal and one adjacent airport railway station. There is no terminal transfer.
The limited size makes navigation simple, but the airport has fewer flights and fewer overnight transport alternatives than Heathrow or Gatwick. Always confirm that the flight really uses Southend and not another London airport.
Travelling to Southend for departure
Check the airline deadline, live flight status and Greater Anglia service. Engineering work can replace trains with buses and substantially extend the journey.
Normal published schedules include early trains and services until around midnight, but the first and last useful trains depend on the day. Check the Greater Anglia journey planner for the exact date and build in a missed-connection buffer.
Wi-Fi, SIM cards and useful apps
Use airport Wi-Fi for immediate directions. Because facilities are smaller than at the larger airports, arrange roaming or an eSIM before travel if mobile data is essential, rather than assuming a particular SIM will be stocked on arrival.
Read Should You Buy a SIM Card at the Airport? before deciding, or start with the complete travel SIM and eSIM guide.
Useful apps include the airline app, Greater Anglia, National Rail, TfL Go and a door-to-door planner. Download the hotel address and rail ticket offline.
Luggage and accessibility
Southend Airport station is step-free and immediately beside the terminal. Passenger Assist can help with the railway, while airport assistance should be booked through the airline in advance.
Check accessibility at Stratford or Liverpool Street as well as the airport end, particularly when engineering work changes platforms.
Common mistakes
- Trying to use Oyster because contactless is accepted.
- Travelling all the way to Liverpool Street when Stratford is the better interchange.
- Assuming there will be a frequent coach after the last train.
- Confusing Southend Airport station with Southend Central or Southend Victoria.
- Failing to check Sunday engineering work.
- Booking a flight at another “London” airport and travelling to Southend.
Related London airport guides
- Heathrow Airport to London
- Gatwick Airport to London
- Stansted Airport to London
- Luton Airport to London
- London City Airport to Central London
Information checked on 28 July 2026. Verify fares, timetables and flight details before travel.
