In this guide
Stansted is around 40 miles northeast of central London. Unlike Heathrow or Gatwick, the main choice is straightforward: use Stansted Express for a reliable rail journey to Tottenham Hale or Liverpool Street, or take a coach when its London stop is closer to your hotel or its advance fare is substantially cheaper.
The short version: take Stansted Express to Tottenham Hale for the Victoria line and north London, or remain on the train to Liverpool Street for the City and Elizabeth line. Consider a coach for Stratford, Victoria, Baker Street, Paddington, Waterloo or an overnight journey. Contactless is now accepted on Stansted Express, but Oyster is not.
Stansted transport at a glance
Prices and normal times were checked on 28 July 2026.
| Option | Typical adult cost | Approximate time | Comfort | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stansted Express to Liverpool Street | Advance fares from about £9.45; flexible and contactless fares cost more | About 48 minutes | 4/5 | Fastest predictable journey to central London |
| Stansted Express to Tottenham Hale | Check the live fare | About 37 minutes | 4/5 | Victoria line, north London and some West End hotels |
| Stansted Express to Stratford | Check the selected direct service | About 60 minutes | 4/5 | Stratford, the Elizabeth line and east London |
| Coach | Advance fares from about £5 | Roughly 50–120 minutes | 3/5 | More London stops, low advance prices and 24-hour travel |
| Taxi or private hire | Obtain a live quote; often well over £100 to central London | Roughly 60–120 minutes | 4/5 | Groups, substantial luggage and difficult addresses |
The cheapest prices are limited advance offers, not guaranteed walk-up fares. Compare the complete journey and include waiting time, Underground changes and road traffic.
Which route is best for your hotel?
| Hotel area or destination | Usually the best first choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Liverpool Street, the City or Spitalfields | Stansted Express to Liverpool Street | Direct |
| Tottenham Hale, Seven Sisters or north London | Stansted Express to Tottenham Hale | Avoids travelling into the City and back out |
| King’s Cross, Euston or Victoria line hotels | Stansted Express to Tottenham Hale, then Victoria line | Usually the most direct rail combination |
| Oxford Circus, Green Park or Victoria | Train via Tottenham Hale, or a direct coach | Rail avoids traffic; coach avoids the interchange |
| Shoreditch | Liverpool Street train or a coach serving Shoreditch | Compare the final walk |
| Stratford or Canary Wharf | Direct Stratford train/coach, or Liverpool Street then Elizabeth line | Avoid Victoria in west London |
| Paddington, Baker Street or St John’s Wood | Direct coach, or train plus Underground/Elizabeth line | Coach may remove a difficult change |
| Waterloo or Southwark | Coach serving the area, or train then Underground | A direct coach can be convenient outside rush hour |
Stansted Express
Stansted Express is the fastest and most reliable default. Trains normally run every 15 minutes, seven days a week. Liverpool Street takes about 48 minutes and Tottenham Hale about 37 minutes.
The airport station is directly below the single passenger terminal, around a two-minute signed walk using lifts, escalators or ramps. Trains have air conditioning and luggage space, although peak commuter sections can be busy.
Tickets, contactless and Oyster
Advance tickets can start around £9.45 one way. Buy early through Stansted Express when your plans are firm, but read the train-specific and refund conditions.
Since March 2026, an adult can also touch in and out with the same contactless card or device. This is convenient but may not beat:
- an advance ticket;
- a Railcard fare;
- a child or group ticket;
- a return promotion.
Oyster is not valid to Stansted Airport. A contactless bank card and an Oyster card are not interchangeable. If you buy a rail ticket, retain it until after the airport gates.
Tottenham Hale is the best interchange for the Victoria line. Liverpool Street connects with the Central, Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines and is linked to the Elizabeth line station. Follow the signs carefully because the walk between platforms can be substantial.
Coaches to London
Stansted’s coach station is opposite the terminal, about a two-minute walk. Services operate 24 hours a day.
National Express routes serve combinations of Tottenham Hale, Stratford, Liverpool Street, Shoreditch, Waterloo, Victoria, Baker Street and Paddington. Flibco operates routes including Liverpool Street, Stratford and Finsbury Park. Stops and route numbers change, so select the exact stop when booking.
Advance coach fares can start around £5. Coaches offer luggage storage and commonly have toilets, charging and air conditioning. Their weakness is traffic: the same journey can take far longer during a weekday peak, roadworks or an event.
Choose a coach when it stops close to the hotel, the railway is closed, or your flight is outside normal train hours. Allow a generous buffer on the return trip; Stansted advises travellers using a London coach to plan very conservatively.
Taxis and private hire
The official taxi provider has a desk in International Arrivals. Private-hire services, including app bookings, use designated pickup arrangements.
Stansted is too far from central London for a taxi to be economical for most solo travellers. Request a complete quote including airport pickup, parking and waiting time. A vehicle can make sense for a group, several large cases, limited mobility or an address requiring multiple changes.
Never accept an unsolicited ride from someone approaching in the terminal. Confirm the driver, registration and vehicle against the booking.
Understanding Stansted Airport
Stansted has one passenger terminal, so there is no terminal number to choose. Check-in, security, arrivals, the railway and coach station all connect to the same main building.
The departure gates are spread across satellite buildings. Depending on the gate, passengers may walk or use the airport transit system after security. Allow time after the gate appears on the screen; “one terminal” does not mean every gate is beside the lounge.
Travelling to Stansted for departure
Check the airline’s deadline, live flight information and your train or coach before leaving. Stansted’s general itinerary recommends arriving at least three hours before departure, but the airline’s instructions take priority.
The first Liverpool Street trains normally leave between about 03:40 and 04:40 depending on the day, and the last around 23:25. Airport departures normally run from about 05:30, with later starts on some weekdays, until around 00:30. These are only planning guides: check the current Stansted Express timetable for the exact date.
Wi-Fi, SIM cards and useful apps
Use the airport’s free Wi-Fi to retrieve directions or contact the hotel before buying mobile service. Check UK roaming and eSIM options before purchasing an airport SIM; city-centre and online plans may offer better value.
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, Stansted Express or Greater Anglia, National Rail, TfL Go, Citymapper or Google Maps, plus the selected coach operator’s app. Save the hotel address and booking details offline.
Luggage and accessibility
The airport station is step-free to the terminal, and the coach station has assisted-travel facilities. Request airline assistance at least 48 hours ahead where possible and arrange Passenger Assist separately for the railway.
The rail route is generally easier with luggage than changing between a coach and the Underground, but a coach stopping near the hotel may be simpler overall.
Common mistakes
- Trying to use Oyster because contactless is accepted.
- Buying the cheapest advance ticket without checking its restrictions.
- Remaining on the train to Liverpool Street when Tottenham Hale is the better interchange.
- Taking a Victoria coach during heavy traffic without a time buffer.
- Assuming the gate is close because Stansted has one terminal.
- Using a phone to touch in and its physical bank card to touch out.
- Accepting an unofficial taxi offer inside arrivals.
Related London airport guides
- Heathrow Airport to London
- Gatwick Airport to London
- Luton Airport to London
- London City Airport to Central London
- Southend Airport to London
- Getting Around London: Complete Transport Overview
Information checked on 28 July 2026. Verify fares, operating hours and flight information before travel.
