London Stansted Airport

London Stansted Airport (STN) is the United Kingdom's fourth busiest airport and the primary hub for Ryanair and other low-cost carriers. Located 64 km (40 miles) northeast of Central London in Essex, Stansted handles over 28 million passengers annually, making it a gateway for budget travel across Europe.

The airport has a single terminal designed by architect Norman Foster, featuring a distinctive white wave-roof structure. The terminal is organised into three main satellite buildings connected by an automated track transit (people mover):

• Main Terminal Building: Check-in, security, and arrivals
• Satellite 1: Gates 1-19
• Satellite 2: Gates 20-39
• Satellite 3: Gates 40-59 (added in 2008)

Unlike London's other major airports, Stansted's single-terminal design simplifies navigation. All airlines operate from the same building, with Ryanair dominating operations.

London's Other Airports

London has six airports, and Stansted is the furthest from central London. Connections to other London airports require significant travel time.

Heathrow (LHR) — 67 km southwest

• UK's main international hub
• British Airways, Star Alliance, oneworld
• Transit: National Express (2-2.5 hours) or train via London

Gatwick (LGW) — 87 km south

• easyJet, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic
• Transit: Train via London Liverpool Street + Victoria (2.5+ hours)

Luton (LTN) — 41 km west

• easyJet, Wizz Air
• Transit: National Express or Thameslink via London (2+ hours)

Connecting between Stansted and Heathrow:

Method	Time	Cost	Notes
National Express bus	2-2.5 hours	£30	Direct, most practical
Train via London	2+ hours	£35-45	Liverpool Street + Paddington route
Taxi/Uber	1.5-2.5 hours	£120-180	M25 traffic can be severe

Minimum connection time: Allow 5-6 hours for connections between Stansted and Heathrow/Gatwick. Stansted's distance from other London airports makes tight connections very risky.

Pro tip: Ryanair flights at Stansted often depart from distant gates requiring a transit train and long walks. Arrive early and don't underestimate the time needed to reach your gate.

Stansted is the most distant of London's major airports at 64 km northeast of Central London, but has good rail and coach connections.

Typical journey times to Central London:

• Stansted Express: 47 minutes to Liverpool Street
• Coach: 60-90 minutes depending on traffic
• Taxi/rideshare: 60-90 minutes (traffic dependent)

For destinations in East London, Cambridge, or East Anglia, Stansted is often more convenient than Heathrow or Gatwick.

Uber is available at Stansted. The pickup point is:

• Ground floor forecourt: Follow signs to "Rideshare Pickup" outside arrivals

Typical fares to Central London: £70-100 depending on traffic and exact destination.

Licensed taxis queue outside the arrivals hall. Approximate fares:

Destination	Taxi Fare
Central London	£90-130
Cambridge	£50-70
Liverpool Street	£80-110
Stratford	£50-70

Pre-book minicabs for better rates. Services like Addison Lee and National Express minicabs offer fixed-price transfers. Local firm Stansted Airport Cars also provides competitive rates.

Stansted Express

The dedicated rail service to Central London:

• Route: Stansted Airport to London Liverpool Street
• Journey time: 47 minutes
• Frequency: Every 15-30 minutes
• Fare: £19.40 single, £32.80 return (advance online fares from £7)
• Hours: 05:30-00:30 approximately

The Stansted Express station is directly connected to the terminal via a covered walkway. Trains stop at Tottenham Hale (for Victoria Line connections) en route to Liverpool Street.

Tip: Book advance tickets online for significant savings. Walk-up fares are considerably more expensive.

Other Rail Services

Greater Anglia stopping services also run to:

• Tottenham Hale (36 min) - connect to Victoria Line
• London Liverpool Street (55-60 min)
• Cambridge (30 min northbound)
• Bishops Stortford (10 min)

These stopping services cost less than the Stansted Express and are useful for destinations along the route.

Bus & Coach

National Express coaches run frequently to:

• London Victoria Coach Station (90 min, from £12)
• Liverpool Street/Stratford (60 min, from £10)
• Heathrow/Gatwick airports (2-3 hours, from £20)
• Cambridge (50 min, from £8)
• Various UK cities

Terravision and easyBus offer budget transfers to London (from £5-12, journey time 60-90 min depending on traffic).

Airport Bus Express (A6/A7) connects to Stratford International and other East London locations.

All coaches depart from the bus station adjacent to the terminal, a 3-minute walk from arrivals.

Stansted offers extensive parking options:

Type	Rate	Notes
Short Stay	From £4/hour	Opposite terminal, 2-min walk
Mid Stay	From £30/day	10-min walk or shuttle
Long Stay	From £8/day	Free shuttle, 5-10 min ride
Valet Parking	From £15/day	Meet and greet service
Off-airport	From £4/day	Purple Parking, Airparks, etc.

Pre-booking online is essential for the best rates, often 50-70% cheaper than drive-up prices. Long-term parking can fill during peak holiday periods.

The terminal has a free drop-off zone (15 minutes) accessed via the main approach road. A premium express drop-off closer to the terminal costs £5 for 15 minutes.

Stansted's food options are concentrated in the main departures lounge and satellite buildings:

Main Departures Lounge

• Wetherspoon (The Windmill): Pub food and drinks, often busy
• Pret A Manger: Sandwiches and coffee
• Giraffe: Family-friendly international menu
• Eat: Soups, salads, and sandwiches
• Leon: Healthy fast food
• Starbucks/Costa: Multiple coffee locations

Satellite Buildings

• Burger King (Satellite 1)
• Upper Crust (Satellites 1 and 2)
• Greggs (Satellite 2)
• Caffe Nero (Satellite 3)

Most dining is in the main departures lounge. Once through to the satellites, options are limited, so eat before heading to your gate if you want a sit-down meal.

Free WiFi is available throughout Stansted Airport:

• Network name: "Stansted Airport Free WiFi"
• Duration: Unlimited
• Speed: Adequate for browsing, email, and video streaming

Register with an email address to connect. The connection is generally reliable. For faster speeds, use the lounge WiFi or your mobile data.

SIM cards are available at:

• WHSmith (arrivals and departures)
• Dixons Travel (departures)
• Vodafone kiosk (arrivals)

UK prepaid SIMs from EE, Vodafone, Three, and O2 cost £10-30 for data packages. Most include EU roaming at no extra cost.

Tip: Order a SIM online before travel for better value. GiffGaff and Three offer SIMs posted internationally, or you can collect at UK delivery points.

ATMs are located throughout the terminal in both arrivals and departures. Major UK banks include:

• Barclays
• NatWest
• Travelex ATMs

ATM withdrawals are free for UK bank accounts. International cards may incur fees of £2-5 per transaction.

Currency exchange counters (Travelex, Moneycorp) are available in arrivals and departures but offer poor rates. Better options:

• Use your debit card at ATMs (check foreign transaction fees)
• Use a travel card like Wise, Revolut, or Monzo
• Exchange currency before arrival

Stansted's retail is concentrated in the main departures lounge:

• World Duty Free: Main duty-free retailer with extensive selection
• Boots: Pharmacy and beauty products
• WHSmith: Books, magazines, and snacks
• Accessorize: Accessories and gifts
• Sunglasses Hut: Eyewear
• Victoria's Secret: Beauty and accessories
• JD Sports: Sportswear

The shopping area is immediately after security. Satellite buildings have minimal retail, mainly convenience items.

Note: Duty-free allowances apply when travelling outside the UK. Alcohol and tobacco limits are in effect for arrivals into the UK.

Priority Pass Lounges

• Escape Lounge: Main departures area before the satellites. Hot and cold food, bar, comfortable seating. Can get crowded during peak hours. Access via Priority Pass, LoungeKey, or day pass (approximately £35).

Airline Lounges

Stansted has limited airline-specific lounges due to its low-cost carrier focus:

• 1903 Lounge by Escape: Adjacent to the main Escape Lounge, slightly more premium experience
• No dedicated British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, or alliance lounges

Pay-Per-Visit

Day passes for the Escape Lounge cost approximately £30-40. Book online in advance for discounts. Given limited options, the lounge can be busy, especially during early morning departures.

Hotels near Stansted:

At the Airport

• Radisson Blu Hotel: Connected to terminal via covered walkway, from £100/night
• Hampton by Hilton: Short walk to terminal, from £80/night

With Shuttle Service

• Holiday Inn Express: Free shuttle, 5-min ride, from £70/night
• Premier Inn Stansted: Budget-friendly, shuttle available, from £50/night
• Novotel Stansted: Full-service hotel, shuttle available, from £90/night

Bishops Stortford

The nearby town of Bishops Stortford (10 min by train or 15 min by taxi) offers more hotel options and restaurants:

• The George Hotel: Historic town centre option
• Premier Inn Bishops Stortford: Budget option with good transport links

For very early departures, the Radisson Blu connected to the terminal is ideal, avoiding any transfer concerns.

Stansted's location makes it convenient for East London, Cambridge, and East Anglia:

London

• Liverpool Street/City of London: 47 min by Stansted Express
• Stratford/Olympic Park: 35 min by coach or train
• Central London (West End): 60-75 min including connections

Cambridge

• Cambridge city centre: 30 min by train - historic university city
• Direct trains run regularly, making Cambridge a practical day trip or overnight stop

East Anglia

• Bishops Stortford: 10 min by train - nearest town with shops and restaurants
• Colchester: 45 min by car - Britain's oldest recorded town
• Suffolk coast: 90 min by car - Aldeburgh, Southwold beaches

Practical Tips

• Use Oyster or contactless payment for London transport - daily caps apply
• The Stansted Express is expensive at walk-up prices - always book online in advance
• National Express coaches are the budget option but add 30-60 min to journey times
• For Cambridge trips, trains are more reliable than coaches due to traffic
• Stansted is well-positioned for exploring Essex and Suffolk countryside