Transfers between Stansted Airport and London

Stansted (STN) is one of London's most important airports. It is 60 kilometers from the city center, so public transportation does not reach this airport, 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 traveling between London and Stansted. It is undoubtedly the most convenient option of all, 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 from Stansted Airport to London, from $65
• Shared transfer from London to Stansted Airport, from $61
• Private transfer from London to Stansted Airport, from 61

I think this is the ideal option if you are traveling 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 it will be very easy for you to communicate with them. They also take care of your luggage. Each passenger is only allowed one suitcase and one carry-on bag.

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 the shared transfer back to Stansted from your hotel, simply indicate 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?

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

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

If you want to make your arrival in the British capital even more comfortable and faster, 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 travelers.

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 keep in mind that if your luggage is bulky, you should check during the booking process to make sure there will be enough space.

Private transfer back from your hotel to Stansted

The private transfer back to Stansted works in exactly the same way as the outward journey, 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.

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. The ticket costs around £19 one way and £32 return.

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

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 carry-on bag.
• 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 have to reserve a specific time to catch 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 buses

• 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 buy 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 having to spend a lot of money on Uber or a taxi.

Traveling from Stansted to London in a private hire vehicle such as Uber is a very convenient option, as you will be 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 traveling in a group and can split the cost, as you are charged per trip rather than per person.

When you book 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.

As you can see, there are several ways to get 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.