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Airport guide Updated 23 October 2026 · 8 min read
Dropping someone off at London Stansted, or collecting them from a flight? This guide covers the Stansted drop-off charge, how and when to pay it, the free Mid Stay alternative, where to pick up arriving passengers, Blue Badge drop-off, and where the coach and train stations are.
Stansted Airport Drop-Off Charges Compared
Stansted has three places to drop off or collect passengers by car. Which one suits you depends on how long you need and whether you want to go into the terminal. These are the airport's published turn-up prices.
| Option | Charge | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Express Set Down | £10 up to 15 min; £28 over 15 min (30 min maximum) | Quick drop-offs outside the terminal |
| Short Stay car parks | £13 up to 30 min; £21 up to 1 hr; £25 up to 2 hrs; £38 up to 4 hrs | Walking passengers in, or meeting arrivals |
| Mid Stay car park | Free up to 60 min; £5 for the second hour; day rate after 2 hrs | Saving money if you don't mind the shuttle bus |
The £10 and £28 Express Set Down charges have applied since 19 March 2026. For stays longer than four hours, the airport directs drivers to its Turn Up & Park car parks instead.
How Stansted Express Set Down Works
Express Set Down is the drop-off area immediately outside the terminal building. It's barrierless, so you drive straight in without taking a ticket. Automatic number-plate recognition (ANPR) cameras record when you enter and leave, and you're charged for that time.
Follow the M11 to the airport
Leave at Junction 8a if you're coming from London, or Junction 8 from the Cambridge direction, then follow the airport signs. The sat nav postcode is CM24 1RW.
Follow signs for Express Set Down
Stop in a marked bay and unload quickly. Don't leave the car unattended: unattended vehicles can be towed, and a towing fee applies.
Leave within 15 minutes
Stay under 15 minutes to pay £10. If you need longer, speak to a traffic marshal on site.
Pay by midnight the next day
Pay online or by phone, or set up AutoPay before you travel.
Watch out for re-entry: driving back into Express Set Down within 30 minutes of your first entry is charged at £28.
How to Pay the Stansted Drop-Off Charge
There are no payment machines at Express Set Down, and cash and cheques aren't accepted. You have two ways to pay:
- Online or by phone after your visit: pay on the Stansted Airport website, or call 03450 175046, by midnight the day after you drop off.
- AutoPay: register your number plate and a payment card in advance, and each visit is charged automatically. Keep the card on your account valid, because you're responsible for any failed payment.
If the charge isn't paid on time, a £100 Parking Charge Notice is issued, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days. Appeals and payment queries are handled by APCOA, the airport's parking operator. If a friend borrowed your car for the airport run, remind them to pay, as the notice goes to the registered keeper.
Free Drop-Off at Stansted: the Mid Stay Car Park
If you'd rather not pay, the Mid Stay car park is free for up to 60 minutes. Passengers take the free shuttle bus between Mid Stay and the terminal, so allow extra time, especially with heavy luggage or young children.
After the first hour, the second hour costs £5, and stays over two hours are charged at the day rate. Re-entering Mid Stay within an hour of your first entry costs £48, so don't drive out and back in to reset the free hour.
Stansted Pick-Up: Where to Collect Arriving Passengers
For collections, the airport points drivers to the Short Stay car parks, a short walk from the terminal, or to the Mid Stay car park for up to an hour free. Express Set Down is designed for quick stops, and its 15-minute allocation rarely covers a pick-up once you allow for passport control and baggage reclaim.
- Check the landing time before you set off. Time your arrival so you aren't paying for parking while the plane is still in the air.
- Short Stay suits meeting someone inside the terminal. Up to 30 minutes costs £13, and up to an hour £21.
- Mid Stay is cheaper, but your passenger has to take the shuttle bus out to you.
- Agree a meeting point before the flight, and ask your passenger to message you once they have their bags.
Blue Badge Drop-Off at Stansted
Dedicated Blue Badge drop-off spaces are in Zone C of Express Set Down, the closest area to the Assistance Desk. A help point in Zone C connects directly to the desk. The airport says all vehicles using Express Set Down must pay, and lists the Blue Badge bays at £10 for 15 minutes. If you need longer, speak to a marshal, and check the airport's Blue Badge parking page for other options before you travel.
Stansted Airport Coach Station and Train Station
Not everyone arrives by car. If you're meeting someone who's coming by coach or train, or dropping them off for an onward journey, here's where both stations are:
| Station | Where it is | Services |
|---|---|---|
| Coach station | Opposite the main terminal entrance, about a 2-minute walk, step-free | National Express, Flibco and First Essex; services run 24 hours a day |
| Train station | Directly beneath the terminal, reached by lifts, escalators and ramps | Stansted Express to London Liverpool Street in about 46 minutes, every 15 minutes |
The coach station has waiting facilities, a coffee shop, a newsagent and toilets. Connecting to another airport? Read our Stansted to Heathrow guide, which compares the coach, train and transfer options.
Skip the Airport Run with a Pre-Booked Transfer
An airport run to Stansted can mean two trips up the M11, a drop-off or parking fee, and a payment deadline to remember. With a Stansted airport transfer from Banana Cars, your driver handles the drive and the airport rules.
| Friend or family drives | Banana Cars transfer | |
|---|---|---|
| Airport charges | They pay, and must pay on time | Your driver deals with the airport |
| Flight delays | Extra waiting and parking time | Flight monitoring when you add your flight number, with free waiting time |
| Price | Fuel plus airport charges | Fixed fare, same rate day or night, no extra charge for traffic delays |
| Arrivals | Find each other in the terminal | Optional Meet & Greet in arrivals |
All our drivers are vetted and TfL-licensed, and child seats are available. We cover journeys between Stansted and the whole of London, including central London, Canary Wharf and Stratford, as well as transfers between Stansted and Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton and London City. See all the London airports we serve.
Book a Stansted Airport transfer
Add Meet & Greet to be met in arrivals, choose a vehicle for your luggage in our fleet, or book a group transfer for larger parties.
Get Instant Fare QuoteFlying from another airport? Read our Heathrow Terminal 3 drop-off and pick-up guide, compare Heathrow and Gatwick, or see our overview of London airport transfers.
Frequently asked questions
Stansted Drop-Off and Pick-Up FAQs
Express Set Down costs £10 for up to 15 minutes and £28 for over 15 minutes, with a maximum stay of 30 minutes. These charges have applied since 19 March 2026.
Pay online or by phone on 03450 175046 by midnight the day after your visit, or register for AutoPay so the charge is taken automatically. There are no pay machines, and cash isn't accepted.
A £100 Parking Charge Notice is issued, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days. Appeals go through APCOA, the airport's parking operator.
Yes. The Mid Stay car park is free for up to 60 minutes, and a free shuttle bus runs to the terminal. Re-entering within an hour of your first entry costs £48.
Use the Short Stay car parks, from £13 for up to 30 minutes, if you want to meet someone in the terminal. The Mid Stay car park is free for up to an hour, but your passenger takes the shuttle bus to you.
The airport says all vehicles using Express Set Down must pay. Dedicated Blue Badge drop-off bays are in Zone C, closest to the Assistance Desk, and are listed at £10 for 15 minutes.
The coach station is opposite the main terminal entrance, about a two-minute walk away, with step-free access. National Express, Flibco and First Essex run services from it.
Yes. Use the free first hour at the Mid Stay car park and the shuttle bus, travel by coach or train, or book a transfer so nobody has to drive you.
Travelling to or from Stansted?
Get a fixed fare for your Stansted transfer, with flight monitoring, free waiting time and 24/7 booking. Nobody has to do the airport run.
Questions? Contact us or see all London airport transfers.
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