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Landing at Stansted and heading into central London, or travelling from Liverpool Street to Stansted for a flight? There are three main ways to make the journey: the Stansted Express train, a coach, or a taxi door to door. This guide compares them in both directions.
Stansted to London: the quick answer
- Fastest by rail: Stansted Express to Liverpool Street, around 50 minutes.
- Other train stops: Tottenham Hale, around 35 minutes, and Stratford, around an hour.
- Round the clock: coaches run 24 hours a day to stops across London.
- Paying: contactless works on the Stansted Express; Oyster cards are not valid to or from Stansted.
- Easiest with luggage: a pre-booked taxi from the terminal to your door.
Stansted to Central London: All Options Compared
| Option | London stops | Typical time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stansted Express | Tottenham Hale, Stratford, Liverpool Street | Around 50 min to Liverpool Street | Speed into the City and East London |
| Coach | Including Liverpool Street, Stratford, Victoria, Baker Street and Canary Wharf | Depends on traffic | Late-night arrivals and lower fares |
| Pre-booked transfer | Your exact address | Depends on traffic | Luggage, families, groups, early flights |
Typical times published by London Stansted Airport, not guarantees. Journey times by road vary with traffic and your exact address.
Liverpool Street to Stansted by Stansted Express
The Stansted Express is the quickest rail link between Stansted and central London. Trains run direct between the airport and London Liverpool Street, calling at Tottenham Hale and Stratford. The airport station is about a two-minute walk from the terminal.
- Liverpool Street: around 50 minutes, with the Central, Circle, Metropolitan, Hammersmith & City and Elizabeth lines.
- Tottenham Hale: around 35 minutes, with direct access to the Victoria line.
- Stratford: around an hour, with Elizabeth line and DLR connections.
- Frequency: every 15 to 30 minutes for most of the day, seven days a week.
- Tickets: tap in and out with a contactless card or mobile wallet. Oyster cards are not valid to or from Stansted, but you can use one for onward journeys from Liverpool Street or Tottenham Hale.
Heading to the West End? Stansted Airport suggests the Victoria line from Tottenham Hale, with a total journey to London Victoria of around 1 hour 15 minutes.
Coaches from Stansted to London
Coaches leave from the bus and coach station opposite the terminal's main entrance, about a two-minute walk away, with step-free access.
- 24 hours: services run through the night, useful for very late arrivals.
- National Express: routes call at stops including Liverpool Street, Stratford, Canary Wharf, Waterloo, Baker Street, Paddington and Victoria, depending on the route.
- Other operators: run to Liverpool Street, Stratford and north London.
- Journey time: depends on traffic. Travelling to Stansted by coach for a flight? The airport advises allowing at least four hours before your flight.
Taxi from Stansted to Central London
Train times measure station to station. Your real journey also includes getting to the platform, any changes, and the trip from a London station to your door. A pre-booked transfer is usually the easier choice when:
- you have heavy luggage, a pushchair or sports equipment;
- you're travelling as a family or group;
- you land late at night or fly out very early;
- your address isn't close to Liverpool Street, Stratford or Tottenham Hale.
Book a Stansted to London transfer
- Door to door: Stansted airport transfers to and from any London address, 24/7, with TfL-licensed drivers.
- Meeting point: your driver meets you at Costa Coffee in the Arrivals Hall; add Meet & Greet when you book.
- Flight monitoring: we offer flight monitoring for pre-booked airport pickups. Add your flight number when booking, and flight monitoring helps us coordinate your pickup around updated arrival information.
- Fixed fares: fixed fares for pre-booked airport transfers. Know your fare before confirming your booking, with no meter-based fare surprises.
- Vehicles: saloons to 16-seat minibuses in our fleet. Get an instant fare quote.
London to Stansted: Getting Back to the Airport
The same options work in reverse. From Liverpool Street, the Stansted Express runs direct to the airport, and you can join it at Stratford or Tottenham Hale. Early-morning and late-evening trains run, but times vary by day, so check the timetable before an early flight.
If you're dropped off by car or taxi, Stansted charges vehicles that use the Express Set Down zone outside the terminal. Travelling with Banana Cars? Check your quote and booking details for how this airport charge applies to your journey. Our Stansted drop-off and pick-up guide explains the current charges and the free alternative.
Which Option Should You Choose?
- Travelling light to the City or East London: the Stansted Express to Liverpool Street or Stratford.
- Arriving after the last train: a coach, which runs 24 hours a day, or a pre-booked taxi.
- Staying in Canary Wharf: some coaches call there, or book a transfer to your hotel; see Canary Wharf airport transfers.
- Travelling as a family or group: one vehicle for everyone; see group transfers.
- Connecting to another airport: read our Stansted to Heathrow guide.
Comparing every London airport? Read our airport-by-airport guide to central London, or book a train station transfer from Liverpool Street.
Stansted to London FAQs
By rail, the Stansted Express runs direct to London Liverpool Street in around 50 minutes, calling at Tottenham Hale and Stratford.
Around 50 minutes on the Stansted Express. Trains run every 15 to 30 minutes for most of the day.
No. Oyster cards are not valid to or from Stansted. You can tap in and out with a contactless card or mobile wallet on the Stansted Express, and use Oyster for onward journeys from Liverpool Street or Tottenham Hale.
Yes. Coaches to London run 24 hours a day from the coach station opposite the terminal, and you can pre-book a taxi for a late arrival.
It depends on traffic, the time of day and your exact address, so allow extra time at peak periods. Fixed fares for pre-booked airport transfers. Know your fare before confirming your booking, with no meter-based fare surprises.
Your TfL-licensed driver meets you at Costa Coffee in the Arrivals Hall. Your pickup instructions come with your booking.
We offer flight monitoring for pre-booked airport pickups. Add your flight number when booking, and flight monitoring helps us coordinate your pickup around updated arrival information. Airport waiting allowances vary between 45 and 60 minutes depending on your flight category, under the terms of your booking. Any additional waiting charges are also subject to your booking terms.
Yes. MPVs, the Executive MPV-7 and 16-seaters suit families and groups. Child seats are free on advance request: Group 0/0+ (infant), Group 1 (toddler) and Group 2/3 (booster). Tell us each child's age and how many seats you need when you book.
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