STN · GETTING INTO LONDON
Stansted is the low-cost hub — which means late arrivals, early departures, and a transport question the timetable often answers for you.
| Option | Typical cost | Time | Runs all night? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stansted Express | about £21 single (advance from ~£10) | 47–53 min to Liverpool Street | No — limited late-night service |
| Coach (National Express / Terravision) | from about £9 | 60–110 min | Some 24h routes, slower |
| Pre-booked fixed-fare car | from ~£95 per car | 50–80 min | Yes — driver tracks your flight |
Rail and coach fares vary by time and booking; car fares are indicative economy estimates.
A large share of Stansted flights land after 11pm or leave before 7am — exactly when trains thin out and coach journeys stretch past 90 minutes. If your flight is delayed past the last practical train, the coach queue at 1am with a full flight's worth of passengers is nobody's favourite part of the holiday.
A pre-booked car from Stansted to central London costs more than the train — around £95 per car — but it's the only option where a delay works in your favour: the driver tracks the flight and simply arrives later, and the fare is fixed regardless.
Also worth knowing: for Cambridge and East Anglia, the car competes far better — the 30-mile run to Cambridge starts around £80 and takes about 40 minutes door-to-door.
Daytime arrival, travelling light: Stansted Express (book advance fares).
Post-11pm or pre-7am flight, group, or heading anywhere but Liverpool Street: pre-booked fixed fare.
Prices load automatically for this route — adjust the fields for any other journey. The fare shown includes flight tracking, waiting time and meet & greet, and it won't change at pickup.
Results show the cheapest class first — Comfort is the most popular upgrade; minivans carry up to 7. Secure checkout by Kiwitaxi — rated 4.5/5 by 1,200+ travellers (Reviews.co.uk).
Pre-booked fixed fares start around £95 for a standard car — split four ways that's comparable to peak rail tickets, door-to-door.
Service is limited late at night — check the timetable for your arrival time. Pre-booked cars operate around the clock and track delayed flights.
Coaches, from about £9 booked ahead — allow 60–110 minutes depending on the route and traffic.