London Stansted International Airport is located in the county of Essex in the south east of England, 48 kilometres from the city centre of London. It is the fourth busiest passenger airport in the UK.
Of all the airports serving the British capital, Stansted is the newest. Many European low cost airlines are based here, including the low cost airline Ryanair, for which the airport is the largest base.
Stansted Airport in London has one terminal, which includes a chapel and showers, among other facilities. Wireless internet access is also available (free for the first four hours).
According to the classification of the International Air Transport Association, Stansted Airport is coded ‘STN’.
The airport’s official website is www.stanstedairport.com.
From the airport to London
To minimise the cost of travel from Stansted Airport to the British capital, you should take the train or bus services. However, you will have to be patient.
The fastest option is to take the Stansted Express train. The nearest train station, called Stansted Airport, is located directly inside the terminal building, or rather below it, a 2-minute walk from the arrivals hall. It connects the airport not only to London, but also to other cities in the United Kingdom.
The Stansted Express takes 47 minutes to Liverpool Street Station, from where you can transfer to the Liverpool Street underground station. This is the heart of London. Tickets start from £7 for the Liverpool Express from the website (www.stanstedexpress.com). Tickets can also be purchased from branded ticket offices and vending machines located both in the arrivals hall and on the platform.
The second way to get to Central London is a little more time-consuming, but no less efficient. There are several bus lines between Stansted Airport and the British capital.
National Express (A6, A7, A8, and A9) stop at many London bus stops and tube stations along the way (see map below). Tickets are available from £5 on the carrier’s website – www.nationalexpress.com. Depending on your destination, the journey will take at least 50 minutes.
Airport Bus Express (https://www.airportbusexpress.co.uk) and EasyBus (www.easybus.com) have similar routes to London. You can find out more about their services on their websites.
The bus stand of all carriers is opposite the terminal building (follow the signs in the arrivals hall on your way down).
And, of course, you can get into central London by taxi. Fares start from £99, depending on the route taken.