# London Stansted Airport (STN) > London, GB · 64 km (40 mi) north-east of central London Web: https://airport.flights/airport/stn JSON: https://airport.flights/api/airport/stn.json ## Facts - **IATA**: STN - **ICAO**: EGSS - **Timezone**: Europe/London - **Runways**: 1 - **Terminals**: 1 - **Passengers**: 28.5M/yr - **Hub for**: Ryanair - **Official site**: https://www.stanstedairport.com/ ## Overview ## Welcome London Stansted Airport operates more like a low-cost-carrier factory than a traditional airport. Expect significant early-morning peak activity with long security queues and strict gate timings especially during Ryanair's departure waves. Navigating through the labyrinthine airside duty-free and retail areas can feel overwhelming, but knowing the rhythm of the airport can turn a chaotic airport experience into a more manageable one. ## At a glance Located 64 km (40 miles) north-east of central London, Stansted handles approximately 28.5 million passengers annually via its single terminal and runway. It's a major hub for budget airlines such as Ryanair, easyJet, and Jet2.com. With only one terminal, the airport can feel bustling, especially during peak times, contrasting a hub with multiple terminals. ## Terminals & layout The single terminal at Stansted is a sprawling complex designed to manage high volumes of passengers efficiently. Upon entering, you'll encounter check-in areas that transition into a security area known for its bottleneck during peak hours (04:30–08:00 can see waits of up to 90 minutes). Be prepared to trek through a dense commercial area before reaching the gates, which can be up to a 20-minute walk from the main duty-free shopping area. The far-end gates, numbered 40–59 and 80+, require additional time for transit. ## Getting to and from the city The Stansted Express train is a reliable choice, taking about 45 minutes to reach London Liverpool Street, with fares starting at £9.45. Various coach services offer a budget-friendly alternative, with the National Express routes A6, A8, and A9 priced around £10–£15 when booked in advance, though journey times can extend significantly during peak traffic. Taxis and rideshares from the airport typically cost between £80–£160 depending on time and demand. ## Traveller essentials - **Parking:** Long Stay options can save money, with advance bookings through comparison sites offering up to 50% discounts compared to on-the-day rates. - **Wi-Fi and Connectivity:** Wi-Fi is available but can be overloaded during busy times. Download necessary documents and entertainment before entering security. - **Luggage:** Ryanair is known for strict carry-on enforcement; ensure your bags meet sizing requirements to avoid additional charges. ## Dining & shopping highlights The central area of the terminal offers a variety of dining choices including Bottega Prosecco Bar and Caffè, Caffè Nero, and The Camden Bar & Kitchen. For those with a sweet tooth, Krispy Kreme and Leon provide options. However, note the limited offerings once you reach the satellite gates, so best grab a bite before heading to these areas. ## Lounges - **Escape Lounge:** Located in Main Departures, offers a quiet retreat with food, beverages, and Wi-Fi. - **No1 Lounge:** Provides an upscale experience with a view, ideal for passengers seeking a quieter environment compared to the bustling terminal. ## Insider tips - **Insider:** The far ends of piers offer quieter seating and are the only places to find peace in this bustling terminal. - **Time:** Arrive three hours prior if catching an early Ryanair flight to beat the 45 to 90-minute security queues. - **Avoid:** Don’t rely on satellite gate kiosks for meals—pick up food from main departures before heading out. - **Quiet:** The landside seating and café area after check-in but before security is a calmer place to regroup than the chaotic departures zone. - **Money:** Book long-stay parking in advance via comparison sites for significant savings over on-the-day rates. - **Time:** Allow for a lengthy 20-minute walk to reach gates beyond the 40s, adding time for the transit shuttle if necessary. - **Local:** Spotters enjoy views of low-cost carrier operations from windows at the outer satellite gates. ## Terminals (1) - **Main Terminal** — Ryanair, easyJet, Jet2.com, TUI Airways The Main Terminal offers a variety of amenities for travelers. ## Dining (40) - **AN&** — , null},{ - **Bar 10** — , null},{ - **Bar Stansted** — , null},{ - **Benugo** — , null},{ - **Bottega Prosecco Bar and Caffè** — , null},{ - **Burger King** — , null},{ - **Burnells Bar** — , null},{ - **Burrito Cantina** — , null},{ - **Caffè Nero** — , null},{ - **Caviar House & Prunier** — , null},{ - **Comptoir Libanais** — , null},{ - **Coopers** — , null},{ - **Costa Coffee** — , null},{ - **Crepeaffaire** — , null},{ - **Eat in** — , null},{ - **Friska** — , null},{ - **Giraffe Stop** — , null},{ - **Halo Fizz Bar** — , null},{ - **Harris + Hoole** — , null},{ - **Humble Pizza** — , null},{ - **itsu** — , null},{ - **Jacks Bar** — , null},{ - **James Martin Kitchen** — , null},{ - **JD Wetherspoon - The Windmill** — , null},{ - **Joe & The Juice** — , null},{ - **Krispy Kreme** — , null},{ - **Leon** — , null},{ - **M&S Food to Go** — , null},{ - **M&S Simply Food** — , null},{ - **Pret A Manger** — , null},{ - **Prince of Wales** — , null},{ - **Selecta** — , null},{ - **Starbucks** — , null},{ - **Sunny Side Cafe** — , null},{ - **Terracotta Italian Kitchen** — , null},{ - **The Cabin** — , null},{ - **The Camden Bar & Kitchen** — , null},{ - **The Illustrious** — , null},{ - **The Perch** — , null},{ - **Tortilla** — , null},{ ## Lounges (8) - **Crew Lounge** — Airline staff - **Escape Lounge** — Main Departures · Paid entry + Priority Pass - **Escape Lounge US Preclearance** — Paid entry - **No1 Lounge** — Paid entry + lounge programs - **Premium Departures Area** — Fast track seating zone - **Private Jet Terminal Lounge** — General aviation - **Quiet Zone Seating** — Public, no services - **Ryanair Lounge** — Airline, selected customers ## Shops (35) - **Accessorize** — Fashion - **Boots** — Beauty - **BOSS** — Fashion - **Claire's** - **Currency Exchange Travelex** - **discover London** — Souvenirs - **Dixons Travel** - **Excess Baggage** — Travel Essentials - **FatFace** — Fashion - **Glorious Britain** — Souvenirs - **Hamleys** — Toys - **Hugo Boss** - **InMotion** — Electronics - **JD Sports** — Fashion - **Jo Malone London** - **Lacoste** - **LEGO** — Toys - **Luggage Point** - **M&S Simply Food** - **MAC Cosmetics** - **MINISO** — Travel Essentials - **Mulberry** — Fashion - **Rituals** — Beauty - **Rolling Luggage** - **Smiggle** - **Sunglasses Boutique** — Fashion - **Superdrug** - **Superdry** — Fashion - **Swarovski** - **The Bookshop** - **The Perfume Shop** - **Travelex** - **WHSmith** — Books - **World Duty Free** — Duty Free - **World Duty Free Express** ## Parking (19) - **Coach Parking** — Bus and coach · : Coach Parking/day, : Coach Parking/hr - **Electric Vehicle Charging** — EV bays · : Electric Vehicle Charging/day, : Electric Vehicle Charging/hr - **JetParks** — Remote · : JetParks/day, £68.99/hr · 10 minutes to terminal - **Long Stay** — Long stay · : Long Stay Airport Parking/day, £71.99/hr · 7 minutes to terminal - **Long Stay Airport Parking** — Long stay · £71.99/day, : Long Stay Airport Parking/hr · 15 minutes shuttle to terminal - **Meet & Greet** — Valet · : Meet & Greet Parking/day, £91/hr · 2-3 minutes to terminal - **Meet & Greet Parking** — Valet · £91.00/day, : Meet & Greet Parking/hr · 1-2 minute walk to terminal - **Mid Stay** — Long stay · : Mid Stay Airport Parking/day, £76.99/hr · 7 minutes to terminal - **Mid Stay Airport Parking** — Remote · £76.99/day, : Mid Stay Airport Parking/hr · 7 minutes shuttle to terminal - **Motorcycle Parking** — Two‑wheel · : Motorcycle Parking/day, : Motorcycle Parking/hr - **Short Stay** — Short stay · : Short Stay Airport Parking/day, £69.99/hr · 1-10 minutes to terminal - **Short Stay Airport Parking** — Short stay · £69.99/day, : Short Stay Airport Parking/hr · 10-12 minute walk to terminal - **Short Stay Blue** — Short stay · £59.99/day, : Short Stay Blue/hr · 10-12 minutes to terminal - **Short Stay Green** — Short stay · £62.99/day, : Short Stay Green/hr · 5-8 minutes to terminal - **Short Stay Orange** — Short stay · £66.00/day, : Short Stay Orange/hr · 1-4 minutes to terminal - **Short Stay Red** — Short stay · £67.00/day, : Short Stay Red/hr · 1-4 minutes to terminal - **Short Stay Yellow** — Short stay · £67.00/day, : Short Stay Yellow/hr · 1-4 minutes to terminal - **Staff Car Park** — Staff only · : Staff Car Park/day, : Staff Car Park/hr - **Valet Parking** — Meet and greet · : Valet Parking/day, : Valet Parking/hr ## Ground transport (18) - **Airport Bus Express** — Coach · Advertised around 50–70 min Stansted–Stratford and 75–90 min to Liverpool Street · Online promos often around £10–£12 one-way · Typically every 30 min on main routes; reduced at night - **Arriva 133** — Bus · Journey times vary widely by origin; 30–70 min to nearby Essex towns is typical · Typical local bus fares reported around £3–£6 depending on distance and tickets · Roughly every 60 min on weekdays; reduced evenings and Sundays - **Bolt** — Rideshare · Around 60–90 min to central London similar to other car options · User anecdotes suggest fares slightly under Uber for some trips, often £70–£130 to central London depending on surge · On-demand 24/7 in principle, but driver availability at Stansted can be patchier than Uber - **Bus and Coach Services** — Bus · Varies by route · Varies by route · Frequent services - **First Essex X30** — Bus · About 1 hr Chelmsford–Stansted and up to ~2 hr Southend–Stansted in typical conditions · User reports suggest roughly £10–£15 for Southend–Stansted; cheaper for shorter hops · Roughly every 60 min during the day; less frequent very early/late - **Free Drop Off** — Internal shuttle · Expect roughly 10–20 min each way including shuttle ride and waiting · Free for a limited time window (often around 1 hour) in designated car parks; charges apply if overstayed · Shuttles typically every 10–15 min during operating hours; less frequent late at night - **Greater Anglia stopping services** — Train · Around 50–60 min to Liverpool Street on typical stopping patterns · Often a few pounds cheaper than branded Stansted Express for comparable journeys; exact fare depends on ticket type · Roughly every 30 min on many patterns; less frequent late evenings - **Hotel Hoppa‑style shuttles** — Hotel shuttle · Typically 5–10 min between nearby hotels and the terminal · Commonly around £3–£5 per person each way based on hotel reviews · Often every 30–60 min; denser in early morning peaks, sparse late at night - **National Express A6** — Coach · Advertised about 1 hr 30 min Stansted–Paddington; can be longer in heavy traffic · Advance fares frequently around £10–£15 one-way in user reports · Roughly every 30–60 min depending on time of day - **National Express A8** — Coach · Roughly 1 hr 10–1 hr 30 min advertised; traffic can push it longer · Commonly around £10–£15 one-way in advance bookings · Roughly every 20–30 min in daytime; less frequent late at night - **National Express A9** — Coach · Advertised about 1 hr 40 min Stansted–Victoria; often longer in rush hour · Around £10–£15 one-way when booked in advance, higher walk-up · Roughly every 30 min during main operating hours; thinner overnight - **Rideshare Services** — Rideshare · 30-60 min · Varies by distance · Available 24/7 - **Stansted Express** — Train · 45 min · from £9.45 · every 15-30 min - **Taxi Services** — Taxi · 30-60 min · Varies by distance · Available 24/7 - **Taxis** — Hackney carriage · About 60–90 min to central London in typical conditions · Many rank quotes in reviews fall in the £120–£160 range to central London · On-demand at the airport rank during airport operating hours - **Terravision coach** — Coach · Roughly 1 hr 15–1 hr 30 min to Victoria/Liverpool Street depending on route and traffic · Commonly around £8–£11 one-way in online promos · Roughly every 30 min at busy times; less frequent off-peak and late night - **Uber** — Rideshare · Around 60–90 min to central London in normal traffic · User quotes commonly range £80–£140 to central London depending on surge and time of day · On-demand 24/7 subject to driver availability - **Uno 777** — Bus · Commonly 1 hr 20–1 hr 40 min Hatfield–Stansted, longer in traffic · Student reports show fares roughly £8–£12 one-way depending on stop and discount · Roughly every 60–120 min and focused on daytime; limited early/late runs ## Insider tips - _Insider_: The far ends of piers offer quieter seating and are the only places to find peace in this bustling terminal. - _Time_: Arrive three hours prior if catching an early Ryanair flight to beat the 45 to 90-minute security queues. - _Avoid_: Don’t rely on satellite gate kiosks for meals—pick up food from main departures before heading out. - _Quiet_: The landside seating and café area after check-in but before security is a calmer place to regroup than the chaotic departures zone. - _Money_: Book long-stay parking in advance via comparison sites for significant savings over on-the-day rates. - _Time_: Allow for a lengthy 20-minute walk to reach gates beyond the 40s, adding time for the transit shuttle if necessary. - _Local_: Spotters enjoy views of low-cost carrier operations from windows at the outer satellite gates.