2026 Guide to London Stansted Airport (STN)

London Stansted Airport (STN) is one of five airports serving the Greater London area. It’s the fourth busiest airport in the UK, welcoming approximately 30 million passengers annually. With only one runway managing that enormous volume of traffic, Stansted is one of the busiest single-runway airports in the world. 

After London Heathrow and London Gatwick, Stansted is the third-largest of London’s airports. Located in Essex, it’s well connected to the city via the Stansted Express and National Express, and offers convenient access to North London and the Midlands. Low-cost airlines are the backbone of Stansted, flying to over 180 destinations across Europe, Asia and North Africa. 

Whether you’re coming from London or elsewhere in the UK, this up-to-date guide to London Stansted will provide you with all the useful information you need for a smooth and stress-free journey.

Stansted Airport at a glance

Stansted Airport code: STN

Terminals: One main terminal connected to three satellite gate buildings.

Transport: Travel quickly between London, Stansted, and the rest of the UK with the Stansted Express, National Express Coach Service, and many more.

Parking: Short Stay and Long Stay parking is available on site. 

Lounges: Stansted has two lounges, both located in Satellite 1.

Shops & Restaurants: A variety of shops and restaurants are available at Stansted Airport, including Duty Free.

Nearby hotels: There are several nearby hotels at a range of price points for travelers who need to stay close to the airport. 

Amenities: Amenities at Stansted include complimentary WiFi, showers facilities, 24/7 luggage storage, and more.

Where is Stansted Airport?

Address: Bassingbourn Rd, Stansted CM24 1QW, United Kingdom

Phone Number: +448081697031

How to get to Stansted Airport

Stansted Airport is located approximately an hour’s drive from central London, making it the second-furthest London airport from the city after London Southend. However, there are many regular and efficient transport links from the airport to major stations in central London at various price points, making traveling between London and Stansted very straightforward.

Traveling to Stansted by train

Stansted Express: The best way to travel from London to Stansted is via the Stansted Express, which departs every 15 minutes and stops at London Liverpool Street, Tottenham Hale, and Stratford. The journey takes 50 minutes and a Standard Anytime ticket costs £23 ($31) per person each way, and when you book a return ticket, you can return on any train at any time within a month of your outbound travel date.

An Advance Standard ticket is the cheapest Stansted Express train ticket available, with prices starting from £9.90 ($13) one-way. An Off-Peak ticket costs £21($28) per passenger per journey, but is only valid after 9:30 AM on weekdays, and between 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM when traveling from London. Many other ticket options are available.

Greater Anglia via Tottenham Hale: For a non-Express option, take the Victoria line (or Overground) to Tottenham Hale, then hop on a Greater Anglia train towards Cambridge. The journey time is longer than the Express (around 75-90 min total) but can be significantly cheaper when booked in advance.

Slower Greater Anglia option: Greater Anglia also runs slower stopping services from Liverpool Street to Stansted, calling at more stations along the way.

Traveling to Stansted by coach

National Express: Another popular way to travel between London Victoria Coach Station to Stansted Airport is the long-running National Express coach service. The ride takes 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours depending on traffic, but runs 24 hours a day which makes it handy for early morning flights.

Terravision: Terravision runs a service every 30 minutes from Victoria, Aldgate, and Paddington to Stansted, and costs as little as £12 ($16) one way.

easyBus: Another coach service running between London and Stansted, easyBus runs a regular service from various London points including the Baker Street / Marylebone area.

FlixBus: FlixBus also runs a service from Stratford to Stansted, taking 45 minutes, and from London Liverpool Street which takes 1 hour 25 minutes. 

Tip: If you plan to take the coach, it’s still important to book your seat in advance to guarantee your spot and secure the best price.

Traveling to Stansted by car

Driving to Stansted is fairly straightforward from central London. Take the A406 North Circular to the M11, head north and exit at Junction 8, which is a dedicated motorway junction for the airport. The drive typically takes 45-75 minutes depending on traffic, though it's worth avoiding the M25/M11 interchange during rush hour.

Blacklane Chauffeur Service: For the smoothest and most comfortable way to travel from  Stansted Airport to London and other locations across East Anglia and the UK, book a Blacklane airport transfer. Founded in Berlin in 2011, Blacklane offers a door-to-door premium chauffeur service across the UK, making airport transfers from Stansted to London effortless and stress-free.

Traveling from Stansted to other UK destinations

Stansted's location in Essex makes it well connected to various parts of the UK. The Greater Anglia line connects Stansted directly to Cambridge (around 30 minutes). When you take the Stansted Express to London Liverpool Street station, you can access the national rail network to virtually anywhere in the UK.

The National Express operates routes from Stansted to a wide range of UK cities including Birmingham, Bristol, Oxford, Luton, Nottingham and many others, often without needing to travel into central London first.

Parking at London Stansted Airport

Stansted offers several parking options to suit different budgets and lengths of stay, including drop-off, Short Stay, Meet & Greet, Mid Stay, Long Stay, and Valet Parking options. 

Express Set Down

Express drop-off at the airport is available for a maximum stay of 30 minutes. Note: STN recently raised its drop-off fee from £7 ($9) to £10 ($13).

Short Stay

There are 5 Short Stay parking options which are all color coded to help visitors navigate to the right one. All Short Stay car parks are located under 12 minutes from the terminal, connected by a short covered walkway. The Short Stay parking garage is best suited for drop-offs, pick-ups, or very short visits, as prices rise steeply for stays longer than a couple of hours.

Premium Orange: The closest Short Stay car park to the terminal, but gets busy. 

Premium Red: Also close to the terminal, but requires pre-booking. 

Premium Yellow: Closest Short Stay cap park to the Arrivals area, pre-book only.

Blue: A 10-12 minute walk from the terminal.

Green: A brand new, multi storey car park, 5-8 minutes to terminal.

Mid Stay

Mid Stay is the best option for trips up to one week, and is just 7 minutes on the free shuttle bus to the terminal.

Long Stay

If you plan on staying away for more than a week and need a parking space at Stansted, the Long Stay car park is your best option. The Long Stay parking at London Stansted is located by the Stansted Airport exit of the M11 motorway. Once you’ve parked up, it’s just a 15-minute free shuttle bus journey to the terminal building.

Meet & Greet

Meet & Greet at London Stansted Airport is pre-book only, and is located right next to the terminal. This is the airport’s premium valet parking service, allowing you to pull up at a parking bay, drop your keys, and one of Stansted’s Meet & Greet drivers will take your car to an official and secure on-site car park for the duration of your time away.

JetParks

JetParks is another Long Stay parking option that’s more budget-friendly but slightly further away from the terminal. It’s easily reachable with free shuttle buses that run every 15 minutes, 24/7. Prices start at £68.99 ($93).

Stansted Airport: Terminal Overview

Stansted only has one terminal, which makes it simpler to navigate than massive multi-terminal airports like Heathrow. The terminal then connects to three satellite gate buildings (piers) where the flights leave. The main terminal has three areas: 

• Check-in at the front

• Departures at the southern end

• International Arrivals at the northern end

Stansted is currently undergoing a five-year development program, which will include a 33% terminal expansion towards the back end of the current terminal. It’s set to improve the airport’s check-in, security, departure lounges, and retail, and provide more efficient connectivity between the main terminal and the satellite gates. Work started in 2025 and is ongoing.

Satellite 1 (Gates 1-19) is connected via the Stansted Airport Transit System, about four minutes from the main terminal. Satellite 2 (Gates 20-39) on the upper level and 81-88 on the lower level) can be reached by the transit system in around seven minutes or by walkway in about ten minutes. Satellite 3 (Gates 40-59) is connected by walkway only, around 15 minutes from the main terminal. There is also an APV (Advanced Passenger Vehicle) building which is where you can find Gates 90-93, used mainly by Ryanair during peak hours.

Note: Unlike other London airports, Stansted still follows the 100ml rule, meaning that liquids must be in containers of 100ml or less. However, Stansted's security lanes are all equipped with modern CT scanners, which means you no longer need to remove liquids or electronics from your bag when going through security. There's no need for a clear plastic bag and laptops can stay in your bag, but vacuum flasks must be emptied as the scanners can't penetrate the double-layer insulation.

Which airlines fly from Stansted Airport (STN)?

Air Algérie

AJet

Arkia

British Airways (via BA CityFlyer)

Corendon

Eastern Airways

easyJet

Emirates

Jet2

Loganair

Pegasus Airlines

Ryanair

Ryanair UK

SunExpress

TUI Airways

Turkish Airlines

Wizz Air

Lounge access at Stansted Airport

As a smaller airport, Stansted only has two lounges in the complex: Essence by Escape Lounge and the Emirates Lounge.

Note: At Stansted, you usually don't know which satellite pier you're flying from until 30 or 40 minutes before boarding, and you generally can't walk back from Satellite 1 to other piers or gates, which is important to keep in mind if you book or plan to use a lounge.

Essence by Escape Lounge

Recently opened in March 2026, this lounge is the second space under Escape Lounges' Essence by Escape brand, located within Satellite 1 close to Gates 1-19, and is only available for airline passengers departing from those gates. Facilities include lounge and dining areas, a full service complimentary bar, ultra-fast private Wi-Fi, charging ports, and access to PressReader publications.

Access & pricing

• Access to the lounge is available to travelers flying with Air Algerie, Arkia, British Airways Cityflyer, Corendon Airlines, Emirates, Flyone, HiSky, Jet2, Lufthansa, Pegasus, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Jordanian, SunExpress, Tui and Turkish Airlines.

• The walk-in price for a single adult is £35 ($47), with children under 3 permitted free of charge. Booking online is recommended for a small discount.

• The lounge is open daily from 4.45 AM to 8.15 PM.

Emirates Lounge

Opened in 2024, the Emirates Lounge at Stansted Airport can also be found in Satellite 1 (Gates 1-19), and features shower facilities, a business area, and free Wi-Fi, with large windows providing excellent views of the airport. Its highlight is its partnership with Sussex-based farmers, providing a farm-to-table dining experience with fresh, seasonal menus.

Access & pricing

• Access is available to Emirates first and business class passengers, plus Emirates Skywards Platinum and Gold members. 

• Paid access is possible for Emirates economy passengers, but it costs north of £100 ($135).

• The lounge is open daily from 11:00 AM to 13:00 PM and 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

What restaurants are available at Stansted Airport?

Stansted Airport has a good variety of food and coffee options available, including spots to grab a quick bite like Starbucks, Pret A Manger, Itsu, and Leon—but also British favorites like M&S Simply Food and a JD Wetherspoon called The Windmill. Other sit-down dining spots include The Camden Bar & Kitchen which offers breakfast favourites and pub classics, along with local craft beers. Terracotta Italian Kitchen serves Italian dishes like pasta and pizza, while Coast to Coast is a casual American dining restaurant with burgers, BBQ ribs, and crispy chicken in a laid-back diner atmosphere with leather booth seating and Americana décor.

Shopping at Stansted Airport

For a small airport, Stansted offers a good selection of retail options if you want to do a bit of shopping before take off. The first store you’ll encounter is the World Duty Free, where travelers can take advantage of duty-free prices on everything from alcohol to perfume. Outside of Duty Free, Stansted has a good mix of high street and high-end brands such as Mulberry, Ted Baker, Hackett, and more. Hamleys also has a presence at the airport, and Glorious Britain is the place to go for a wide selection of British-themed souvenirs. Boots and WHSmith are also available for snacks and necessities. 

Hotels near Stansted Airport

Stansted Airport has a handful of hotels minutes from the airport terminal to suit every budget.

Radisson Blu Hotel 

Address: Waltham Close Stansted Airport, Stansted, CM24 1PP, United Kingdom

Shuttle: No (not necessary)

The Radisson Blu is the only hotel directly connected to the terminal, making it the most convenient option for early flights or late arrivals. It's a full-service hotel with a restaurant, bar, and comfortable rooms. The hotel also features a fitness center, indoor swimming pool, and spa.

Hampton by Hilton

Address: Bassingbourn Rd, Stansted CM24 1AQ, United Kingdom

Shuttle: No (not necessary)

Located around a 10-minute walk from the terminal, the Hampton by Hilton is a modern hotel with breakfast available from 4:00 AM for early departures. It features a fitness center, restaurant, lounge/bar, and is consistently one of Stansted’s highest rated hotels.

Premier Inn Stansted Airport

Address: Thremhall Ave, Stansted CM24 1PY, United Kingdom

Shuttle: Yes (£4 ($5) each way)

The Premier Inn is a reliable and affordable option just a short shuttle ride from the terminal. The hotel has basic facilities including comfortable rooms, a 24 hour front desk, restaurant, bar, and lounge. 

Novotel London Stansted

Address: Round Coppice Rd, Stansted CM24 1SF, United Kingdom

Shuttle: Yes (for an additional charge)

The Novotel London Stansted is a 4-star full service hotel a little further from the terminal, but accessible through a short shuttle ride. Amenities include a fitness studio, bar, on-site restaurant and garden with patio area. The hotel also features meeting rooms and other business facilities for business travelers. 

Amenities at Stansted Airport

WiFi: Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the terminal. Connect by selecting "_FreeWifi" on your device.

Drinking Fountains: Cold drinking water fountains are also dotted around the airport, so you can refill your own bottle after security.

ATMs and currency exchange: ChangeGroup operates two currency exchange booths — one landside before security and one in the main departures lounge, both open daily from 4:00 AM to 8:00 PM. ATMs are available in the main terminal before security and in the departures area after security.

Showers: Public shower facilities are available in the departure lounge after security and in international arrivals. 

Luggage Storage: The left luggage desk is located at the Airport Services desk in the international arrivals landside concourse. It’s open 24 hours and costs £10 a day.

Baby facilities: Baby-changing facilities are available near gates 13, 33/34, 43, and 59. Between gates 81-88, accessible baby changing facilities are in the women's toilets. Breastfeeding is welcome anywhere in the airport, with private feeding cubicles available in the Family Room.

Prayer Rooms: A multi-faith chapel is located in the check-in area opposite Zone A, and a second prayer room is available after security near the departures area. Both are open 24 hours and are available to all faiths and denominations.

Accessibility: Stansted works with DisabledGo to provide accessibility information. Free wheelchair provision and help with luggage on the way to check-in is available, and hidden disabilities lanyards are also available for passengers with non-visible conditions such as autism.

Pharmacy & Medical services: A Boots with a dispensing pharmacy is available after security, open from the first to the last departing flight each day.

Smoking/Vaping Areas: There are no designated smoking areas inside the terminal, and smoking is not possible after passing through security.

Easy arrivals in Stansted with Blacklane

Traveling to or from Stansted Airport is easy when you leave the logistics to professionals. When you book a Blacklane, you can leave behind the hassle of flagging down taxis, downloading ride-hailing apps, or dealing with London’s unpredictable traffic. A professional Blacklane chauffeur will be there to greet you upon arrival or departure, can assist with your luggage, and provide a quiet, comfortable ride. It’s travel made effortless, just the way it should be.