The cheapest way from London Stansted Airport (STN) into central London is the coach: book National Express (routes A6/A8/A9) online in advance from about £7 one-way — Flibco is similar from £7.49 — for a ride of roughly 70–90 minutes to Liverpool Street, with coaches running round the clock. The Stansted Express train is faster (about 50 minutes to Liverpool Street, every 15 minutes) from £9.90 booked in advance online — but never pay the £21.90 walk-up fare at the station machine, and skip the £75–120 taxi.
How to find it
- AIRPORTLondon Stansted Airport
- 01From arrivals, walk straight out of the terminal: the bus and coach station is directly opposite the main terminal entrance, about a 2-minute walk.
- 02Book online before you land for the lowest fare — National Express from about £7 one-way or Flibco from £7.49 — rather than paying £15+ at the desk or on board on the day.
- 03Board the coach for your part of town and show your QR or mobile ticket: National Express A9 and A8 serve Liverpool Street (A9 also Stratford; A8 also Tottenham Hale, King's Cross St Pancras, Waterloo and Victoria), A6 serves Baker Street and Paddington; Flibco runs to Liverpool Street and Stratford. Coaches run round the clock, with combined departures up to every 15–30 minutes.
- 04Ride roughly 70–90 minutes to Liverpool Street depending on traffic (the fastest scheduled A9 runs are about 1 h 10); Victoria and Paddington take longer, up to about 1 h 45.
- CITY CENTRELondon
Ticket
One-way advance coach ticket to central London (National Express A6/A8/A9 or Flibco)
Where to buy: Cheapest online in advance: National Express (app/website) advertises fares from about £7 one-way — the airport's own site says from £5 — and Flibco from £7.49. Buying at the airport ticket desks or from the driver on the day typically costs £15 or more.
How to pay: Online booking takes cards and gives a QR or mobile ticket to show the driver; no validation stamp is needed. Airport ticket desks and drivers also take cards.
All ways to downtown, compared
| Option | Price | Time | Ticket |
|---|---|---|---|
| BusCheapest route | £7.00 | 1 h 20 min | One-way advance coach ticket to central London (National Express A6/A8/A9 or Flibco) |
| Train | £9.90 | 50 min | Stansted Express Advance single to London Liverpool Street |
| Taxi | £80.00 | 1 h 10 min | Pre-booked fixed-fare minicab to central London |
Frequently asked
- What is the cheapest way from Stansted Airport to central London?
- The coach: National Express (A6/A8/A9) from about £7 one-way booked online in advance, or Flibco from £7.49, taking roughly 70–90 minutes to Liverpool Street. On-the-day coach tickets cost £15+, so book before you land.
- Is the coach or the Stansted Express train cheaper?
- The coach is cheaper — from about £7 in advance versus £9.90 for the cheapest advance Stansted Express ticket, and £21.90 if you buy the train ticket at the machine on the day. The train is faster: about 50 minutes to Liverpool Street versus 70–90 by coach.
- How much is the Stansted Express and how do I get the cheap fare?
- Advance singles start at £9.90 one-way, sold only online on the Stansted Express website or app (book early — cheap seats are limited). The walk-up single at the station is £21.90, more than double.
- Can I use an Oyster card or contactless at Stansted Airport?
- Oyster cards are not accepted at Stansted Airport station. Contactless bank-card pay-as-you-go has worked there since March 2026, but the £9.90 online Advance ticket is still the cheapest way onto the train.
- How do I get from Stansted to London late at night?
- Take the coach — National Express and Flibco run round the clock, while the Stansted Express stops from roughly 00:30 to 05:30. Advance coach fares start around £7.
- How much is a taxi from Stansted Airport to central London?
- A pre-booked fixed-price minicab is around £78–115 for a saloon; unbooked or metered trips cost more. That's roughly ten times the £7 advance coach fare.
Last verified: . Prices and timetables change — confirm at the official transport source.