Holidays from Stansted Airport

Stansted sits just off the M11, with Junction 8a the best option if you're driving from London, or Junction 8 from the Cambridge direction, then following the signs for the airport. By train, the Stansted Express is the fastest option, running directly from Liverpool Street every 15 minutes, 7 days a week, with the station sitting right under the terminal, just a 2-minute walk away. Trains from across the UK also connect through to the airport.

By bus or coach, the station is a 2-minute walk from the terminal, with two providers offering frequent daily services to and from London, many stopping at key points for the Underground and mainline stations including Paddington, Victoria, Liverpool Street and Stratford. It's worth pre-booking tickets in advance where you can.

By taxi, Street Cars Taxis is the on-airport provider, with a reservation desk in the international arrivals concourse and a courtesy phone in domestic baggage reclaim if you need to book once you've landed.

Yes — Stansted Airport has a range of options to choose from, including short stay, long stay, Fast Track, family parking, meet and greet, plus dedicated drop-off and pick-up areas. It's worth booking online in advance where you can, as you're more likely to get the space you want, and it's usually cheaper than turning up and paying on the day. Book your London Stansted Airport parking online today, or call our Sales Team and they'll be happy to help!

Just the one — Stansted Airport operates from a single terminal, so check-in, security, departures and arrivals are all in the same building. It's connected to three satellite piers by a short transit system, which is where the boarding gates are, so it's still worth building in a bit of extra time to reach your gate, especially during busier periods.

As a general rule, aim to arrive around 2 hours before a short-haul flight and up to 3 hours for long-haul, giving yourself enough time for check-in, bag drop and security. It's always worth double-checking with your airline too, as exact times can vary depending on your destination and whether you're travelling with hold luggage. If you're flying during a busy period like school holidays or over Christmas, it's worth giving yourself a bit of extra buffer.

There's plenty to keep you occupied at Stansted before your flight, with a good range of shops, restaurants and cafés in the main departure lounge, including family-friendly options like The Windmill pub with its dedicated children's menu, and healthier fast-food choices at Leon. If you fancy somewhere quieter to relax, the newly opened Essence by Escape lounge in Satellite 1 offers a hot and cold buffet, a full bar and fast Wi-Fi, though it's worth noting this is only accessible to passengers flying with certain airlines from Gates 1–19, so it's not available to everyone. You'll also find free water refill stations, Fast Track security if you'd rather skip the queues, and assisted travel support for anyone who needs it. Just bear in mind that Stansted is partway through a major terminal transformation, so opening times and facilities can change, and it's worth checking the airport's latest guidance before you travel.

Yes — Stansted Airport provides assistance for anyone who needs a bit of extra support getting through the terminal, from help at the vehicle drop-off point right through to check-in, baggage and departures or arrivals, as well as guidance reaching onward transport afterwards. Just make sure to arrange this in advance with us or your airline so everything's in place for your journey on the day.