Taking the Stansted Express from Stansted Airport to Central London is easy and fast. This guide shows you exactly how to do it.
Buy Tickets in Advance
Contactless and Oyster payment is not valid on the Stansted Express, so tickets are needed.
It’s best to buy tickets in advance, from the Stansted Express website – even if you’re travelling soon. Tickets can be purchased up to six months before travel, and all tickets are valid on any train during the day selected – so no need to estimate what time you might want to travel.
Booking online can save you quite a lot of money over the standard fare of £25:
- Single tickets can be purchased for as little as £9.90, if you’re able to book a few weeks away from your travel date
- Buying two tickets together gives a 25% discount over the standard fare
- Buying as a group of three or more gives you a 33% discount over the standard fare
Children under 5 travel free, and children 5-15 receive a discount.
It’s often easier to buy your ticket for the Stansted Express alone, and use Oyster or Contactless payment to travel further once you reach London. However you can buy tickets from Stansted Airport to any rail station in Great Britain if you like.
Tickets are usually emailed to you, giving you a QR code to scan at the station. You can also select to pick up the tickets at a machine at the station if you prefer (or if your ticket includes onward travel within London).
Occasionally, engineering works close the line to Stansted, and therefore tickets won’t be available. You can also check the scheduled work calendar to confirm this. If this is the case, consider the other travel options such as coaches.
Determine Your Route
The Stansted Express runs to:
- Tottenham Hale (for interchange with the Victoria Line)
- Liverpool Street (in the centre of London, also for interchange with the Elizabeth Line, and Central, Circle, Metropolitan and Hammersmith & City tube lines).
If you’re not sure how to get to your final destination, use transit directions within Google/Apple Maps, or download the Citymapper app. These apps will give you step-by-step instructions on which station to get off at, and which lines to take once you’ve arrived in London
Walk to the Train Station
Stansted only has one terminal, which has a train station located within it. Once you’ve arrived and collected your bags, simply follow signs to the Train Station.
If you haven’t purchased tickets online, you can use the ticket machines to purchase tickets for £25 per adult.
Stansted Airport doesn’t have ticket gates (though it will do soon), so simply walk down and board the train.
Locate the Correct Platform
Stansted Airport station has three platforms, and the Express trains can depart from platforms 1 and 3. Screens at the station will show you which platform the next Express train is departing from, and the vast majority of people will be heading to that train. There are some smaller trains that run to places like Norwich and Cambridge, so do check the screens to ensure you are boarding the Stansted Express to Liverpool Street.
Ride the Train
When the train arrives, board and take any seat. You can either keep your luggage with you where you sit, or place it in the racks by the doors.
Screens and announcements show the stations the train is calling at.
Once you reach your destination, you’ll need to scan your ticket to leave the platform. If you’ve got an e-ticket (QR code), place your phone face down on the reader. If you’ve got a paper ticket, push it into the slot in the ticket gate, and take it when it pops out the top of the reader.
Onward Travel by Taxi
If you have lots of luggage, you may find it easier to get a London taxi (black cab) to your final destination. After you exit the platform at Liverpool Street, look ahead and to your right, where you will see escalators and lifts (elevators) up to a higher level. Make your way to the higher level, walk outside, and you will see a taxi rank ahead of you. The taxis can take 5 or 6 people plus luggage, and take cash or card.
Onward Travel by Elizabeth Line or Underground (Tube)
Liverpool Street station is served by the Elizabeth Line, and Central, Circle, Metropolitan and Hammersmith & City tube lines. After exiting the Stansted Express platform, you’ll see the Underground station straight ahead of you, where these lines are located. The Elizabeth Line is step-free, so you can use lifts (elevators) to access the platforms if you have large luggage. Accessing the Central Line requires the use of escalators, and accessing the Circle, Metropolitan and Hammersmith & City Lines require the use of some stairs (all these lines leave from the same platforms).
If you’ve left the train at Tottenham Hale, simply follow signs for the Victoria Line. It’s a much smaller station, so quite straightforward. There are lifts (elevators) to take you down to the Victoria Line if you have heavy luggage.
It’s easiest and cheapest to use contactless cards or devices to pay for the Underground & Elizabeth Line, however there are also ticket machines to purchase paper tickets or Oyster Cards.
If you want to plan a route on the Underground or Elizabeth Line, use transit directions within Google/Apple Maps, or download the Citymapper app.