STN · Traveller guide
London Stansted: arrivals, pick-up and getting to London
Stansted has one terminal, with the railway station directly beneath it. This guide covers how pick-up works, the Express Set Down charge that began in March 2026, the Stansted Express and coach options, and the drive into London.
After you land
What happens after you land
After you leave the aircraft, show your passport to the immigration officers, then follow the signs to the baggage reclaim hall, where screens show your flight number above the right carousel. After customs you come out into the arrivals hall.
Stansted says eGates are open if your passport has the biometric symbol, you are aged 8 or over and at least 120 cm tall (ages 8 to 17 with an adult), and you are a British citizen, a listed EU or other national or a Registered Traveller member. From 12 April 2025, meat and dairy products from EU countries cannot be brought into Great Britain for personal use. Declare cash of more than €10,000.
Stansted's official contact page names airlines including Ryanair, easyJet, Jet2.com, British Airways, Emirates, Turkish Airlines, Pegasus, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Jordanian and TUI. Airlines change over time, so check your booking.
Meeting and collection
How collection works at Stansted
Stansted's official pages do not name a meeting point in the arrivals hall, so agree a spot inside the terminal with whoever is collecting you. A chauffeur will be in arrivals with a name board.
The collection and drop-off areas are outside Departures. For pick-ups, the airport points people to the Short Stay car parks if they want to come into the terminal and meet someone, or to Mid Stay, where the first 60 minutes of a pick-up or drop-off are free (with a free shuttle bus to the terminal). The airport's pages give no separate rule or waiting area for pre-booked private hire and chauffeur cars.
The airport's own charges
These are the airport's published figures, read on 28 October 2026. They change, so use the link on each line to confirm before you rely on them.
Express Set Down (barrierless drop-off outside Departures), from 19 March 2026
Official page, checked 28 October 2026£10 for up to 15 minutes; £28 for longer; maximum stay 30 minutes
Charged on every visit, 24 hours a day, paid online or by phone by midnight the next day. Stansted lists no exemption for taxis, private hire or chauffeurs. Unpaid, a £100 penalty applies (£60 if paid within 14 days).
Mid Stay car park, pick-up or drop-off
Official page, checked 28 October 2026Up to 60 minutes free; the next hour £5
Free shuttle bus to the terminal, about seven minutes. Re-entering within an hour of first entry costs £48.
Getting to London
From Stansted to central London
Typical driving times without traffic, then the train options. Allow more time at rush hour and on Friday afternoons.
By car, without traffic
| To | Time | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Mayfair | about 1 hr 25 min | 40 miles |
| Westminster | about 1 hr 20 min | 40 miles |
| The City (Bank) | about 1 hr 10 min | 38 miles |
| Canary Wharf | about 1 hr 5 min | 38 miles |
| King's Cross | about 1 hr 15 min | 38 miles |
Our estimates from OpenStreetMap road data at normal free-flow speeds, rounded to the nearest five minutes. They are not a promise: traffic, roadworks and the time of day change them.
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By train, coach and Tube
Stansted Express
48 to 50 minutes to Liverpool Street
Every 15 minutes through the day. Services start around 05:30 (05:55 Tuesday to Thursday) and the last leaves at 00:30. From £9.90 single in advance.
Official pageStansted Express to Tottenham Hale
about 35 minutes
Tottenham Hale connects to the Victoria line.
Official pageCoaches
check the operator's timetable
Flibco runs every 30 minutes, 24 hours a day, to Liverpool Street and Stratford. National Express runs over 200 daily services with 15 central London stops. The airport gives no official coach journey time.
Official pageRight now
Weather at Stansted
The latest report and the next twelve hours, in plain English. Strong wind, low cloud or fog can slow flights, so it is a good moment to check your flight status.
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Good to know
Assistance and useful tips
Assistance
You must pre-book assistance through your airline or travel agent at least 48 hours before your flight. Stansted's assistance is provided by ABM Aviation. The rail station is step-free throughout.
Useful to know
- Free Wi-Fi is available in the terminals and lounges for up to two hours within 24 hours.
- Cash machines in the terminal give pounds, euros and US dollars.
- Passport Control FastTrack costs from £15 per person, opens 24 hours and has limited availability: book in advance if you want it.
- There is a multi-faith prayer room, baby changing areas and a family room.
Questions
Stansted FAQs
Where does my chauffeur meet me at Stansted?
What is the Express Set Down charge?
How long does it take to drive from Stansted to central London?
How long does the Stansted Express take?
Sources
Where this information comes from
Checked on 28 October 2026against the airport's own pages, TfL, rail operators and GOV.UK. Airports change terminals, charges and timetables, so confirm anything important with them before you travel.
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