Transportation Alternatives between Heathrow and Stansted
When you arrive at London Heathrow Airport, there are various options for getting from LHR to STN Airport. Travelers that want comfort and luxury frequently choose a Heathrow airport transport or an airport taxi. In contrast, autonomous excursions frequently choose for car rental. Passengers searching for a cheap way to travel can also use the direct bus, the rapid train, or the low-cost subway. They will, however, need to change lines to go from London Heathrow to Stansted.
Taxi from Heathrow to Stansted
Heathrow airport cabs are the traditional means to get from Heathrow to Stansted Airport. Heathrow cabs are split into two groups based on their dependability and speed. As a result, you can travel with regular black taxis (also known as hackney carriages), which can be rented online. Passengers can, however, rent a back taxi from the airport taxi ranks, which are located opposite T2’s bus stop 12, next to T3’s bus stops 16-22, outside the T4 Arrivals area, and opposite T5’s bus stations 10-12. The black cabs are purpose-built, roomy cars with seating for up to five passengers that can be any color (not just black). A legal Heathrow black taxi features a “Taxi” light on the roof, a white license plate with important information, and a green or yellow license sticker on the windshield. Furthermore, black cab drivers must wear a yellow or green tag.
During peak hours, you may have to wait for your Heathrow airport cab at the taxi stands.
Private-hire vehicle (minicab) fleets, on the other hand, are made up of a variety of vehicles. They’re all legal as long as they have a Transport for London license disk in their windows and their drivers show a private-hire ID. You cannot, however, hail a minicab from the airport taxi ranks since minicabs must be reserved in advance. After completing the booking process, the private-hire vehicle will be waiting for you at your terminal’s Short-term Parking facility. Please keep in mind that the waiting time may be added to the final pricing.
Heathrow airport taxis are generally regarded as safe and dependable, as its drivers have been background-checked and are required to pass regular medical checks.
Unfortunately, taxis at Heathrow Airport are quite pricey. Despite the fact that black taxis are metered and minicabs offer set portions, they charge roughly the same in the end. Minicabs, to be accurate, are slightly less expensive. Some taxi drivers also offer negotiated rates for black cab rides. Nonetheless, the taximeter must be turned on during the travel. As a result, if it indicates a lesser fare, that is what the passenger will pay.
The black cab charging mechanism is complicated. The initial fare is 3.80£/4.40€/4.70$, and the airport fee is 3.60£/4.10€/4.40$. As a result, you should budget roughly £80/92.10€/98.90$ for the 80-90-minute travel from LHR to STN. Nonetheless, high traffic would undoubtedly increase the journey duration of Heathrow airport taxis and minicabs, as well as the final cost of black cabs.
Heathrow Airport to Stansted via Bus Bus journeys are the most cost-effective way to travel from Heathrow to Stansted. They truly connect the two airports, delivering quick services at a low cost.
The National Express Company’s coaches provide complimentary Wi-Fi, allocated luggage room (therefore, ample baggage allowance), and leather chairs. From 07:40 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., National Express Shuttles depart from Heathrow Central Bus Station (between T2 and T3) and T5 Bus Station. The journey from Heathrow to Stansted takes approximately 90 minutes. Please keep in mind that there are both earlier and later routes to STN. However, they necessitate a bus change at Victoria Station, making the journey exhausting and significantly longer.
Furthermore, a typical ticket from LHR to STN is 18£/21€/22.50$. Reservations in advance are recommended to find the best deals. If you are concerned about probable delays on your journey to Heathrow, you can choose the Change and Go option, which allows you to board a National Express Coach 12 hours earlier or after the scheduled departure time for an additional 5£/5.80€/6.20$.
When it comes to payment methods, it is best to reserve your ticket online because you will not be charged a booking fee. Alternatively, the ticket machines at Heathrow Central Bus Station are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, whereas the automatic ticket vending machines at T5 can only be used during the Bus Station’s operational hours, which are 08:00 am to 10:00 pm.
Heathrow Airport to Stansted Airport via Train/Subway
There is no direct train or London Underground Line running from London Heathrow to Stansted. Nonetheless, if you go to Liverpool Street in the city center, you may board the Stansted Express to STN Airport.
Stansted Express is a quick train that connects London to Stansted Airport Station, which is located 5 minutes from the STN Departure Hall. It features enough of luggage room, comfortable seats, and charging stations, as well as complimentary Wi-Fi. Trains run every 20 minutes during rush hours and peak days of the week, and every 30 minutes on weekends and public holidays. Stansted Express operates everyday from 03:40 am to 11:25 pm and on Sundays from 04:10 am to 11:25 pm. It takes 50 minutes to travel. A Stansted Express ticket costs approximately 20.70£/24€/25.70$. However, if you book your ticket early, you may pay as high as 9.90£/11.50€/12.30$. In any case, children aged 5-15 pay half the fee, while children aged 0-5 travel free. Please keep in mind that Stansted Express does not accept Oyster Cards or contactless payments.
Directions to Liverpool Street
For your journey from London Heathrow to Liverpool Street, you will have the following rail options:
1. The Elizabeth Line connects to Liverpool Street.
The Elizabeth Line connects London (including Liverpool Street) from T2/T3 London Underground Station and T4/T5 Train Stations. It is open from 05:21 a.m. (05:54 a.m. on Sundays) to 00:12 a.m. from T2/T3, from 05:30 a.m. (06:03 a.m. on Sundays) to 11:47 p.m. from T4, and from 05:15 a.m. (05:49 a.m. on Sundays) to 00:07 a.m. The journey to Liverpool Street takes around 38 minutes, and the fare for the Elizabeth Line is 13.30£/15.40€/16.40$ regardless of time of day. However, if you choose a paper ticket, the price will be slightly more.
As a result, the entire trip time from Heathrow to Stansted Airport is 88 minutes, and the fare is approximately 34£/39.70€/42.60$.
2. Take the Piccadilly Line to Liverpool Street.
You can also get to Liverpool Street by taking the London Underground. However, you must alight at Holborn Station and transfer to the Central Line bound for Liverpool Street. Your total trip time will be around one hour and will cost 5.60£/6.50€/7$. Piccadilly Line trains run every 5-10 minutes from all terminals. Nonetheless, its schedule varies based on the time of day and day of the week. Explicitly, you can look at the Piccadilly Line’s daily timetable from Heathrow Airport:
3. Take the Heathrow Express to Liverpool Street.
From Heathrow to Stansted, you can also take a mix of Heathrow Express, London Underground, and Stansted Express trains. Heathrow Express, despite its speed, arrives at Paddington Station in central London. After that, take the Hammersmith & City Line to Liverpool Street (an 8-minute walk away). As a result, your travel will last around 42 minutes and cost 27.70£/32.10€/34.40$. Please keep in mind that Heathrow Express runs every 15 minutes from T2/T3 Train Station and every 30 minutes after 10:00 p.m. from T5 Rail Hub. It is open from 05:20 a.m. till midnight.
As a result, the Heathrow Express, London Underground, and Stansted Express travel from London Heathrow to Stansted takes roughly 95 minutes and costs 48.40£/56.60€/60.70$.
When it comes to Elizabeth Line rides, you have the following options:
• Paper Tickets: These are accessible at airport ticket counters and automatic machines. They are slightly more expensive than the other payment methods. Nonetheless, they offer a convenient method of payment.
• Oyster Card: these reloadable smart cards can be loaded with cash or Travelcards. Oyster Cards cost 7£/8.10€/8.65 and are good on all modes of public transportation. They often work on a “pay as you go” basis. As a result, you’ll be charged for all public transportation journeys until you exceed the day cap (the maximum fee determined using different parameters such as crossing London zones, ride duration, and so on). Once you’ve reached your daily limit, you won’t be charged for subsequent public transportation trips (until 04:29 a.m. the next day). To take advantage of the “pay as you go” benefits, you must touch in your Oyster Card at the yellow card readers located at the airport’s train stations and touch it out at Liverpool Street. In any case, children aged 11 to 15 travel for free (up to four per paying adult).
• Visitor Oyster Card:
a reloadable card. However, it can only be topped up with money. Visitor Oyster Cards may only be purchased online (at the VisitBritain Shop) and are addressed to the buyer’s home address. A Visit Oyster Card costs 5£/5.80€/6.20$.
• Travelcards: only available online and mailed to the buyer’s home, Travelcards can be used for unlimited trips on London’s public transportation for one, two, or three days. Travelcards for Zones 1-4 or Zones 1-6 are available. You’ll need to purchase a Zones 1-6 Travelcard for your journey from Heathrow to the city center. It costs 15.20£/17.60€/18.80$ for a one-day Travelcard.
• Contactless payment: the quickest and most convenient method to pay for your Heathrow to Liverpool Street journey. To use the “pay as you go” charging scheme, you must touch in and out with the same device (smartwatch, cellphone, bank card, etc.).
Heathrow Express tickets can be purchased online or at the LHR ticket offices and machines. Please keep in mind that Oyster Cards and contactless payments are allowed (albeit the daily cap does not apply to Heathrow Express rides), but Travelcards are not. Nonetheless, children under the age of 15 do not have to pay for their tickets.
To pay for your London Underground tickets, on the other hand, you can use an Oyster Card, a Travelcard for Zones 1-6, contactless payment, or a slightly more expensive paper ticket.
Heathrow to Stansted Car Rental
Heathrow car rentals are the most popular option for those who enjoy self-driving vehicles. With a rental car, you can arrange your travel to Stansted Airport at your leisure. If you have a long layover before your next flight, you’ll be able to explore the regions and attractions on your way from LHR to STN without having to worry about catching the right public transportation route, finding the closest alighting stop, or relying on the rather pricey Heathrow airport taxis. Are you concerned about the cost of London vehicle rentals? There are numerous automobile rental companies at Heathrow. As a result, if you search and compare your selections, you’ll come across great deals and can’t-miss deals. In fact, early bookings nearly always result in lower pricing and more availability of vehicle choices.
Traveling by automobile from Heathrow Airport to Stansted Airport will take 60-80 minutes under normal traffic circumstances and 70-110 minutes when roads are congested. When you arrive at STN Airport, you must either drop off or park your rental car. Stansted Airport has several parking choices. Apart from the short-term and long-term parking options, you may also choose from the Mid-stay Parking Lots, Jetpacks (suited for longer-than-a-week visits), or Valet services. Alternatively, there are other car parks located further away from the airport.
Transfers from LHR to STN at Heathrow Airport
A Heathrow airport transfer is recommended if you wish to improve your travel experience from Heathrow to Stansted Airport. Private airport transports are more opulent and trustworthy than the unquestionably reliable Heathrow airport taxis. Heathrow airport transfers include welcome services at the airport, safe, door-to-door transportation, and a variety of other amenities. Their biggest advantage is that they typically provide completely individualized services. They are, nevertheless, slightly more expensive than airport taxis. Nonetheless, they justify high fares, whereas a rigorous search-and-compare process and early booking frequently result in lower pricing.
FAQs
How long does the flight from Heathrow to STN take?
The duration of your Heathrow to Stansted flight varies based on the form of transportation and the time of day (car journeys and buses are subject to traffic conditions). As a result, a trip via airport cab, Heathrow airport transfer, or rental car will take roughly 80-90 minutes under normal traffic circumstances, but a direct bus ride from LHR to STN will take approximately the same time. If you choose the indirect rail route, however, you may expect a trip time of 88-120 minutes.
Is a shuttle service available between Heathrow and Stansted?
National Express Coaches transport passengers from London Heathrow to Stansted Airport. In reality, they connect the two airports directly and run from 7:40 a.m. until 11:30 p.m. They take 90 minutes to travel from LHR to STN, and their costs start at 18£/21€/22.50$.
How much does a taxi from Heathrow to Stansted cost?
Both black taxis and minicabs in London price almost the same, albeit black cabs are metered and minicabs have set fares. As a result, you should budget £80/92.10€/98.90$ for your cab ride from London Heathrow to Stansted.