London Southend Airport (SEN)
London Southend Airport (SEN) is a compact regional airport in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, officially recognised as one of London's six designated airports. Located 40 miles east of central London, it handles around 1.5 million passengers per year — a fraction of nearby Stansted, but that smaller scale is precisely the appeal.
The airport has a single, modern terminal building with its own railway station literally steps from the check-in hall. Greater Anglia trains connect directly to London Liverpool Street in 55 minutes, making it genuinely competitive for travellers in east London, the City, or central Essex. Security queues are a fraction of those at Stansted or Luton.
easyJet is the dominant carrier, serving popular leisure destinations including Amsterdam, Faro, Malaga, Alicante, Belfast, Edinburgh, and Ibiza. Ryanair operates seasonal services. The airport is recovering passenger numbers following a difficult post-pandemic period.
Single terminal — compact and fast
⚠️ Always confirm your gate on your boarding pass — easyJet gate assignments are released 30 minutes before departure.
Most popular routes
London Southend Airport FAQs
The railway station is directly adjacent to the terminal building — you can walk from check-in to the platform in under 3 minutes. Greater Anglia trains run to London Liverpool Street in approximately 55 minutes, with a stop at Stratford (50 min) for Jubilee line and DLR connections. Tickets start from around £18. Trains run regularly throughout the day.
Yes — it is officially one of London's six designated airports alongside Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, and City. At 40 miles east of central London it is admittedly a stretch, but the direct 55-minute train to Liverpool Street means door-to-gate times can actually be competitive with Stansted or Luton for travellers in east London or Essex.
easyJet is the main carrier with year-round routes to Amsterdam, Faro, Malaga, Alicante, Belfast, Edinburgh, and Ibiza. Ryanair operates seasonal services. The route network is limited compared to Stansted or Gatwick — if your destination isn't served from Southend, you'll need to use a larger airport.
Southend is far smaller and quieter. Security and check-in are typically quick — 15 to 30 minutes versus the lengthy queues at Stansted. The trade-off is a much smaller selection of routes. If your flight is available from Southend, it can be a genuinely superior experience, especially for passengers in Essex or east London.
Options include Short Stay (closest to terminal, walkable), Long Stay (shuttle bus required), and Drop & Go for quick set-downs. The parking capacity is smaller than major London airports, so pre-booking well in advance — especially for summer — is strongly recommended. Online prices are always lower than turning up unbooked.
Yes, car hire desks are available at the terminal from major suppliers including Enterprise, Hertz, and Avis. The airport's location on the A127 makes it convenient for driving into Essex or towards central London. Pre-booking online saves up to 40% compared to walk-in desk rates.
Southend does not have a traditional pay-in lounge. The airside area has a bar and cafes which are perfectly adequate for a short-haul departure. The airport's main advantage is the relaxed, fast-moving passenger flow rather than lounge facilities.
Arriving 90 minutes before short-haul departure is typically ample, though easyJet's official recommendation is 2 hours. Security queues at Southend are far shorter than at Stansted or Luton. Check-in desks for easyJet close 40 minutes before departure — do not cut it fine.
Transport to London Southend Airport
| Train (Greater Anglia) | ~55 min to London Liverpool Street · from £18 · station adjacent to terminal |
| Train (via Stratford) | ~50 min · connections to Jubilee Line, DLR and Central Line at Stratford |
| Taxi to Southend town | ~5 min · approx £5–8 |
| Taxi to central London | ~60–90 min · approx £70–90 depending on traffic |
| Drive (A127 / A13) | 40 miles east of central London · free parking available on-site |
Compare parking options
Parking capacity is limited at Southend — pre-book well in advance for summer travel.
Who flies from SEN?
| easyJet | Amsterdam, Faro, Malaga, Alicante, Belfast (BHD), Edinburgh, Ibiza — year-round and summer seasonal |
| Ryanair | Seasonal European leisure routes — check current schedule |
London Southend Airport FAQs
The railway station is directly adjacent to the terminal building. Greater Anglia trains run to London Liverpool Street in approximately 55 minutes, with a stop at Stratford for Jubilee line and DLR connections. Tickets from around £18. Trains run regularly throughout the day.
Officially yes — it is one of London's six CAA-designated airports. The 55-minute direct train to Liverpool Street means journey times are genuinely competitive for those in east London or Essex.
easyJet operates year-round and seasonal routes to Amsterdam, Faro, Malaga, Alicante, Belfast, Edinburgh, and Ibiza. Ryanair runs seasonal services. The route network is small — check the airport website for the current schedule.
If your route is available from Southend, choose it for the far easier experience — quick security, less stress, and a direct train to the City. Stansted has 200+ routes and is the budget flight hub for London. Luton suits those in north or west London.
Short Stay (walkable to terminal), Long Stay (shuttle bus), and Drop & Go. Pre-book online for the best rates — capacity is limited and fills up quickly in summer.
Yes, major providers including Enterprise, Hertz, and Avis operate at the terminal. Pre-book online to save up to 40% compared to desk rates on the day.
There is no dedicated pay-in lounge. The airside area has a bar and cafes. The airport's main advantage is its fast, low-stress passenger flow — you won't need a lounge if security takes 15 minutes.
Arriving 90 minutes before departure is usually sufficient at Southend, though easyJet recommends 2 hours. Check-in desks close 40 minutes before departure. Security queues are far shorter than at Stansted or Luton.