London Stansted Airport (STN)
London Stansted Airport (STN) is London's third busiest airport and the UK's most important hub for low-cost short-haul flying. Located in Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex, 34 miles northeast of central London, it handles 28 million passengers a year through a single, architecturally significant terminal building.
London has six airports with scheduled flights. Compare the London airports on distance to the centre, destinations, airlines and the lowest fares seen.
Ryanair operates its single largest UK hub from Stansted, with more than 200 routes across Europe and beyond. easyJet, Jet2, Wizz Air, Blue Air, and numerous Eastern European carriers also fly from STN. The airport is the gateway for vast swathes of budget travel from London.
The terminal was designed by Sir Norman Foster and opened in 1991. Its distinctive roof of 121 modular domes supported on service towers — with all baggage and services pushed underground — was a landmark in airport architecture and remains visually distinctive today. The Stansted Express connects the airport to London Liverpool Street in 45 minutes.
One terminal — all departures and arrivals
⚠️ Security queues at Stansted can be lengthy during peak morning periods — allow at least 2 hours before departure and 2.5–3 hours during summer.
Most popular routes
London Stansted Airport FAQs
In the week to 6 Nov we saw non-stop fares from London Stansted to 194 destinations. The cheapest one-way fares seen were Bergamo £12, Gothenburg £12, Marseille £13, Cork £13 and Oslo £13.
The lowest one-way fare we saw this week was £12 to Bergamo with Ryanair, for travel on 23 Jan 2027 (seen on 4 Nov). It is a fare seen on that date, not a live price.
Airlines seen selling non-stop flights from London Stansted this week: Ryanair (154 destinations), Jet2 (57 destinations), TUI Airways (12 destinations), easyJet (7 destinations), SunExpress (5 destinations), Pegasus Airlines (4 destinations) and 2 more.
Standard Stansted Express singles cost £25–35, but booking online in advance can reduce this to around £10–17. The train runs non-stop to Liverpool Street in 45 minutes, with a stop at Tottenham Hale (33 min) for the Victoria line. Trains depart every 15–30 minutes throughout the day.
Ryanair chose Stansted as its primary UK base in the 1990s due to lower landing fees and room to expand. The relationship between the airport and the airline became mutually reinforcing — more Ryanair passengers attracted more retail, which lowered costs further. Today Ryanair operates over 200 routes from STN, making it far and away the largest carrier.
Choose Stansted for Ryanair and budget Eastern European routes. Gatwick is better for easyJet, British Airways, and a wider range of long-haul options. Luton is closer to north London and suits Wizz Air. All three are around 30–35 miles from central London, so travel time is roughly comparable — choose based on your airline and destination.
The terminal was designed by Sir Norman Foster (Foster + Partners), opening in 1991. The design placed all luggage handling and services underground, leaving the terminal floor clear beneath a grid of 121 modular roof domes on service towers. It won the Stirling Prize and is widely regarded as one of the most innovative airport terminal designs of the 20th century.
Yes — the Escape Lounge and No.1 Lounge are both airside at Stansted and are open to any passenger for a fee. Pre-booking online is around £25–35 and is considerably cheaper than the walk-in price. Given Stansted's busy terminal, a lounge is a worthwhile upgrade during peak periods.
The Stansted Express is fastest — 45 min to Liverpool Street, from £10–35 depending on when you book. National Express coaches serve Victoria and other London stops from around £6–12 but take longer. Taxis run approximately £80–100 to central London. The Tottenham Hale stop (33 min) gives quick access to the Victoria line for south and west London.
Yes — all major car hire companies including Hertz, Avis, Enterprise, Budget, and Europcar operate from Stansted's terminal complex. Pre-booking online is strongly recommended. Walk-in rates are significantly higher and availability can be tight during summer peak weeks.
Stansted operates under night flight restrictions but permits early departures from around 04:30 and late arrivals. Ryanair in particular schedules many flights at the early morning window to maximise aircraft utilisation. The Stansted Express runs until late evening — check timetables for your specific travel time, and consider accommodation near the airport if you have a very early departure.
Transport to London Stansted Airport
| Stansted Express (Greater Anglia) | ~45 min to London Liverpool Street · from £10 advance · every 15–30 min |
| Stansted Express (Tottenham Hale) | ~33 min · Victoria line connections · fastest route to south/west London |
| National Express | Victoria Coach Station · Stratford · Luton Airport and more · from £6 |
| Taxi to central London | ~45–75 min · approx £80–100 depending on traffic |
| Rideshare (Uber/Bolt) | ~45–75 min · approx £60–90 |
| Drive (M11/M25) | 34 miles northeast of central London · J8 M11 |
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Pre-booking online can save up to 60% compared to turning up without a reservation.
Who flies from STN?
| Ryanair | 200+ routes — largest UK hub · Spain, Italy, Poland, Romania, Ireland, Portugal, and more |
| easyJet | European leisure and city breaks |
| Jet2 | Holiday charters to Mediterranean, Canaries |
| Wizz Air | Central and Eastern European routes |
| Blue Air | Romanian routes |
| Various carriers | Eastern European, Baltic, and seasonal charter services |
London Stansted Airport jobs
The latest 10 vacancies at London Stansted Airport (STN) naming the airport — airport, airline, handling, engineering, cargo, retail and site roles — checked 6 Nov.
| Job | Where | Pay | Posted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrician1st Step | Stansted Mountfitchet | – | 6 days ago |
| Recruitment Administrator & Overseas CoordinatorAeropeople Limited | Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex | £28,000 – £30,000 a year | 28 Oct |
| Cscs LabourerDT Source Limited | Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex | £14.80 – £18 an hour | 26 Oct |
| Warehouse Cargo OperativeCSS | Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex | £12.71 – £15.37 an hour | 26 Oct |
| Management AccountantAEM Limited | Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex | – | 21 Oct |
| Ground Support Engineer / Automotive TechnicianRobertson Stewart Ltd | CM24, Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex | £46,000 – £46,500 a year | 15 Oct |
| Site EngineerBlue Inn Recruitment | Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex | – | 1 days ago |
| HGV TechnicianVGC | Stansted, Kent | £50,000 – £50,500 a year | 6 days ago |
| HGV Technician (Training / Progression)Ernest Gordon Recruitment Limited | Stansted, Essex | £40,000 – £48,000 a year | 29 Oct |
| Logistics Assistant - Excellent Benefits!Office Angels | Stansted, Essex | £35,000 – £38,000 a year | 29 Oct |
Each listing opens its application page; register once, then apply with your CV. All vacancies near London Stansted · Where the airlines recruit cabin crew and pilots.
Things to do near London Stansted Airport
The most-booked tours and tickets in London with a rating of 4.3 or better from at least 100 reviews. Prices are per person, as seen on 6 Nov.
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London Stansted Airport FAQs
Ryanair established Stansted as its primary UK base in the 1990s due to lower landing fees and space to grow. Today it operates over 200 routes from STN — making Stansted the natural choice for budget European travel from London.
Use Stansted for Ryanair and Eastern European routes. Gatwick for British Airways, easyJet, and a wider long-haul range. Luton for Wizz Air and if you're in north London. Travel times to central London are similar from all three — 30–50 min by train.
Sir Norman Foster (Foster + Partners), opening in 1991. The design is notable for hiding all baggage and utility services underground, leaving the terminal floor clear beneath 121 modular roof domes. It won the Stirling Prize and remains one of the most celebrated airport terminal designs in Britain.
Yes — the Escape Lounge and No.1 Lounge are both airside and open to any passenger. Pre-book online for around £25–35 — significantly cheaper than the walk-in rate of £45+.
Yes — Hertz, Avis, Enterprise, Budget, and Europcar all operate from the terminal. Pre-book online to save up to 40% and guarantee availability, especially in summer.
Stansted is subject to night flight restrictions but permits early departures from around 04:30 and late arrivals. Ryanair frequently uses early morning slots. Check train times carefully for very early departures — the Stansted Express starts later than some Ryanair departures, so consider an airport hotel for pre-dawn flights.
Allow at least 2 hours for short-haul, and 2.5–3 hours during summer peak. Security queues can be long. Ryanair's check-in desk closes 40 minutes before departure with no exceptions — being late means losing your flight and your fare.