The Stansted Express is your ticket to cheap trains from London Stansted Airport to London Liverpool Street station. 

Getting from Stansted Airport to Central London is a bit longer of a haul, especially if you’re used to flying in and out of Heathrow Airport. The good news is that there are cheap trains from Stansted Airport to London Liverpool Street station running 87 times a day. 

The better news is that London Liverpool Street station connects to the Circle, Central, Metropolitan, Hammersmith & City, and Elizabeth lines so you can easily get to your destination in London’s city center. 

The best news? We’ve gathered all you need to know about the Stansted Express so all you need to do is sit back and enjoy the ride.

Image Credit: Getty Images, narvikk. Image Location: London Stansted Airport

Stansted Express: need to know 

  • Download the Trainline app, enter Stansted Airport to London Liverpool Street, choose the date and time, and get etickets with a barcode on your phone in minutes 
  • Service from Stansted Airport to London Liverpool Street in 50 min 
  • Connections to the Circle, Central, Metropolitan, Hammersmith & City, and Elizabeth lines at London Liverpool Street station 
  • Connections to the Victoria line at Tottenham Hale station, which is only 37 min from Stansted Airport 
  • Connection to Stratford (London) station via Tottenham Hale in 14 min, with further connections at Stratford to the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) for Canary Wharf and the Central and Jubilee lines
  • All passengers receive complimentary Wi-Fi, unlimited luggage, and access to electrical/USB sockets 

Image Credit: Getty Images, Julian Elliott Photography. Image Location: Liverpool Street Station, London

How to get from Stansted to London: a first-timer’s guide 

If you’re arriving at Stansted Airport, the best way to get to the center of London is the Stansted Express. This train goes directly from the airport terminal and allows you to bring unlimited luggage aboard.

What’s the cheapest way to get from Stansted Airport to London? 

The cheapest way to get from Stansted Airport to London is via the Stansted Express. You can grab tickets for $15 when you book a Standard Class ticket in advance, which is much cheaper than trying to hail a taxi. 

Can you get a train straight to Stansted Airport? 

Yes, you can take a single train from London Liverpool Street station to Stansted Airport without any other connections. 

How long is the Stansted Express to London? 

The Stansted Express gets you from Stansted Airport to London Liverpool Street in 50 min.

Image Credit: Getty Images, Imgorthand. Image Location: Liverpool Street Station, London

From the Stansted Express to your London destination 

How to get from Stansted to Victoria station 

You can take the Stansted Express and get off at Tottenham Hale, then take the Victoria line directly to Victoria station. But if you're loaded down with suitcases and it's rush hour, you might want to ride the Stansted Express all the way to London Liverpool Street station and then take the more spacious Circle line trains to Victoria, a station connecting you around southern England.

How to get from Stansted to London St Pancras International 

Rinse and repeat: getting from Stansted to St Pancras station offers the same options as getting from Stansted to Victoria station. You can get off at Tottenham Hale, then take the Victoria line to St Pancras. Or, if you've got a lot of bags, ride the Stansted Express through to Liverpool Street and take the tube (Metropolitan, Circle or Hammersmith & City lines) to the train station connecting London and Paris.

How to get from Stansted to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium 

Tottenham Hale station is just over 1mi south of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Hoof it up High Road, call a taxi, or walk to Bruce Grove and take the Overground train up to White Hart Lane station then waltz over to Park Lane to the stadium.

How to get to Stansted from other London airports 

We see you, you savvy travel hackers. Flying into one London airport from the US to snag a cheaper connecting flight from another London airport? We’ll help you hammer out the logistics: 

Between Heathrow and Stansted 

The Heathrow Express runs between London Heathrow Airport and Paddington station, non-stop, in as quickly as 15 min. Then take the Elizabeth line from Paddington to Liverpool Street. From there you can take the Stansted Express to Stansted Airport.

Between Gatwick and Stansted 

The Gatwick Express runs between London Gatwick Airport and Victoria station, non-stop, from 29 min. The Circle line goes from Victoria to Liverpool Street, where you can catch the Stansted Express to Stansted Airport. 

Between Luton and Stansted 

Take the Luton DART line from London Luton Airport to Luton Airport Parkway station. Hop on a Thameslink train and get off at Farringdon station. Take the Elizabeth line to Liverpool Street where you can catch the Stansted Express.

Header Image Credit: Getty Images, Doug Armand. Image Location: Liverpool Street Station, London