Best way to get to Stansted from London

[Worktoplay]

After our crossing into Southampton we plan to spend a couple days in London. I heard about this new airline Maxjet that flys into JFK and booked them to get us back to the states. I'm afraid the cost of a cab might be crazy since this airport seems to be farther out. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

 

Marie

[Morgans]

There is a very frequent train service from Liverpool Street Station in London. The train will take you straight into the airport which is then accessed easily.

 

Marge M

[guernseyguy]

And if you are nearer Victoria than Liverpool Street there is a coach service:

 

http://www.nationalexpress.com/destinations/airports.cfm?t=air

 

Peter

[guernseyguy]

cotdp

[transat_jon]

Stansted is quite far out, as you realise. The cost of a cab would be mad; you may end up paying for the return trip too. There are car services but I would suggest the train for this one http://www.stanstedexpress.com/. It is cheaper and quicker.

 

 

I also choose the train over the coach on this route as it is a lot quicker. From memory train is about 45 minutes. The coach can take closer to two hours if the traffic in the city is snarled up, any car or cab will get fairly caught up in this too. I have made this mistake....once.

 

Alternatively you could take the tube to the edge of the system and then a cab from there; no, not a good option.

 

 

 

See http://www.airwise.com/airports/europe/STN/STNtran1.html or http://www.stanstedairport.com/ for Stansted info.

For more rail schedules see http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

[guernseyguy]

I also choose the train over the coach on this route as it is a lot quicker. From memory train is about 45 minutes. The coach can take closer to two hours if the traffic in the city is snarled up

 

I think it depends on where you start - if you are in Victoria, with luggage the Peak time 1 hr 30min of the coach (1.15 off-peak) is pretty close to the 25 - 30 minute tube ride to Liverpool Street plus 45 minute train ride. If you are near Oxford St/Marble arch you can knock 15 minutes off the coach time. Unlike the coach of course, the trains are never delayed!;)

 

Peter

[guernseyguy]

I also choose the train over the coach on this route as it is a lot quicker. From memory train is about 45 minutes. The coach can take closer to two hours if the traffic in the city is snarled up

 

I think it depends on where you start - if you are in Victoria, with luggage the Peak time 1 hr 30min of the coach (1.15 off-peak) is pretty close to the 25 - 30 minute tube ride to Liverpool Street plus 45 minute train ride. If you are near Oxford St/Marble arch you can knock 15 minutes off the coach time. Unlike the coach of course, the trains are never delayed!;)

 

Peter

[Worktoplay]

Thank you for your responses. We'll be staying at the Millennium Hotel London Mayfair. Would you take a cab or tube to Liverpool Station or would it make more sense to go to Victoria?

[guernseyguy]

You are 4.4 miles from Liverpool Street Station, 1.8 miles from Victoria Coach station and a couple of hundred yards from Oxford street where I think the Stansted coach picks up. Depending on the amount of luggage you have you could walk 10-15 minutes to Bond Street tube station and take the Central line to Liverpool Street - about a 12 minute journey, or you could walk about 10 minutes to the Dorchester and take one of many buses going to Victoria. You can use this site to plan your travel round London:

 

http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk/user/XSLT_TRIP_REQUEST2?language=en

 

Peter

[clydecruiser]

A point to note is that if you try to get on the coach at Oxford Street it may be full and you won't get on. If you want the coach go to Victoria and ensure you have booked the ticket.

 

Also check the http://www.stanstedexpress.com/ website if going by train as they are forever having engineering works on that line.

[Worktoplay]

Thanks for all the great advice. I'll research the links you provided and decide from there. I was thinking of having Cunard take the bulk of our luggage and ship it back with their white gove service I read about. This way I can have a minimal amount of luggage to carry.

Thanks again for the advice.