Taxi to Stansted Airport

Stansted is in Uttlesford, north Essex, close to Bishop’s Stortford. It has one terminal building, which makes it one of the easier London airports to navigate, but it is a fair way out: about 37 miles from central London by road.

A lot of Stansted flights are short-haul to Europe, and a big share leave between 6am and 8am. That means a lot of our Stansted bookings are very early starts. Getting there by train at that hour is not always possible, which is where a pre-booked car earns its keep.

Taxi to Stansted Airport from London

Almost every Stansted journey uses the M11, leaving at junction 8. From the City or east London you pick it up near the A406 North Circular. From west London you will often go round the M25 to join it at junction 27.

Starting from	Typical drive to Stansted
City of London	55–80 min
Westminster / West End	65–95 min
Stratford	45–65 min
Chelmsford	35–50 min
Cambridge	35–50 min
Harlow	20–30 min
Hertford	30–45 min

Taxi from Stansted Airport to London

Arrivals is at the front of the single terminal. After baggage reclaim and customs, come through into the arrivals hall and look for your driver with a name board. The meeting point is the same whichever airline you fly with.

Stansted security and passport control can be busy when several flights land together, especially on summer weekends. We start your free waiting time from the actual landing time, so a slow queue is not something you need to worry about.

Dropping off

Stansted has a forecourt drop-off zone in front of the terminal. The charge is currently £7 per visit and it is included in your fare. From the drop-off it is a short walk to check-in.

Which car do you need?

Short-haul travellers tend to pack lighter, so a saloon often covers a couple or a small family. If you have hold luggage for four people, go for an estate or MPV. For groups, our minibus seats eight with room for bags.

Stansted Express or a car?

The Stansted Express runs to Liverpool Street in around 50 minutes and is the obvious choice if you are staying in the City and travelling light. The catch is that you still have to get to Liverpool Street, and the first trains of the day may not suit a 6am departure.

Coach services run around the clock but stop several times and take longer. A car costs more for a solo traveller, but for two or more people with hold luggage, or anyone outside central London, it is usually the simpler option.

Train or taxi to Stansted: which costs less?

Your trip	Usually better value
One person, cabin bag, staying near Liverpool Street	Train
Two people with hold luggage	Close; the taxi wins once you add the trip to the station
Family of four	Taxi, door to door
Flight before 7am	Taxi, as early trains may not suit
Starting outside London (Cambridge, Essex, Herts)	Taxi, to avoid changing trains

Popular Stansted routes

North and east London, including Stratford, Walthamstow, Enfield and Ilford; the City and Canary Wharf; Cambridge and Cambridgeshire villages; Essex towns such as Chelmsford, Harlow, Braintree and Colchester; and Hertfordshire, including Bishop’s Stortford, Hertford and Ware. We also drive to Heathrow and Gatwick for onward flights.

Taxi to Stansted from Cambridge, Norwich, Braintree and beyond

We drive a taxi to Stansted from right across the east of England, not just London. Typical journey times:

Taxi to Stansted from	Approx. distance	Typical drive
Bishop’s Stortford	5 miles	10–15 min
Braintree	15 miles	20–30 min
Cambridge	30 miles	35–50 min
St Albans	35 miles	45–60 min
Colchester	40 miles	45–60 min
Luton Airport	45 miles	55–70 min
Ipswich	55 miles	60–75 min
Reading	75 miles	90–110 min
Gatwick Airport	75 miles	90–120 min
Norwich	80 miles	90–110 min

Stansted airport taxi prices and fares

How much is a taxi to Stansted Airport? The taxi to Stansted Airport price depends on your pickup, the vehicle and any extra stops. Every Stansted taxi quote is fixed and includes the £7 drop-off charge, so the Stansted taxi fare does not change with traffic or flight delays.

We run 24/7 taxis to and from Stansted, which matters when the first and last trains do not line up with your flight.

Stansted Airport at a glance

	Detail
Terminals	One main terminal
Road access	M11, junction 8
Drop-off charge	£7, included in our fares
Rail link	Stansted Express to Liverpool Street, around 50 minutes
From central London	About 37 miles; 65–95 minutes by taxi
Suggested arrival	Two hours before European flights, more on summer Saturdays

Who we drive to Stansted

Weekend-break travellers from north and east London, students and families from Cambridge and Essex, and plenty of early-morning business flights. A good share of our Stansted passengers are going to or from Hertfordshire and Suffolk, where the train is not an easy option.

Taxi from Stansted to London: typical drop-off times

Once you land, the M11 does most of the work. The last few miles into London decide how long the trip takes, which is why east London is usually quicker than the West End.

Stansted Airport to	Typical drive
Stratford	45–65 min
Liverpool Street	55–80 min
Canary Wharf	55–80 min
King’s Cross / St Pancras	60–85 min
Westminster	70–95 min
Heathrow Airport	75–105 min

Coming home late is where a pre-booked taxi from Stansted Airport really helps. Plenty of flights land after the train service has thinned out, and a fixed fare means you are not negotiating at the taxi rank at midnight.

Stansted for business travellers

Stansted has plenty of early European business flights, and a 5am start from London is a lot easier when the car is booked and the driver is outside on time. Companies can book for staff and visitors, with the confirmation going to the traveller and the invoice to the office. For client pickups, ask for an executive car and tell us what the name board should say.

Group trips to Stansted

Stag and hen weekends, sports teams and family holidays all fly from Stansted. One 8-seater minibus is usually simpler and cheaper than two cars, and it means the whole group arrives together. Give us every pickup address if you are collecting from more than one place, and mention bulky items such as golf bags or sports kit so we can plan the space.

Booking a taxi to Stansted Airport

Send us your pickup address, flight time, number of passengers and cases. We reply with a fixed price that includes the drop-off charge and suggest a pickup time that leaves room for the M11 and the security queues.

Returning to Stansted after your trip? Add the return flight to the same booking and your driver will be waiting in arrivals when you land.

Stansted taxi FAQs

Do you run 24/7 taxis from Stansted Airport?

Yes. We cover late arrivals and early departures every day of the week.

Do you go from Stansted to Cambridge?

Yes, along with Chelmsford, Colchester, Harlow and the rest of Essex and Hertfordshire.

How much is a taxi to Stansted Airport?

It depends on your exact pickup or drop-off address and the vehicle. Request a quote and you will get one fixed price.

Is there an extra charge for waiting?

Free waiting starts when your flight lands. If you are held up beyond that for reasons outside your flight, let us know and we will tell you before any extra charge applies.