Cheap Flights from Stansted

London Stansted Airport (airport code STN) is London's third busiest airport and a popular hub for many of Europe's low cost airlines. This is largely due to the fact that Stansted is approximately 30 miles from London and the lower fees the airport charges airlines. There is only one runway at Stansted and one passenger terminal, so finding your way around the airport should be no trouble at all. Although Stansted lies further from central London than other London airports, it is easily reached via the M11 motorway.

The budget airlines with the busiest schedules at Stansted are Ryanair, Air Berlin, Wizz Air and easyJet. Ryanair has the longest list of cities served from Stansted, followed by easyJet and Air Berlin, but you can see the full list of airlines at the airport - as well as the cities to which they fly - here. Remember that if the fares on some of those low cost airlines might seem too good to be true, they could very well be - if you need to pay for a bus to and from the city both to reach Stansted and then again at your final destination, those charges can add up. The budget airline could still be the cheapest way to go, just be sure you have factored your rail or coach fares in addition to airfare before you make your decision.

You have several transport options for reaching Stansted. The airport has a railway station under the terminal building with service to London and the surrounding area, and the Stansted Express departs from Liverpool Street Station a few times every hour. The journey will take you about 45 minutes. There are coach services which run from several points in London which are cheaper than the train and also slower. If you drive to Stansted, you will need to remember to allot enough time to park your car in the long term car park and get to the terminal on the shuttle. You can learn more about all your transport choices by using the menu on the left of this page.

Stansted might have an abundance of low cost airlines working in its favor, but it has several counts against it as well. Foremost among them, you may find it necessary to sleep in the terminal the night before your flight. Transport to the airport does not begin operations until 5.30, and the airport is far enough from London that early morning flights would be missed were it not for the routine camp-outs. Should you choose to stay the night at the airport, rest assured you will not be alone.