United Kingdom
London Stansted, Luton and City airports: visitor guide
Pick by route, not by airport: Stansted and Luton are low-cost bases 50–60 km (31–37 mi) out and need a train or coach (35–60 min, roughly £10–25), while London City sits 10 km (6.2 mi) east and puts you on the DLR in about 25 minutes. Land after midnight at Stansted or Luton and you are on a coach or taxi, so book the transfer before you fly.Pick by route, not by airport: Stansted and Luton are low-cost bases 31–37 mi (50–60 km) out and need a train or coach (35–60 min, roughly £10–25), while London City sits 6.2 mi (10 km) east and puts you on the DLR in about 25 minutes. Land after midnight at Stansted or Luton and you are on a coach or taxi, so book the transfer before you fly.
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GuideUnited Kingdom
Key facts
- Stansted to Londoncheck
- Stansted Express to Liverpool Street, about 47 min, roughly £20–25 one way in 2026
- Luton to Londoncheck
- Shuttle bus to Luton Airport Parkway, then train to St Pancras, about 40–50 min total
- London City to Londoncheck
- DLR to Bank, about 25 min; no dedicated express train
- Cheapest optioncheck
- Advance coach (National Express, Megabus) from Stansted or Luton, from about £5–15
- Late-night arrivalcheck
- Coaches run through the night from Stansted and Luton; London City has no night flights
- Currency
- Pound sterling (£); cards and contactless accepted almost everywhere
- Airport taxischeck
- Stansted or Luton to central London roughly £90–150; London City roughly £40–60
Airport map
Three airports, three different jobs. Stansted (STN) is 56 km northeast of central London in Essex and handles most low-cost European traffic. Luton (LTN) is 51 km north in Bedfordshire, the base for many package and short-haul carriers. London City (LCY) is 10 km east in the Docklands, small, fast to clear and used for business routes and some European city hops.
All three are outside the London zone system for fares, so a contactless tap alone will not always cover the full trip. Buy a paper or e-ticket for the airport leg, or use a through ticket that includes the Tube.
| Airport | Code | Distance to central London | Main carriers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stansted | STN | 56 km northeast | Low-cost European and domestic |
| Luton | LTN | 51 km north | Low-cost and charter |
| London City | LCY | 10 km east | Business and short-haul European |
Into the city
From Stansted, the Stansted Express runs to Liverpool Street in about 47 minutes, roughly every 15 minutes, with one-way fares around £20–25 in 2026 and cheaper returns booked online. Coaches to Stratford, Victoria and Liverpool Street take 50–90 minutes and cost from about £5–15 depending on how far ahead you book. A taxi is roughly £90–150.
From Luton, a shuttle bus links the terminal to Luton Airport Parkway in about 10 minutes, then trains to St Pancras take 25–40 minutes; total door-to-door is about 40–50 minutes. Through tickets cover both legs. Coaches to Victoria and Baker Street take 60–90 minutes and cost from about £5–15. Taxis run roughly £90–150.
From London City, the DLR reaches Bank in about 25 minutes and Canning Town in about 15, changing there for the Jubilee line. Fares sit in the normal London zone range, about £3–5 with contactless. Taxis to the West End are roughly £40–60 and can be slower than the DLR at peak times.
| Airport | Mode | Time to central London | Cost (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stansted | Stansted Express train | about 47 min to Liverpool Street | £20–25 one way |
| Stansted | Coach | 50–90 min | from £5–15 |
| Stansted | Taxi | 60–90 min | £90–150 |
| Luton | Shuttle + train | 40–50 min to St Pancras | £15–25 total |
| Luton | Coach | 60–90 min | from £5–15 |
| Luton | Taxi | 60–90 min | £90–150 |
| London City | DLR | about 25 min to Bank | £3–5 contactless |
| London City | Taxi | 30–50 min | £40–60 |
Late night
Stansted and Luton both keep coaches moving overnight, so a 01:00 landing is workable if you have booked a seat. Trains stop earlier: the Stansted Express and the Luton shuttle-and-train combination do not run all night, so check the last departure for your date before you rely on rail.
London City has no night flights and the DLR stops overnight, so an evening arrival there is the easy case and a very late one is not. If your flight lands after roughly 23:30 at any of the three, plan on a coach or a pre-booked taxi rather than turning up and hoping.
- Book the coach seat before you fly; late services fill up.
- Pre-book a taxi if you land after the last train.
- Allow 45–60 minutes to clear passport control and baggage on a late arrival.
Lounges
All three airports have pay-per-use lounges in the departure areas, typically £25–40 per adult for a few hours, with food, drinks and Wi-Fi. Access is also included with some priority passes and certain credit cards. Opening hours vary by terminal and season, so check the airport website for the day you fly.
London City is small enough that a lounge matters less; the whole terminal is a short walk. At Stansted and Luton, the walk to the gate can take 10–15 minutes, so leave the lounge with time to spare.
Car hire
All three airports have rental desks, usually in or beside the terminal with a shuttle at Luton. Rates start around £40–90 per day in 2026, plus fuel at roughly £1.40–1.50 a litre. Manual gearboxes are standard; automatics cost more and should be booked ahead.
Do not plan to drive into central London: the congestion charge is £18 a day and the ULEZ applies to older vehicles. A car makes sense only if you are heading straight out to Essex, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire or the wider countryside. One-way rentals between airports are possible but carry a drop-off fee.
- Book an automatic early if you need one.
- Check the ULEZ and congestion charge rules before driving into London.
- Compare pickup at the airport with a city pickup; city desks are often cheaper.
When to go
There is no good season for an airport, only quieter hours. Early-morning departures before 07:00 and late-evening arrivals after 21:00 are the calmest at Stansted and Luton; mid-morning and Friday afternoons are the busiest. London City peaks on weekday mornings and evenings with business traffic and is quiet at weekends.
Allow two hours at Stansted and Luton for a short-haul flight with bags, and 90 minutes at London City. In December, around school holidays and on bank holiday weekends, add 30–45 minutes for security queues.
Where to stay
If you have an early flight, staying at the airport removes the risk: all three have on-site or walking-distance hotels, and Stansted and Luton also have cheaper options a shuttle ride away. Prices run roughly £60–150 a night depending on date and how close you are to the terminal.
Otherwise stay in London and travel out on the day. Base near Liverpool Street for Stansted, near St Pancras or King's Cross for Luton, and near Bank, Canary Wharf or London Bridge for London City. See the London guide for neighbourhoods.
Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit London Stansted, Luton and City airports?
For the calmest experience, fly before 07:00 or after 21:00 at Stansted and Luton, and avoid Friday afternoons. London City is busiest on weekday mornings and evenings and quiet at weekends. Add 30–45 minutes in December and on bank holiday weekends.
How do I get to London Stansted, Luton and City airports?
Stansted: Stansted Express train to Liverpool Street, about 47 minutes, or a coach. Luton: shuttle bus to Luton Airport Parkway then train to St Pancras, about 40–50 minutes total. London City: DLR to Bank, about 25 minutes. Trains, coaches and taxis all serve the three.
How much does it cost to visit London Stansted, Luton and City airports?
2026 estimates: Stansted Express £20–25 one way; Luton shuttle plus train £15–25; London City DLR £3–5 with contactless. Coaches from Stansted or Luton start around £5–15. Taxis to central London run roughly £90–150 from Stansted or Luton and £40–60 from London City.
Which London airport is closest to the city centre?
London City, about 10 km east of central London, with the DLR reaching Bank in roughly 25 minutes. Stansted is about 56 km northeast and Luton about 51 km north, so both need a train or coach of 40–90 minutes.
Can I get into London after midnight from Stansted or Luton?
Yes, coaches run overnight from both, but seats should be booked in advance. Trains stop earlier in the night. London City has no night flights and the DLR closes overnight, so a very late arrival there needs a taxi.
Do I need cash at these airports?
No. Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere, including the Stansted Express, the Luton shuttle and the DLR. Keep a small amount of sterling for the rare cash-only kiosk, but most travellers never need it.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialStansted Airport
- officialLondon Luton Airport
- officialLondon City Airport
- officialStansted Express
- officialNational Rail
- officialTransport for London
- officialNational Express
- secondaryWikivoyage – London Stansted Airport