Airport Bus Express - Stansted airport bus service to London Liverpool Street

With just one stop at Stratford International for London Underground

Airport Bus Express operate airport bus services between Stansted Airport and London in direct competition with National Express.

 

Airport Express operate two Stansted Airport Bus services, one terminating at Victoria, the other at Liverpool Street in central London.

National Express run 4 services to London from Stansted and are a much larger multi-national operator operating scheduled coach services nationally including all of London's main airports.

Airport Bus Express - Liverpool Street Service via Stratford

The Airport Bus Express Stansted to Liverpool Street service offers the shortest and cheapest Stansted airport transfer.

 

Stratford is near the end of the motorway from Stansted Airport and interchanges with the London Underground and DLR light railway networks.

By leaving the service at Stratford and using the London Underground into central London you can avoid the prospect of road congestion delays further into the centre of London.

Airport Bus Express or National Express for your Stansted - London transfer?

Although superficially both National Express and Airport Bus Express offer very similar services, there are real differences when you look closer:

Fares

Airport Express offer a simple flat fee ticket price with a small discount for round trip journeys.

National Express have dynamic pricing, basically the further in advance you book tickets the cheaper the fare.

In broad summary, if you can book your tickets well in advance National Express will probably be cheaper, buy at short notice and Airport Express may have the edge on price.

Ticket Flexibility - What if your flight is late?

With National Express you have to select an individual schedule. However, for Stansted they offer flexible travel now, so you can get a coach up to 3-hrs earlier or up to 3-hrs later than the time indicated on your ticket for no additional charge. You can buy more expensive flexible tickets or pay a supplement on reservation allowing you 12 hours flexibility either side of your chosen schedule if you prefer.

With Airport Express the ticket is flexible and can be used any time, any date and any direction.

Frequencies

National Express have the definite edge here, offering better frequencies and 4 services with additional choiice as a result of your chosen bus stop in London.

Child Fare Concession Age Band

National Express childrens fare age band is 3-15 year old, Airport Express is 4-12 years old.

Luggage Allowance

Very similar for both operators, 2 cases plus an item of hand luggage per person.

National Express Stansted Airport Services to/from central London

A7 Stansted - London Victoria
via Bow Church, Mile End, Whitechapel, Southwark and Waterloo.

 

A6 Stansted - Portman Square
via Golders Green, Finchely Rd, St John's Wood, Baker Street, Paddington & Marble Arch

 

A8 Stansted - London Kings Cross
Bethnal Green, Shoreditch, Liverpool Street & Farringdon

 

A9 Stansted - Stratford
- direct non-stop

National Express Stansted luggage allowance

You can carry two medium-sized suitcases - weighing up to 20kg (44lb) each - plus one small piece of hand luggage per person. Drivers loading the baggage do not weigh bags.

Customers will be permitted to pool their individual allowances if they are travelling in a group or as a family, but they must be travelling on the same ticket.

Over this allowance and steep excess luggage charges kick in.

 

If you need to take extra luggage on your journey, this can be arranged either in advance or on your day of travel when you arrive at the coach station. However buying your extra luggage on-line in advance is much cheaper.

London - Stansted Airport Comparison of Fares 2024
Service	Standard Adult Fare
	One-Way	Return
Stansted Express - Liverpool Street	£21.90	£34.60
Stansted Express Advance booking	£16.50	£30
National Express - Stratford	£10-£17 †	£17-£32 †
National Express - Kings Cross via Liverpool Street	£10-£17 †	£17-£23 †
National Express - Victoria via Waterloo	£11-£17†	£23 †
Airport Bus / Terravision - Stratford /Liverpool Street	£14	£20
Airport Bus / Terravision - Baker Street/Victoria	£14	£20
# Fare only available at Stansted Express website, non refundable or exchangeable † Lowest fare online only advance purchase Funfare tickets - limited number of tickets, the earlier you book the better the availability. Higher fare is for payment on the day or at short notice online.

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