London Stansted Airport lies 68 km north-east of central London and is a major hub for low-cost carriers, the biggest of these being Ryanair. It's a pleasant enough airport to transit through, with one, big, spacious terminal and plenty of shopping and dining facilities - though, due to increasing low-cost traffic, it can be overcrowded at times.
One level
All facilities areas are on one floor, with the check-in area and main concourse along the front, the departures hall towards the back left and the arrivals hall towards the back right. You'll find a wider range of facilities after security, so it may be worth going through security before shopping and eating.
Three satellites
There are three satellite buildings containing all the boarding gates: Satellite One, Two and Three (used exclusively by Ryanair).
Getting around more quickly
The Stansted Airport Track Transit System (TTS) takes you from the main terminal building to Satellites One and Two. Satellites Two and Three are connected via walkways.
The Stansted Express is the fastest way into central London. The train travels non-stop from Stansted Airport to Liverpool Station in 47 minutes. From there, you can plug straight into the Tube, jump in a taxi or take a bus. You’ll be anywhere in the city centre within minutes. Trains depart every 15 minutes and run from the early morning until 23:25.
Buying tickets: Online with one click through FLIO, at the station or in the terminal Location: Stansted Airport railway station, below the terminal building Tip: It can be quicker to get off at Tottenham Hale for the Victoria Line Tube to get to your destination.
Bus
The bus is cheaper, and yet still pretty convenient. The Airport Bus Express bus takes you to Stratford in 50 minutes, Liverpool Street in 1 hour and 15 minutes and Victoria Station in 2 hours. Coaches leave every 10-15 minutes, around the clock. Note that it may be a quicker journey to your destination if you get off at Stratford and connect with the London Underground's central line.
Cost: starting from GBP 6.90 to Victoria, GBP 5.90 to Liverpool Street, GBP 5.90 to Stratford Location: Coach station opposite the main terminal entrance Tip: Instead of going to to the ticket desk in Arrivals, buy your ticket at the coach stand. You’ll be able to choose from several companies travelling to the same destinations, the tickets are cheaper, and the coaches are usually half-empty. You'll also find Terravision and Easybus services here.
Taxi
As with all London airports, taxi journeys into the city are eye-watering expensive and take longer than the train.
For anyone interested in aviation history, this outpost of the Imperial War Museum Duxford, ten miles south of Cambridge, will make a great day out. It is Europe’s premier aviation museum and also boasts a huge collection of tanks, other military vehicles and naval exhibits.
Allow 30 minutes to travel the 15 miles by taxi; Duxford is a tiny village with limited public transport, so a minicab's your best bet if time's a factor. You can book this at the airport. Expect cost of a cab to be around GBP 25.00 each way. One-day entrance to the museum is GBP17.50 adult, GBP8.75 child (5-15). Under-fives are free.
Best known for being home to one of the leading universities in the world, Cambridge makes an ideal place for a day out. Whether you fancy trying your hand at punting on the River Cam followed by afternoon tea at Grantchester, attending choral evensong at King’s College Chapel or just wandering around the medieval streets and college grounds, you will not be disappointed.
Operator National Express runs twenty-one direct coaches a day from the station directly outside the main terminal to central Cambridge. Journey time is 50 minutes; GBP 10 one-way, GBP 15 return
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