London Stansted pick-up points: taxi, Uber, coach and friends
Stansted is one terminal, with the railway station underneath and the coach station across the road, so the public transport is easy to find. Cars are the complicated part: the kerb outside is a paid drop-off zone, friends collect from the car parks, and app cars have their own row. Here is each pick-up point as the airport and the operators describe it, with what it costs.
The 30-second version
The Stansted Express leaves from the station directly under the terminal, and coaches from the bus and coach station opposite the main entrance, two minutes' walk. For a taxi, the airport's own provider, Street Cars, has a desk in the international arrivals concourse. Uber picks up in Short Stay Car Park Orange, at row G. A friend collecting you can park free for up to an hour at Mid Stay, seven minutes away by free shuttle bus, or pay from £13 in the Short Stay car parks next to the terminal.
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Main terminal
- Train
Stansted Airport station, directly beneath the terminal, two minutes' walk by lift, escalator or ramp
Follow the overhead signs down from arrivals. The Stansted Express leaves every 15 minutes for Tottenham Hale and Liverpool Street; tap a contactless card or phone, as Oyster is not valid to or from the airport. Ticket machines and a staffed rail information desk are in the station, which is step-free throughout and staffed every day except Christmas Day.
- Coach
The bus and coach station, opposite the main terminal entrance, two minutes' walk
Walk straight out of the terminal and across. National Express runs the A6, A8 and A9 into London 24 hours a day, from £5 booked ahead, and Flibco runs every 30 minutes, 24 hours, to Liverpool Street, Stratford and Finsbury Park. All bays are wheelchair accessible, and the station has waiting areas, a coffee shop and toilets.
- Taxi
The Street Cars Taxis reservation desk in the international arrivals concourse; a courtesy phone in the domestic baggage reclaim area connects to the same desk
Street Cars is the airport's on-airport taxi provider, with its own pick-up points and wheelchair-accessible vehicles. Book at the desk when you land or in advance. Stansted is outside London's metered taxi area, so agree the fare before you set off, as Transport for London advises.
- Uber and ride apps
Short Stay Car Park Orange, row G
This is Uber's own instruction to its drivers. Drivers wait for trips off the airport, at the Mid Stay car park or Birchanger Green service station, and only drive in once your trip is confirmed, so request the car when you have your bags and allow for the drive in. Follow the signs for the Short Stay car parks from arrivals.
- Pre-booked driver
Arrivals, then the Short Stay car parks, where cars are allowed to pick up
Agree with your driver where you will meet and give them your flight number. The airport's taxi comparison partner, minicabit, includes 45 minutes of free waiting for airport pick-ups. Pick-ups by car happen in the Short Stay car parks, not at the terminal kerb, so expect a short walk with your bags.
- Friends collecting you
Short Stay car parks, Green and Blue: follow signs for Short Stay Car Park
For friends and family who want to meet you inside the terminal. The airport charges £13 for up to 30 minutes, £21 up to an hour, £25 up to two hours and £38 up to four hours. Both are within walking distance of the terminal, with no transfer bus.
- Friends collecting you
Mid Stay car park: follow signs for Free Set Down (postcode CM24 1PZ)
The free option. Drivers get up to 60 minutes free, then £5 for the next hour and a day rate after two hours; re-entering within an hour of first entering costs £48. You reach it on the free shuttle bus, which runs 24 hours and takes about seven minutes from the terminal.
- Car hire
London Stansted Airport Car Rental Village, Coopers End Road (CM24 1SJ)
A free bus to the Car Rental Village leaves from the terminal forecourt every 10 minutes. It is open seven days a week, with opening hours that vary by company, so check yours before a late landing.
Being picked up by a friend: where to wait and what it costs
At the Mid Stay car park. The airport gives up to 60 minutes free there: follow the signs for Free Set Down, wait in the car, and your passenger takes the free 24-hour shuttle bus from the terminal, about seven minutes. After the first hour it costs £5 for the second, then a day rate. Leaving and coming back within an hour costs £48, so do not do a loop.
To meet someone inside the terminal, use the Short Stay car parks, Green and Blue, a walk from arrivals: £13 for up to 30 minutes and £21 up to an hour. The Express Set Down right outside the terminal is for dropping off only.
- Mid Stay, first hour
- Free
- Mid Stay, second hour
- £5
- Short Stay, up to 30 min
- £13
- Short Stay, up to 1 hour
- £21
The drop-off charge at Express Set Down
The Express Set Down area outside the terminal costs £10 for up to 15 minutes and £28 over 15 minutes, with a 30-minute maximum. There are no barriers or machines: cameras record the number plate and the driver pays online or by phone by midnight the day after. Miss the deadline and a £100 Parking Charge Notice follows, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days. Re-entering within 30 minutes costs £28. Blue Badge holders pay too, but marshals on site can help if you need more than 15 minutes. The free alternative is the Mid Stay car park and its shuttle bus.
Meeting a pre-booked driver
Stansted is about 40 miles from central London and outside the London taxi meter, so a fixed price agreed in advance is what you want. Street Cars, the on-airport firm, takes bookings at its desk in international arrivals or by phone, and works from its own pick-up points. Any other pre-booked car will collect from the Short Stay car parks; ask whether the car park charge is included in your fare. Share your flight number so a delay does not cost you waiting time.
Late at night
Stansted works around the clock on the ground. The last Stansted Express to London leaves at about 00:30. After that, National Express coaches and Flibco run 24 hours from the coach station opposite the terminal, and the Mid Stay shuttle bus keeps going too. Street Cars is the answer for a car without a booking, and the free terminal wifi, two hours of it, is enough to message a driver or check a coach.
Accessible pick-up
Dedicated Blue Badge drop-off spaces are in Zone C, at the Express Set Down outside the terminal and the closest area to the Assistance Desk, with a help point that connects to it. Help phones are also in the Short Stay car parks and in Zones B and C of the forecourt, and the Assistance Desk is in Zone A. The railway station is step-free throughout, with induction loops; every coach bay is wheelchair accessible; and Street Cars and minicabit both offer wheelchair-accessible vehicles. Ask your airline for assistance at least 48 hours before you fly.
Questions people ask
Good questions about London Stansted
Where do Ubers pick up at Stansted?
In Short Stay Car Park Orange, at row G. Drivers wait off the airport until your trip is confirmed, so book once you have your bags.
Is there a taxi rank at Stansted Airport?
The airport's taxis are run by Street Cars, with a reservation desk in the international arrivals concourse and a courtesy phone in domestic baggage reclaim. Agree the fare before you set off.
Can I pick someone up at Stansted for free?
Yes, for up to 60 minutes in the Mid Stay car park, signed Free Set Down. Your passenger takes the free shuttle bus, about seven minutes.
How much is it to pick someone up at Stansted?
In the Short Stay car parks, £13 for up to 30 minutes and £21 up to an hour. The Mid Stay car park is free for the first hour.
Is there a drop-off charge at Stansted?
Yes. Express Set Down costs £10 for up to 15 minutes and £28 over 15 minutes, with a 30-minute maximum, paid online by midnight the next day.
Where is the coach station at Stansted?
Opposite the main terminal entrance, two minutes' walk, with coaches to London 24 hours a day.
Where is car hire at Stansted?
At the Car Rental Village on Coopers End Road, reached by a free bus from the terminal forecourt every 10 minutes.
Image credits: Cnbrb (CC0)