Stansted has a single terminal, so finding your way around is the easy part. The hard part is time, especially on an early flight, when every minute between the car park and bag drop counts. Most of what is worth knowing before you fly from Stansted is about protecting those early minutes: where to drop off and what it costs, how early to arrive, and which parking gets you to the terminal quickest for the money.
One terminal, and the way in
Every flight leaves from the same terminal, so there is no terminal to check. The sat-nav postcode for the airport is CM24 1RW. If you are parking off the airport, use the postcode in your parking confirmation instead.
- From London, leave the M11 at junction 8a and follow the airport signs.
- From Cambridge and the north, leave the M11 at junction 8.
Drop-off charges, and the free hour
There are three places to drop someone off at Stansted, and only one of them is free.
- Express Set Down, outside departures: £10 for up to 15 minutes. It is barrierless, so you do not stop to pay: pay online or by phone on 03450 175046 by midnight the day after. Miss the deadline and a £100 parking charge notice follows, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days. If you need longer than 15 minutes, speak to a traffic marshal, and do not leave the car unattended: unattended cars can be towed.
- Short Stay car parks (Green and Blue): drop-off only costs £10 for up to 15 minutes and £28 over that, with a 30-minute maximum. If you are meeting someone, or staying to see them off, the Short Stay rates are £13 for 30 minutes, rising to £38 for four hours.
- Mid Stay car park, free: the first 60 minutes are free, the next hour is £5, and the day rate applies after that. A free shuttle bus takes passengers to the terminal. Re-entering within an hour of first going in costs £48, so do not loop round.
Blue Badge holders have dedicated bays in all three areas, but Stansted does not list an exemption from the charges, and the Blue Badge scheme does not apply on the airport's own roads.
If you are parking rather than being dropped off, none of this applies: your car park or Meet & Greet handover point is separate, and your confirmation email says exactly where to go.
How early to arrive for an early flight
Stansted's advice is to arrive at least two hours before departure, even if you have checked in online, and to follow your airline's own timings for bag drop. It also asks passengers not to arrive far earlier than that, because it only adds to the queues.
For a 6am flight, that means being at the terminal by 4am. Then work back the time from the car park:
- Park & Ride: allow 25 to 35 minutes from the car park barrier to check-in. The Park & Ride car parks we sell are 3 to 5 minutes from the terminal by shuttle; the rest of the time is parking and waiting for the bus.
- Meet & Greet: be at the handover point 10 to 15 minutes before your booked time.
- The airport's own car parks: about 7 minutes by shuttle from Mid Stay and about 15 minutes from Long Stay.
If you are checking a bag, your airline's bag-drop deadline is the time to aim for, not the departure time. Check it on your booking.
Which parking suits which trip
Before You Fly lists every Stansted car park we sell in one table, cheapest first, including the airport's own car parks.
- Park & Ride is usually the best value for a week or more. When we compared prices for an eight-day trip booked about three months ahead, the cheapest Park & Ride was around £48, against about £65 for the airport's own Long Stay, and the independent car parks were closer to the terminal too.
- Meet & Greet for the very early start, families and heavy luggage. You hand the car over at the terminal and walk straight in. At Stansted it costs more than at most airports: around £35 more than the cheapest Park & Ride for the same trip. Our Meet & Greet or Park & Ride guide explains how to decide.
- On-airport parking covers the airport's Long Stay, Mid Stay and Short Stay car parks. Short Stay is a few minutes' walk from the terminal but expensive for more than a day or two: well over £140 for the same eight days. It is best kept for a day trip.
Whichever you choose, book the flexible rate if your dates might move. It can be cancelled up to 72 hours before arrival for a full refund; see the cancellation FAQs.
Lounges and hotels
Lounge access at Stansted depends on where your flight leaves from, so check before you book. The Essence by Escape lounge is in the satellite that serves gates 1 to 19, and Ryanair and easyJet passengers cannot reach it, because their flights leave from other gate areas. Once you take the transit to the satellite you cannot come back to the main terminal. See which lounges suit your flight on our Stansted lounges page.
With so many early departures, a hotel the night before is worth pricing up. The Radisson Blu, Hampton by Hilton and Holiday Inn Express are among the hotels on or near the airport. Search Stansted hotels.
Getting there without a car
- Stansted Express: trains every 15 minutes during the day from London Liverpool Street, taking about 48 minutes, with a stop at Tottenham Hale for the Victoria line. The first trains leave Liverpool Street before 5am, which helps for early flights.
- Coach: the coach station is right outside the terminal, with National Express services to London, including Victoria, Liverpool Street and Stratford, running around the clock.
Frequently asked questions
Is there free drop-off at Stansted?
Yes. The first 60 minutes in the Mid Stay car park are free, with a free shuttle bus to the terminal. The next hour costs £5, and re-entering within an hour costs £48.
How much is the Express Set Down at Stansted?
£10 for up to 15 minutes, paid online or by phone by midnight the following day. Miss the deadline and a £100 parking charge notice follows, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days.
How early should I get to Stansted for a 6.30am flight?
Stansted advises at least two hours before departure, so be at the terminal by 4.30am. If you are checking a bag, aim for your airline's bag-drop deadline. Then add 25 to 35 minutes for Park & Ride, or arrive at the handover point 10 to 15 minutes before your booked time for Meet & Greet.
What is the cheapest way to park at Stansted for a week?
Park & Ride is usually the cheapest. In our comparison for an eight-day trip, the cheapest Park & Ride was around £17 less than the airport's own Long Stay, and closer to the terminal. Compare Stansted Park & Ride for your dates.
Can I get to Stansted by train?
Yes. The Stansted Express runs from London Liverpool Street every 15 minutes during the day, taking about 48 minutes.
Sorted before you fly.
