There is no direct train between Heathrow and Stansted. The quickest ways to make the Heathrow to Stansted transfer are by private car, which takes about 70 minutes, or the National Express coach, which takes 80 to 90 minutes. Rail is possible but means crossing London and takes close to two hours. This guide compares all the options in both directions and shows how much time to leave between flights.
The airports are about 54 miles apart by road, on opposite sides of north London, and the M25 and M11 link them. Take care with the spelling when you search. Stansted is the Essex airport; Stanstead is a different place in Suffolk, and typing it will send you to the wrong results.
Our connecting flight left from Stansted three hours after we landed. Booking a driver took the stress out of it, and we got there with time to eat.
Heathrow to Stansted at a glance
Prices and times are typical for October 2026 and vary by provider and time of day.
|
Option |
Time |
Typical fare |
Luggage |
Notes |
|
Coach (National Express) |
80 to 90 minutes |
About £21 to £37 |
Fine, one large bag |
Direct, but infrequent |
|
Rail via Liverpool Street |
1h 40 to 1h 50 |
Varies by route |
Poor |
Elizabeth Line or Tube, then Stansted Express |
|
Ride-hailing |
1h 10 to 1h 30 |
Varies with demand |
Good |
Price can surge |
|
Private car |
70 to 90 minutes |
Fixed at booking |
Excellent |
Meet and greet available |
The coach is the cheapest direct option, the car is the most reliable, and rail only suits people already travelling into London.
Which one is right for you
A solo traveller with one bag and a gap of five hours or more can use the coach. A couple or family with checked bags and a tighter timetable will usually be better off in a car, because the coach runs less often and a missed departure can cost an hour or more. Rail is the right choice only if you want to stop in London first.
Heathrow to Stansted by coach
A National Express coach links the two airports without a change. Most travellers choose it because it is simple and costs less than a car.
Services 727 and 728, first and last departures, where to board
The direct services are numbered 727 and 728. They depart from Heathrow Central bus station, which you reach on foot from Terminals 2 and 3 or by the free transfer from Terminals 4 and 5. They run through the day and into the night, and early and late departures vary, so check the first and last coach for your date. The journey is usually about 80 to 90 minutes, and fares start from around £21.
At Stansted, the coach stops at the bus station beside the terminal, a short walk from check-in. There is no second terminal to confuse matters, and the walk is short enough to manage with a trolley.
Booking, luggage and missed-coach options
Book ahead for the best fare. Standard luggage allowances are one large suitcase and one piece of hand luggage per person, with extra bags charged. If you miss your coach, the next direct service may be an hour or more away, so aim to arrive at the stop 20 minutes early.
Many travellers combine the coach with a back-up plan, such as a pre-booked car, if the first flight is late. If you are looking at other coach routes, see our guide to the coach to Heathrow.
Is the coach reliable enough for a connection
The coach is reliable on a normal day, but it shares the M25 and M11 with everyone else. A closure on either road can add an hour to the trip, and a coach cannot find an alternative route as easily as a car. If you are on separate tickets, treat the coach as a good option for generous gaps and a risky one for tight ones.
Heathrow to Stansted by train
The train route goes via central London. Take the Elizabeth Line from Heathrow to Liverpool Street, or the Piccadilly line to a central station and then a connection, then take the Stansted Express from Liverpool Street, which takes about 46 minutes. With walking and waiting time, the whole journey takes 1 hour 40 to 1 hour 50 minutes, and sometimes more.
It works if you have light luggage and are already in London. It is hard with several bags, because you change between lines and carry bags through busy stations. Rail also costs two fares, and the combined price can match the coach or exceed it.
The rail route has one real advantage: it does not depend on the roads. If the M25 is closed, the train may be your best option.
Private car from Heathrow to Stansted
A pre-booked car runs direct between the terminals via the M25 and M11, usually in about 70 minutes with clear roads. Allow up to 90 minutes in busy periods.
Fixed price, meet and greet, flight tracking
The price is agreed when you book, so heavy traffic does not change the fare. Providers that track your flight adjust the pickup if you land late, and a meet and greet at arrivals saves you from searching for the stop. For groups of three or four, the cost per person often comes close to the coach. Our Heathrow airport transfer page shows how to book a transfer from Heathrow, and the Stansted airport transfer page covers the other end.
Vehicle choice
A saloon suits one or two people. For three or four with luggage, ask for an estate or a people carrier. Families with children should request child seats at booking, because not every provider carries them by default. Larger groups can book a minibus.
Stansted to Heathrow (the return journey)
The return journey mirrors the outward one. The coach leaves from Stansted bus station and arrives at Heathrow Central bus station. The rail route goes from Stansted Airport to Liverpool Street and then by the Elizabeth Line or Piccadilly line to Heathrow. A car goes direct from the Stansted terminal to the Heathrow terminal you name.
Check your Heathrow terminal before you travel, because the coach drops you at Central bus station and a car can drop you at the departures door. If you are flying a long-haul route from Heathrow, a car is the least stressful way to arrive with your bags.
Also allow for the Stansted end. The airport has a single terminal, but the check-in and security queues can be long at peak times, and you need to clear them before you start your journey to Heathrow if you are connecting.
Time to allow between flights
If you are connecting between flights at different airports, you are probably on separate tickets, so the second airline will not wait if the first is late. Here is a worked example for a hand-luggage-only trip from Stansted to Heathrow:
-
Your first flight lands at 09:00.
-
You leave the aircraft and get through the terminal by about 10:00.
-
The coach or car takes 80 to 90 minutes with a margin, so you reach Heathrow at about 11:30.
-
Long-haul flights need check-in two to three hours before departure.
That puts the earliest sensible flight at about 14:00 to 14:30. As a rule, leave at least five hours between landing and take-off, and add an hour if you have checked bags. If you must collect and re-check luggage, leave six. A private car with flight tracking gives you the best protection against delay.
If something goes wrong
If your first flight is late, tell your driver or check the coach operator's rebooking rules straight away. On a separate ticket, ask the second airline whether it can move you for a fee, and keep your boarding passes. The earlier you act, the more options you have.
Other London airport transfers
Heathrow links with the other London airports in similar ways. For the south side of London, read our guide to Heathrow to Gatwick. For the north-west, see Luton to Heathrow.
The same rule applies on every route: no direct trains between the outer airports, the M25 as the main link, and a long gap between flights as your best protection.
FAQs
Is there a direct train from Heathrow to Stansted?
No. You must go via central London, changing at Liverpool Street, and the trip takes close to two hours.
How long does it take to get from Heathrow to Stansted?
By car about 70 to 90 minutes. By coach 80 to 90 minutes. By train 1 hour 40 to 1 hour 50 minutes.
How much is the coach from Heathrow to Stansted?
Fares start from around £21, and can reach about £37 depending on the time and how early you book.
How far is Heathrow from Stansted?
About 54 miles by road.
What is the cheapest way from Heathrow to Stansted?
The coach is usually the cheapest direct option. For a group of three or four, a shared private car can be similar per person.
How much time should I leave between flights?
At least five hours between landing at one airport and taking off from the other, and more if you have checked baggage.
Which Stansted terminal do I go to?
Stansted has a single main terminal, so there is no terminal to choose. Tell your driver the airline and flight number and they will drop you at the right door.
Can I take a taxi from Heathrow to Stansted?
Yes, but the metered fare over 54 miles can be high. A pre-booked car gives you the same door-to-door convenience with a known price.
Picking the Right Heathrow to Stansted Transfer
Choose the coach if you are travelling alone, with little luggage, and want the lowest fare. Choose a private car if you have a tight connection, heavy bags, children or a group. Use rail only if you are already in central London.
Transpovia can arrange a fixed-price car between your Heathrow terminal and Stansted, in either direction, with a driver who tracks your flight.
