Arrival around 00:30

Stansted (STN): getting to central London after midnight

Stansted Express runs until 00:30 from the airport, so an arrival at 00:30 has just missed the last train. After that, National Express and Flibco coaches both run through the night, with departures on the hour and half hour or more often. The coach to Liverpool Street takes at least 1 hour 10 minutes and depends on traffic, so check your drop-off point and how you will make the final leg. A taxi or pre-booked car is the dependable option for a very late landing, and the fare is fixed in advance if you book a car.

← Back to the full comparison for London Stansted Airport (STN)

Book aheadBusFlibco coach£6.99Check price Private carPre-booked private car£108 per vehicle · estimateCheck price HotelAirport hotel for the nightA room beside the terminal when nothing runs until morningCheck price

Stansted (STN) to central London

People2

Bags2

Verdict for your case

National Express coach is the best value: £14 for the group, about 85 min.

Bus

National Express coach

Our pick

85 min

For the group£14

National Express · A8 to Liverpool Street and Victoria, A9 to Stratford, A6 to Baker Street and Paddington

Per person: £7
Door to door: 85 min
Runs: 24 hours
Frequency: up to every 30 min, 24 hours
Board at: Stansted Airport Coach Station, a short walk from arrivals
Suitcases: Fine

Bus

Flibco coach

Cheapest

1 h 40 min

For the group£13.98

Check price

Flibco · Stratford and Liverpool Street, sold online and through FlixBus

Per person: £6.99
Door to door: 1 h 40 min
Runs: 24 hours
Frequency: every 15 min, day and night
Board at: Coach stops outside the terminal, follow the signs for coaches
Suitcases: Fine

Train

Stansted Express

Fastest

60 min

For the group£50estimate

Stansted Express · direct to Liverpool Street

Per person: £25
Door to door: 60 min
Runs: 05:30–00:30
Frequency: every 15 min
Board at: Station directly beneath the terminal, a 2 minute walk from arrivals
Suitcases: Fine

Private car

Pre-booked private car

70 min

For the group£108estimate

Check price

Fixed price, driver meets you in arrivals

Per person: £108 per vehicle
Door to door: 70 min
Runs: 24 hours
Frequency: Pre-booked
Board at: Meeting point in the arrivals hall
Suitcases: Carried for you

Taxi

70 min

For the group£100–£150estimate

Metered taxi from the rank or a quoted fare

Per person: £100–£150 per vehicle
Door to door: 70 min
Runs: 24 hours
Frequency: Rank outside arrivals
Board at: Taxi rank outside the terminal, or the taxi desk in international arrivals
Suitcases: Carried for you

Sources: official operators, airport and port authorities, city taxi regulations.Checked on October 4, 2026How we compare: method and sources

Every option in detail

Train

Stansted Express

£25 (estimate)
60 min
05:30–00:30
→ London Liverpool Street

The train takes about 48 minutes to Liverpool Street and 35 minutes to Tottenham Hale, where you can change to the Victoria line. The Anytime standard single is 25 pounds, bought on the day at the ticket machines or online. Advance singles start from 9.90 pounds, with the cheapest fares released well ahead and limited by date and train. Two adults travelling together can book a Duo fare from 18.75 pounds each. Contactless is accepted on the route but Oyster is not. First train from Stansted is around 05:30 on Mondays, Fridays and weekends and about 05:55 Tuesday to Thursday, and the last is 00:30.

Source: Stansted Express ↗

Bus

National Express coach

£7
85 min
24 hours
→ Liverpool Street, Victoria, Stratford or Paddington

Fares start from 7 pounds one way including a 1.50 pound booking fee, which is waived if you are logged in to an account. The fastest coach to Liverpool Street takes 1 hour 10 minutes, and traffic on the A12 and A406 can add a lot. Coaches run round the clock, with the first departure just after midnight and the last scheduled in each cycle at about 23:45 to 23:55. Luggage is one large suitcase up to 20 kg in the hold and one soft hand bag. It suits anyone going to Victoria or Stratford who does not want to change.

Source: National Express ↗

Bus

Flibco coach

£6.99
1 h 40 min
24 hours
→ Stratford and Liverpool Street

Flibco lists fares from 6.99 pounds one way, with a hold suitcase of 25 kg and a hand bag included. It reaches Stratford in about 50 minutes and Liverpool Street in about 1 hour 30 minutes, so Stratford is the better stop if your hotel is east. A ticket is valid all day until 04:00 the next morning. Buy it online or through the Flibco app because the fare changes with demand. This is the cheapest ticket on the list, along with the National Express advance fare.

Check price Source: Flibco ↗

Taxi

£100–£150 per vehicle (estimate)
70 min
24 hours
→ Door to door, anywhere in central London

There is no fixed tariff for the 60 km trip to central London. Expect roughly 100 pounds by day and up to 150 pounds at night or in heavy traffic, which is an estimate rather than an official fare. Ask for a price before you set off. The airport recommends a local taxi firm with a desk in international arrivals. Most taxis take four passengers with luggage. Allow 60 to 75 minutes.

Source: London Stansted Airport ↗

Private car

Pre-booked private car

£108 per vehicle (estimate)
70 min
24 hours
→ Door to door in central London

A standard saloon for up to three passengers starts from about 108 pounds for central London, with larger cars for five from about 153 pounds on the platform we checked. The fare is fixed when you book, so traffic and the time of day do not change it. The driver tracks your flight and waits if it is late. Allow around an hour, longer in the morning peak.

Check price

Practical tips

Book Stansted Express in advance. The walk-up single is 25 pounds but advance fares start from 9.90 pounds.
Oyster cards are not valid on Stansted Express. Contactless cards are accepted, but check the fare before you tap in.
For the Victoria line, the Tottenham Hale stop is 35 minutes from the airport and saves a change at Liverpool Street.
Check the coach route before you book. The A8 goes to Liverpool Street and Victoria, the A9 to Stratford and the A6 to Baker Street and Paddington.
Weekday first trains differ. Tuesday to Thursday the first Stansted Express is about 05:55 rather than 05:30.
Taxis have no fixed fare to central London, so ask the driver for a price before getting in.

Questions travellers ask

Stansted (STN) at 00:30: what still runs?

Every option on this page runs at 00:30: National Express coach (£7 per person, 85 min); Flibco coach (£6.99 per person, 1 h 40 min); Stansted Express (£25 per person, 60 min); Pre-booked private car (£108 per vehicle, 70 min); Taxi (£100–£150 per vehicle, 70 min). Fares are per person unless marked per vehicle.

Stansted (STN): what is the cheapest way after midnight?

The cheapest option running at 00:30 is Flibco coach: £6.99 per person, about 1 h 40 min door to door.

Stansted (STN): how much is a taxi at night?

Taxi: £100–£150 per vehicle, counted for up to 4 people, about 70 min door to door. The price is an estimate. Pre-booked private car: £108 per vehicle.

Stansted (STN): when do trains and buses run?

Scheduled services: Stansted Express 05:30–00:30. Times can change, so check with the operator before you travel.

Stansted (STN): what is the best option for two people with two bags at 00:30?

National Express coach is the best value: £14 for the group, about 85 min.

Stansted (STN): where do these prices and times come from?

Prices and times were checked on October 4, 2026 against Stansted Express, National Express, Flibco, London Stansted Airport, linked in the list of options on this page.

4 people, 4 suitcases