Heathrow to Stansted

Which way does the chauffeur go?

From Heathrow, the car joins the M25 northbound at junction 14 or 15 and runs clockwise past the M40, the M1 and the A1(M) to junction 27, then north on the M11 to Stansted. It is motorway almost the whole way. The western and northern M25, particularly between the M40 and the M1, is one of the busiest roads in Britain, and it is where most delays happen.

If the M25 is badly blocked, the chauffeur may cut across north London on the A406 North Circular to the M11. It is rarely quicker, but it can be when the motorway has stopped.

How much time should the connection have?

Plenty. Between landing at Heathrow and your departure from Stansted, allow at least five hours: an hour or more for the border and baggage at Heathrow, an hour and a half to two hours on the road, and time at Stansted, where low-cost airlines close bag drop strictly and security queues at busy times can be long.

If your long-haul flight is due in the afternoon and your Stansted flight leaves that evening, check the gap carefully. If it is less than five hours, consider a later flight or the overnight option below.

Is an overnight stay near Stansted a better plan?

Often, yes. Stansted’s busiest departures leave early in the morning, and many long-haul flights land at Heathrow in the afternoon or evening. Rather than rushing, many travellers drive to a hotel at or near Stansted the same evening and fly out rested the next morning. There are hotels on the airport site and in nearby towns.

The evening drive round the M25 is usually quicker than the afternoon one, and it removes the risk of a missed connection entirely.

What about baggage rules on the second flight?

Long-haul tickets usually include a checked bag; low-cost European flights often do not, and their cabin bag limits are strict. If you are carrying a large case from your long-haul flight, make sure your Stansted booking includes a checked bag of the right weight before you arrive, as paying at the airport is expensive and the queue takes time.

Do you pass through the UK border?

Yes. Moving from Heathrow to Stansted means entering the UK, so you need to meet UK entry requirements for your nationality, which may include a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorisation. Check GOV.UK before you travel; your first airline will check it before you board.

What is Stansted like on arrival?

Stansted has one long terminal building, so there is no need to know which terminal your airline uses. The car sets you down in the Express Set Down area directly outside, and check-in desks are a short walk inside. The building handles a large wave of departures between about 06:00 and 08:00, when security queues are at their longest; later in the day, it is usually calmer.

If you are staying overnight before an early flight, the hotels on the airport site are within walking distance of the terminal, and we can drop you at your hotel door rather than the terminal.

Car or coach between the airports?

Scheduled coaches run between Heathrow and Stansted. They are cheaper per person but slower, running to a timetable and stopping along the way. A private car leaves as soon as you reach it, goes straight to the Stansted terminal and waits if your Heathrow flight is late. For families, for heavy luggage, and for any connection where time matters, the car is the calmer choice.

Where will the chauffeur meet you?

In the arrivals hall of your Heathrow terminal, with a board showing your name. The chauffeur follows your flight, and the drop-off at Stansted is at the Express Set Down area outside the terminal. Stansted’s £10 set-down charge is included in the fixed price.

Can you do the journey the other way?

Yes. From Stansted to Heathrow, the route runs anticlockwise round the M25, and the same advice about time applies. For a morning arrival at Stansted and an evening long-haul departure from Heathrow, the connection is usually comfortable.