Stansted Airport Parking

History of Stansted Airport

Stansted began life as a bomber airfield and major maintenance depot. The US Air Force built the runway in 1942 and the airport officially opened in 1943 as RAF Stansted Mountfichet. On D-Day in 1944, more than 600 aircraft were led to the beaches of Normandy by bombers that took off from Stansted.

After the war, however, Stansted went into a period of decline as an RAF base and the British Airports Authority took control in 1966, opening a new terminal extension in 1970. A major expansion was proposed in the late 1970s and permission was granted in 1985, with construction beginning in 1986. The state-of-the-art new terminal, designed by Norman Foster, was opened by the Queen in 1991 and was lauded around the world for its design, high energy efficiency, environmental impact and advanced technology.

The new terminal heralded a period of significant growth, spurred by the arrival of budget airlines, most notably Ryanair, who switched its main London base from Luton to Stansted in 1991.

In 2000, work began on Phase 2 of the expansion project, which would see the airport’s capacity increase to 25 million passengers per year. In the summer holiday season of 2007, a record 2.5 million passengers travelled through the airport in August alone.

A new Training and Skills Academy opened in 2008, creating thousands of jobs, and the new arrivals extension to the terminal was completed in the same year.

In 2013, the airport was purchased by the Manchester Airport Group (MAG) for £1.5 billion and Jet2 picked Stansted as its first base in southern England in 2017. The following year, Emirates launched direct flights to Dubai with connections to multiple destinations in Asia and Australasia, and annual passenger numbers reached 27 million.

Terminals

Stansted has one single-storey terminal, with 100+ check-in desks located at the centre.

Arrivals is on the right-hand side of the terminal, along with a few shops and cafes, ATMs, currency exchange kiosks, left luggage and a bag-wrap facility.

The other end of the terminal is the security area, which leads through to a multitude of shops, bars and restaurants and the main departures hall. There is a fast-track security option for those short of time.

Gates 1-19 and 20-39 have their own satellite departure areas, which are reached by automated trams.

Over £150 million has been spent on improvements to the terminal facilities since 2013 and the airport’s owners, MAG, are investing in a total of over £600 million, in the largest rejuvenation project since the terminal opened in 1991.

If you are driving your own vehicle to Stansted, you’ll find a wide range of airport parking options to choose from, both on-airport and off-airport, including the great-value APH Car Park and I Love Meet & Greet valet service.

Over 20 airlines and tour operators are based at Stansted, offering flights to over 200 destinations in over 40 countries – the most European destinations of any UK airport. Popular international destinations include Dublin, Rome, Malaga, Barcelona and Cologne, whereas the top UK destinations are Edinburgh, Belfast and Glasgow. The majority of flights are operated by Ryanair.

Check-in

As a general guide, you need to be checked in and ready to go through security at least two hours before your scheduled departure time but you should refer to the travel documentation issued by your airline for recommended check-in times.

If you have already checked in online and are travelling with just hand baggage, you can head straight for security to go through to the departures lounge. If you have luggage checked in that needs to go in the hold, you need to first take your bags to your airline’s Bag Drop desks before heading to security.

You can check hand luggage restrictions at home before you pack.

Main travel connections

By car
Located halfway between London and Cambridge, Stansted Airport is just off the M11, less than five miles from Bishop’s Stortford. If you are travelling from London and the South, exit at Junction 8a. If travelling from Cambridge and the North, exit at Junction 8. Then simply follow the signs to the airport.

If you are driving your own car to the airport there is a good range of secure airport parking options to keep your car safe while you are away.

   London Stansted Airport postcode: CM24 1RW

   London to Stansted Airport is approximately 39 miles / one hour.

   Cambridge to Stansted Airport is approximately 27 miles / 35 minutes.

   Luton to Stansted Airport is approximately 52 miles / one hour.

   Colchester to Stansted Airport is approximately 32 miles / 45 minutes.

By rail
Stansted Airport rail station is right under the terminal, just a two-minute walk from the main concourse. Lifts, escalators and ramps are available to help transport luggage.

There are rail services connecting Stansted Airport to all major destinations across the UK, including the half-hourly Stansted Express to London Liverpool Street, which takes 50 minutes.

By coach and bus

There are plentiful bus and coach services to Stansted Airport, including Airport Bus Express and National Express from London and First Essex from destinations in Essex. Stansted Airport coach/bus station is a two-minute walk from the airport terminal. Facilities at the coach/bus station include a coffee shop, newsagent and toilets, as well as a help point.

   Airport Bus Express A21 travels between Liverpool Street and Stansted via Stratford.

   Airport Bus Express A20 travels between Victoria Coach Station and Stansted via Baker Street/Gloucester Place.

   National Express A6 travels between Portman Square and Stansted via Marble Arch, Paddington, Baker Street, St John’s Wood, Finchley Road and Golders Green.

   National Express A7 travels between Victoria Coach Station and Stansted via Victoria Train Station, Waterloo, Southwark, Whitechapel, Mile End and Bow.

   National Express A8 travels between Kings Cross/St Pancras and Stansted via Farringdon, Liverpool Street, Shoreditch, Bethnal Green and South Hackney.

   First Essex X10 travels between Basildon and Stansted via Eastmayne, Wickford Broadway, Runwell, Chelmsford and Barnwell.

   First Essex X30 travels between Southend Travel Centre and Stansted via Southend Victoria Centre, Southend Airport, Prittlewell Bell, Westwood Kent Elms Corner, Eastwood Rise, Rayleigh Rail Station, Chelmsford and Barnston Church School.

Drop-off zones

Free drop-off and pick-up
There is a free drop-off option at the Mid Stay car park, where you can stay for free for up to one hour. After this, the tariff is £5.00 for the second hour and £30.00 thereafter.

The car park operates on Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and shuttle bus transfers to the terminal depart every 10 minutes, taking around seven minutes.

No return within one hour.

Pay drop-off
Stansted operates an Express Set Down zone, a few minutes’ walk from the terminal entrance. Just follow the signs once you have arrived at the airport. The charges are as follows:

Express Set Down:

• 0 – 15 minutes £7.00
• over 15 minutes £25.00

Payment is by card or exact change. Vehicles must not be left unattended at any time and returning within half an hour is not permitted.

There are dedicated Blue Badge spaces at the front of the Express Set Down zone.

Residents living within a 10-mile radius of the airport can apply for an Express St Down discount scheme.

Pick-up
The most convenient way to pick someone up at Stansted Airport is to use the Short Stay car park, close to the terminal.

Alternatively, you can stay for up to one hour free of charge in the Mid Stay car park, which is a seven-minute shuttle bus ride from the terminal. Buses depart every 10 minutes. If you stay over one hour but less than two hours, the fee is £5.00. After two hours the fee jumps to £30.00. The car park operates a no-return within a one-hour policy.

Short Stay car park charges

You can turn up and pay on the day in the Orange and Blue zones of the Short Stay car park and in the Green Muti-Storey car park. Walking time to the terminal is between three and seven minutes, depending on which zone you park in.

Short Stay car park charges:

• up to 30 minutes £10.00
• up to one hour £18.00
• 1 – 2 hours £22.00
• 2 – 4 hours £35.00
• up to 24 hours £62.00
• additional 24 hours thereafter £62.00

You can save on the cost by booking your Stansted airport parking in advance.

Fast-track lanes

Beat the queues at security and passport control with Stansted’s Security FastTrack and Passport Control FastTrack passes.

Security FastTrack

Speed up your journey through to the shops, bars and restaurants of the departures lounge with Security FastTrack. Ideal for those short of time, or families with young children, Security FastTrack can be booked online in advance from £7.00 per person places are limited.

Note that when you make a Security FastTrack booking, you need to choose the time that you expect to arrive at the entrance to the security area.

   Opening times: 04:00 – 20:00

Passport Control FastTrack

International passengers arriving at Edinburgh Airport can purchase a Passport Control FastTrack pass to access the dedicated FastTrack lane through Passport Control and avoid any queues for passport checks. Ideal for those travelling without checked-in luggage to collect from baggage reclaim, Passport Control FastTrack helps to speed you through the airport to your onward journey.

   Opening times: 07:00 – 01:00

Special assistance and disabled facilities

Special Assistance

Special assistance bookings should be made with your airline or travel agent in advance – ideally at the time of booking and at least 48 hours prior to travel. Each airline may have different rules and regulations around booking special assistance. Special assistance services at Stansted are provided by ABM.

Access to the Assistance reception area is level with no doors and there is fixed seating in the area. The reception desk is 100cm/3ft 3in high and has a lowered section, which is 76cm/2ft 6in) high. A portable loop hearing system is available.

The step-free Assistance waiting area in the departures hall is near Gates 40 to 50. The height of the reception desk is 70cm and there is fixed connected seating. A portable hearing loop is available and there are flight departure information boards.

Disabled parking

Blue Badge parking bays are available in the Short Stay car parks, in the Orange and Green zones, as well as in the Mid Stay and Long Stay car parks. Assistance is provided in the APH Car Park, which is a Park & Ride, or you may wish to book a Meet & Greet valet service.

For dropping off passengers, there are dedicated Blue Badge spaces at the front of the Express Set Down zone, which costs £7.00 for up to 15 minutes. Payment is by card or exact change. Vehicles must not be left unattended at any time and returning within half an hour is not permitted.

Accessible toilets

There are unisex accessible toilets throughout the airport, both before security and in the departures hall after security, where there is one located to the right of the Assistance area, as well as one on the walkway leading to the main seating area, between Dune and The Camden Bar & Kitchen.

For arrivals, the accessible toilet is located opposite the reception desk in the arrivals Assistance waiting area.

Mobility equipment

If you are travelling with your own mobility aid, such as a wheelchair or scooter, you need to inform the airline at the time of booking and advise them of its specifications. You can usually remain in your own mobility equipment up until boarding the aircraft.

Stansted Airport provides a range of accessible transport, including minibuses and Ambulift vehicles, which are used to board and disembark passengers who require full assistance.

Assistance dogs

Assistance dogs must be registered with the Pet Travel Scheme and must be approved to fly by your airline.

Hidden disabilities

Sunflower lanyards can be collected from the Assistance reception desk. The sunflower lanyard identifies the wearer to airport staff as someone who may need additional help when travelling through the terminal. Depending on availability, passengers with a sunflower lanyard may be able to use the Security FastTrack lane.
You can read more about Special Assistance at Stansted Airport on this AccessAble Guide.

Family facilities

Baby changing

There are baby-changing facilities in both the men’s and ladies’ toilets in the check-in area Zone A. There are also baby changing facilities and a nursing room in the main departure hall, after security, and family rooms near Gates 13, 33/34, 43 and 59. Between Gates 81 to 88 there is a baby change with an accessible toilet.

If you are arriving in Stansted, you’ll find a family room in international baggage reclaim.

Baby essentials

Head to the Boots store for all your baby essentials including nappies, formula milk and wet wipes. Available both before and after security.

Pushchairs

If you are travelling with a pushchair, you can take it right up to the gate, just before you board your flight, where the staff will take it from you to put in the hold.

Business facilities

Novotel London Stansted Airport Hotel
The Novotel offers eight meeting and conference rooms for groups of two to 250 people, as well as a business centre that is open Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 19:00, with full secretarial and communications services available. The Novotel is situated within the airport perimeter.

Tel: 01279 680 800

Radisson Blu Hotel London Stansted Airport
The Radisson Blu Hotel is a two-minute walk from the airport terminal and has 26 event and meeting rooms for groups of up to 400 delegates. WiFi, video conferencing and a fully equipped business centre are all available.

Tel: 01279 661 012

United Business Centre
The United Business Centre, located in Endeavour House and a short drive from the airport terminal, offers fully equipped meeting rooms for groups of two to 30 delegates. A courtesy car is available upon request to collect delegates from the airport. Endeavour House is close to Junction 8a of the M11 motorway. The centre is open Monday to Friday, from 08:00 to 18:00.

Tel: 01908 357822

Escape Lounge

Relax in the comfortable environment of the Escape Lounge, while you wait for your flight. Enjoy unlimited hot and soft drinks, a selection of wines, beers and spirits, complimentary WiFi, mobile charging points and freshly prepared hot and cold food.

Opening times: 04:00 – 19:00
Price from £29.99 per adult

Once you have cleared security and passed through Duty-Free, the entrance to the Escape Lounge is between Coast to Coast and Pret a Manger.

Chapel

You’ll find a multi-faith prayer room both before and after security. Before security, this is located opposite the Zone A check-in area. After security, it is near the Escape Lounge in the main departure hall.

Both rooms are open 24 hours and ritual washing facilities are provided next to each room.

Stansted Airport also has a Chaplaincy that offers pastoral care and support to passengers and staff. Just look for their purple chaplains lanyards.

Chaplaincy tel: 07878 176551
Chaplaincy email: revpete07@gmail.com

Food and drink

There are plenty of refreshment places at Stansted Airport where you can grab a coffee to go, sit down to a pub lunch, snack on healthy sushi, or munch on Lebanese mezze.

Name	Description	Opening times
Bottega Prosecco Bar & Caffè	Premium beverages and Mediterranean nibbles	04:00 – 20:00
Burger King	100% beef flame-grilled burgers	04:00 – 22:00
Burnell’s Bar	Local craft ales, salads, snacks and more	variable
The Camden Bar & Kitchen	Camden Town craft beers and pub classics	03:30 – 20:00
Comptoir Libanais	Authentic Lebanese mezze and more	04:00 – 19:00
Costa Coffee	Italian coffee, sandwiches and pastries	24 hours
Harris + Hoole	Top-quality coffee with beans sourced direct from farmers	03:00 – 21:00
Itsu	Healthy noodles, sushi and salads	variable
JD Wetherspoon – The Windmill	Pub favourites for all the family	03:00 – 22:00
Joe & The Juice	Healthy and creative juice mixes	03:00 – 22:00
Leon	Mediterranean, healthy fast food	05:00 – 22:00
The Perch	Bar inspired by the migratory flights of birds	variable
Pret a Manger	Barista drinks, wraps, baguettes and pastries	24 hours
Sunny Side Cafe	All-day brunch to kick-start the holiday vibes	Variable
Terracotta Italian Kitchen	Italian treats, from pizza and pasta to gelato	Variable

Smoking areas

 

There are several designated smoking zones outside of the terminal before you go through security. No smoking is permitted at all within the terminal building, including e-cigarettes, and there are no smoking zones after security.

Water fountains

You’ll find free drinking water fountains and free water refill stations in the terminal, as follows:

• international departure hall, behind Pret a Manger
• near Gates1-19 and Gates 40-59
• passport control
• international baggage reclaim, near belt 9
• international arrivals hall

Duty-free shopping

Stansted World Duty-Free offers a Click & Collect service, whereby you can place your order up to 72 hours before your flight departure time, and collect it before you board.

You can also have your purchases kept for you to collect on your return into Stansted, with Shop Now, Collect on Return. Your items will be available for you to collect from the collection point at Excess Baggage, next to international arrivals.

All airlines flying from Stansted allow passengers to take one standard shopping bag of airport shopping on board, in addition to the standard hand baggage allowance.

World Duty-Free
Opening times: 03:00 – 22:00

Other shops

• Accessorize
• Boots
• Boss
• Discover Gourmet
• Dube
• FatFace
• Glorious Britain
• Hamleys
• InMotion
• JD Sports
• Lego
• M&S Simply Food
• Mulberry
• Rituals
• Sunglasses Boutique
• Superdry
• Ted Baker
• The Body Shop
• Tommy Hilfiger
• WHSmith

Charging points

There is mobile device charging points in most bars and restaurants, as well as in some seating areas in the departures hall.

EV charging points

There is an EV charging point at the Radisson Blu Hotel London Stansted Airport, with one device and two connectors.

Postcode: CM24 1PP.

Internet access

WiFi
Complimentary WiFi is available throughout the airport terminal and in the airport lounges. Simply select the “_FreeWiFi” network on your device.
Alternatively, you can choose to upgrade to a pay-as-you-go 10 x faster speed service, which is suitable for gaming and streaming, for £1.00.

Luggage trolleys

You’ll find luggage trolleys available in designated areas of the terminal, in the car parks and in coach and rail stations. You will need a £1.00 coin, a 1-euro coin, or a $0.25 coin, which is refundable when you return the trolley to a designated trolley area.

Luggage lockers

You can store your bags with Luggage-Point at Stansted Airport, which also offers a bag wrapping service, shipping, dry-cleaning and lost property service.

Luggage-Point

Landside, international arrivals, after customs

Currency exchange

Currency exchange at Stansted Airport is operated by Travelex. You can pre-order your currency and collect it from the Travelex store at the airport.

You can also purchase a Travelex Money Card, which is available for use in ten different currencies and locks in the exchange rate.

The Travelex Buy Back Plus scheme means you can exchange any leftover currency with them after your trip, for the same rate as you bought it.

Lost property

If you leave any items behind on the aircraft, then you need to get in contact with the airline directly. If you lose any items within the airport, you can contact the lost property provider, Excess Baggage, as follows:

 - Excess Baggage Airport Services Desk
 - International arrivals, landside after customs
 - Opening hours: 06:00 – 22:00

You can also register lost items at lostproperty.org.

Help Desk

Assistance is available by using any of the help points situated throughout the airport, including the Short Stay car parks and Express Set Down zone.

The airport information desk is in the international arrivals area and is open 24 hours for assistance with general enquiries and flight information.