The most reliable way between Heathrow and Stansted is the direct National Express coach, which covers the 42-mile route in around 1 hour 20 to 25 minutes with no changes and runs close to 24 hours a day, with fares typically from around £15 to £20 booked in advance. A taxi is faster door to door but costs considerably more, commonly £75 to £150 or so depending on the operator and vehicle, while there is no direct train between the two airports. Prices checked 2026.
Why this route is different from a normal airport transfer
Heathrow and Stansted are on opposite sides of London, roughly 42 miles apart by road, and neither has a rail link to the other. If you are self-connecting between an inbound flight at one and an outbound flight at the other, most likely because you booked two separate low-cost tickets rather than a single through itinerary, you need to allow a realistic amount of time and pick the option that best matches your risk tolerance for delay.
National Express coach (the standard choice)
National Express runs a direct coach between Heathrow and Stansted with no changes, picking up from Heathrow Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5. According to route data from Trainline, there are around 19 coaches a day on average, running from as early as 00:55 to just before midnight, with a fastest journey of about 1 hour 20 minutes and an average of 1 hour 25 minutes. Fares vary with how far ahead you book: Omio's live pricing shows fares from around £19, while other snapshots of the National Express site have shown fares as low as £15, so book as early as you can for the cheapest price and check nationalexpress.com directly for the current fare and next departure.
Taxi or private hire
A taxi is the fastest and most flexible option, taking the M25 and M11 to cover the distance in roughly 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes outside peak traffic, though this route is entirely dependent on M25 conditions and can take considerably longer at rush hour. Indicative fares from private-hire operators vary a good deal by company and promotion, from around £75 at the cheaper end up to £140 to £150 or more for a standard saloon booking, so it is worth comparing two or three operators and getting a fixed-price quote before you commit. A pre-booked transfer that tracks your flight removes the risk of a delayed landing eating into your connection time.
Train (not a direct option)
There is no rail link that connects Heathrow and Stansted without a significant detour through central London, changing between the Elizabeth line or Piccadilly line and the Stansted Express or a Greater Anglia service to Liverpool Street. Given the coach runs direct in under 90 minutes, the train adds a change, extra walking between stations, and little to no time saving, so it is rarely worth considering for this specific route.
Comparison table
| Option | Journey time | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Express coach | 1h 20m to 1h 25m | From around £15 to £20 advance | Direct, no changes, close to 24-hour service |
| Taxi / pre-booked transfer | 1h to 1h 30m, traffic dependent | Roughly £75 to £150+ | Fastest and most flexible, cost varies by operator |
| Train | Not direct | N/A | Requires a change via central London; not recommended |
How much connection time should you allow?
If you booked separate tickets on different airlines, plan for at least 3 to 4 hours between landing at one airport and your outbound check-in cutoff at the other, more if you are travelling at a peak time or relying on the coach rather than a pre-booked taxi. For the equivalent journey to Heathrow's other nearby airports, see our guides to Heathrow to Luton and Heathrow to London City. Build in extra buffer for security queues and terminal walking time at the departure airport on top of the transfer itself. If your connection is tight, a pre-booked taxi with flight tracking is the safer choice, since it can adjust to a delayed landing in a way a fixed coach departure cannot.
For fares and pickup points once you land at Heathrow, see the taxis page, and for a comparison of Heathrow's other cross-London airport transfer, see our guide to Heathrow to Gatwick. For the full detail on scheduled coaches and trains, see the public transport page, and for coach and train options to nearby towns, see the routes page.