On price alone, the Stansted Express usually wins. Advance singles start at £9.90 per person, while our fixed taxi fare from Stansted to Liverpool Street is £87 for a saloon car. The taxi earns its place when the trains are not running, when your destination is not near Liverpool Street, or when you are carrying a lot.
The headline numbers
| Stansted Express | Our taxi | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | From £9.90 per person (advance single) | £87 per saloon car, Stansted to Liverpool Street |
| Journey time | 48 minutes to Liverpool Street | About 60 minutes, door to door |
| Destination | Liverpool Street, Tottenham Hale, Stratford | Any address |
| First from Stansted | Around 05:30 (05:55 Tuesday to Thursday) | Any time |
| Last from Stansted | 00:30 | Any time |
Train details from Stansted Airport and Stansted Express; taxi fares from our booking system. All checked October 2026. On-the-day train fares are higher than the advance price.
When the train is the right call
- You are travelling alone or as a couple.
- Your hotel or home is near Liverpool Street, Tottenham Hale or Stratford.
- You are travelling light and within the train’s hours.
When the taxi is worth it
Early flights. The first trains from Liverpool Street leave between about 03:40 and 04:40 depending on the day. For a 06:00 departure you may need to be at the airport before the train can get you there, and you still need to reach Liverpool Street first.
Late arrivals. The last train to London leaves Stansted at 00:30. A delayed evening flight can miss it.
Anywhere that is not on the line. From Stansted, Canary Wharf is £77, King’s Cross £93 and Oxford Circus £96 by taxi, straight to the door. By train, each needs another journey across London with your luggage.
Groups with luggage. A family with four large cases needs an estate (£95 to Liverpool Street), or an 8-seater (£112) for bigger groups. Six people in the 8-seater pay under £19 each, and nobody carries anything through a station.
Full fares are on our Stansted taxi prices page. When we collect you, the driver meets you inside arrivals and the first 60 minutes after landing are free.
Common questions
Is the Stansted Express cheaper than a taxi?
Usually, per person. Advance singles start at £9.90. A taxi becomes better value for groups, early or late flights, and destinations away from Liverpool Street.
What time is the first Stansted Express?
From Stansted to London, around 05:30, or 05:55 on Tuesdays to Thursdays. From Liverpool Street to Stansted, between about 03:40 and 04:40 depending on the day.
How much is a taxi from Stansted to Liverpool Street?
£87 in a saloon, £95 in an estate and £112 in an MPV or 8-seater.