Bethnal Green to Stansted Airport - Public Transport Guide
The East End of London has a vibrant culture. It's proud of its history and its unique identity. One of the most buzzing communities of London's East End is Bethnal Green. If you're travelling from Bethnal Green to Stansted Airport, you have the convenience of several different travel options to make the start of your journey easier.
In this article, we'll take you on a whistle-stop tour of the area and look at the best ways of getting from Bethnal Green to Stansted. We'll give you the best routes, take a look at the cheapest options, and show you how to make the start of your holiday or business trip one to remember.
Where is Bethnal Green?
This colourful location sits between Hackney and Stratford and is both a residential and a commercial centre. With underground wineries, the Young Victoria & Albert Museum for the kids, comedy clubs and a burgeoning international food culture, it’s also just a short bus or tube ride away from the centre of London’s financial district.
Bethnal Green has some excellent transport links, with the A11 and the A1209 serving as main arteries into the area. Bethnal Green Underground Station is one of the oldest on the network and sits between London Liverpool Street and Mile End on the Central Line. One more stop east brings you to Stratford, making it super-easy to get to either of your main Stansted departure points with just a couple of stops on the underground.
The distance from Bethnal Green to Stansted Airport is approximately 51km (32 miles). Your journey time should average around one hour and 26 minutes by bus from Stratford up the M11 and around one hour and 19 minutes via the Stansted Express train from Liverpool Street Station.
Let's look at the best routes from Bethnal Green to Stansted Airport, including their costs.
Route 1 – Go by bus to Stansted Airport
It’s just a couple of stops from Bethnal Green Underground Station to Stratford station on the Central Line, making this option one of the fastest and most convenient. Once you arrive at Stratford, Bus Stop 20 (the departure point for our luxury Mercedes buses) is just a two-minute walk. The key thing about Stratford is that all the lines are on the surface so it’s easy to interchange – a big plus for the bus if you’ve got the kids or some heavy luggage with you!
The Airport Bus Express service leaves every half-hour, 24 hours a day. So if you need to catch an early or late flight, your bus is waiting for you. Tickets cost around £16.00 for a standard single. Or you can slash that to just £9* if you book 30 days in advance.
Route 2 – By train from Liverpool Street
Liverpool Street station is just one stop west of Bethnal Green on the Central Line, so it's also easy to get to your starting point. Catch the Stansted Express train, which takes you straight to the underground platform at Stansted Airport terminal. However, this service doesn't run at night, so if you have an early flight, you may want to consider another option. Tickets for the Stansted Express are around £23 for a standard single, and it also takes around the same time as the bus from Stratford.
Are there any other options?
There are, but unless you travel very early in the morning or late at night, the big issue you'll encounter is the traffic! East London can be very congested - and don't forget you'll be inside the ULEZ zone too, so unless your vehicle is ULEZ-compliant you'll need to add another £12.50 onto your travel costs. Beat the traffic by catching the bus from Stratford instead.
Not only is the bus the cheapest option, but it has several advantages. Your driver is there to help you with your luggage, and your seat is guaranteed (something that can sometimes go awry with the train!). Stratford is a smart choice if you have mobility issues, as there are no escalators or hazards to negotiate, thanks to the new state-of-the-art facilities. If you want to travel by bus from Bethnal Green to Stansted Airport, Stratford is the best choice.
*Price for a standard single ticket booked online 30 days in advance. Prices are subject to change.
Ricky