Greenwich to Stansted Airport - Transport Guide
The beautiful London borough of Greenwich is a delightful mix of elegant suburbs, green parks, and historically important locations such as the Greenwich Observatory, home to the Meridian that defines the entire planet’s time zones.
If you’re planning to travel from Greenwich to Stansted Airport for business or pleasure, time is just one factor you need to consider when choosing the best route. In this guide, we'll examine the most effective ways of getting from Greenwich to Stansted by bus and train, including how much you'll pay, the advantages of both, and, of course, how long it'll take.
Where is Greenwich?
Greenwich is located along the south bank of the Thames, between Deptford to the west and Woolwich to the east. It is well-served by public transport, and even though there's a big river in the way, getting to the north side of the capital is super-easy. The Elizabeth Line has made travel even simpler, plus the Docklands Light Railway and the Thameslink service offer significant additions to the area's infrastructure.
What are your travel options?
Whether you're jetting off on holiday to the Canary Islands or heading to Berlin for a high-level business meeting, Stansted Airport is an ideal departure point. Getting to London's third airport is also easy, thanks to plenty of bus and train options. Let's look at the two most popular ways to get from Greenwich to Stansted Airport on public transport.
Route 1 – Catch the coach from Stratford
Stratford transport hub is one of the most modern in the city, with state-of-the-art facilities, easy access from the train lines (which are all on the surface) to the bus stops, and some great cafés selling really good coffee. To travel from Greenwich to Stansted Airport, get the Underground Jubilee Line from North Greenwich to Stratford station. Alternatively, you can take the Docklands Light Railway from Greenwich to Stratford if you don't mind a few more stops.
Once you arrive at Stratford, it’s a two-minute walk from the Underground station to the Number 20 bus stop, where you can catch the Airport Bus Express for your onward trip to the airport.
Your ticket will cost £16 if you buy it on the day, or you can cut that down to just £9* if you book up to 30 days in advance. If you’re travelling in a group of three or more, there are also Group Discounts available that can slash the cost of your journey. The trip from Stratford to Stansted takes around 35 minutes with a direct route up the M11 motorway, avoiding London’s congested traffic.
You can also catch the 108 bus from Greenwich to Stratford station, and then switch to the Airport Bus Express luxury coach for your trip to the airport.
Route 2 – Taking the train
While the Stansted Express train from Liverpool Street is a great way to get to Stansted Airport quickly, it can be challenging to get to from Greenwich. If you want to use the Stansted Express service, you can also connect to it at Stratford train station. The service is not as frequent as the bus option and will cost you more at around £23 for a standard single ticket. You can use the same method to get to Stratford from Greenwich and then catch the Stansted Express.
The journey time is slightly shorter than the bus, but can be susceptible to delays, industrial action, and overcrowding. The train also does not operate overnight, with the first trains leaving London Liverpool Street station at 04:30 am.
*Price for a standard single ticket booked online 30 days in advance. Prices are subject to change.
Ricky