
Stansted Airport is located just under 40 miles from London and is accessible by train, car, or bus. The Stansted Express train service is the fastest way to get to and from the airport, taking just 50 minutes. The train station at Stansted Airport is located a 2-minute walk away from the main terminal. While you can purchase Oyster Cards at the Left Luggage/Excess Baggage store in the arrivals area of Stansted Airport, you cannot use them to travel to or from the airport. If you are travelling to or from Stansted Airport using the Stansted Express, you will need to buy a separate ticket that covers the entire journey.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Can I use my Oyster card at Stansted Airport? | No, Oyster cards cannot be used for journeys to/from Stansted Airport. Oyster and contactless ‘tap in, tap out’ methods of payment are not accepted on the Stansted Express. |
| Where can I buy an Oyster card? | Oyster cards can be purchased from the Oyster Ticket Shop at Stansted Rail Station, the Left Luggage/Excess Baggage store in the arrivals area of Stansted Airport, or at any tube station in London. |
| Can I use my Oyster card on the Stansted Express? | Oyster cards can be used on the Stansted Express for journeys between London Liverpool Street and Tottenham Hale. However, a separate ticket must be purchased for travel to/from Stansted Airport. |
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What You'll Learn

Oyster cards cannot be used for journeys to Stansted Airport
Oyster cards are not valid for travel directly to or from Stansted Airport. The airport is outside of the Transport for London zones and is therefore not in any zone. This means that you cannot use your Oyster card for the entire journey to the airport.
However, you can use your Oyster card for journeys within London, including to and from Tottenham Hale or Liverpool Street stations. From these stations, you can then purchase a separate ticket to cover the remainder of your journey to Stansted Airport. For example, you can take the Stansted Express train from either of these stations directly to the airport.
If you are looking to purchase an Oyster card, you can do so at the Oyster Ticket Shop at Stansted Rail Station, or at the Left Luggage/Excess Baggage store in the arrivals area of the airport between Costa and Burger King. You can also purchase a Visitor Oyster Card in advance online, which will be delivered to your home before you arrive in London.
It is worth noting that the cheapest way to buy tickets for the Stansted Express service is online, and you must buy a ticket before you travel. You can also purchase tickets from the train ticket machine located in Stansted Airport Station or from the Rail Information desk.
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Oyster cards can be purchased at Stansted Airport
If you have time before your trip, you can also purchase a Visitor Oyster Card in advance to be delivered to your home address. This can be done through the TFL website.
It is worth noting that while you can purchase Oyster Cards at Stansted Airport, you cannot use them for travel between Stansted Airport and Tottenham Hale. You will need to buy a separate ticket for this journey.
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The cheapest way to travel to Stansted Airport from London
You can purchase Oyster Cards from the Left Luggage/Excess Baggage store in the arrivals area of Stansted Airport, between Costa and Burger King. Oyster cards and contactless cards have the same prices and will cap your spending if you travel a lot in one day. However, you cannot use your Oyster card between Stansted Airport and Tottenham Hale.
Travelling from London to Stansted Airport
There are several ways to travel cheaply from London to Stansted Airport. Here are some options:
By Coach
National Express coaches to London Stansted Airport run 24 hours a day and stop at 38 pick-up points, including 15 in central London. Prices start from £5 one way when booked in advance.
By Bus
You can take bus 500 from Stansted Airport. It is recommended to use an app like City Mapper to navigate London's public transport.
By Train
The Stansted Express is a train service running between London Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport, stopping at Tottenham Hale. The journey takes around 50 minutes, and trains run every 30 minutes during the day and every 15 minutes in the early morning and evening. Tickets can be booked for as little as £9.45 one-way when bought in advance.
The train station at Stansted Airport is just a 2-minute walk from the main terminal, making it a convenient option.
It is worth noting that Oyster cards cannot be used on the Stansted Express, and you will need to buy a separate ticket for this journey.
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Where to buy an Oyster card at Stansted Airport
Oyster cards are travel cards that can be used for paying for journeys on the London Underground ("the Tube"), as well as buses, trams, DLR, London Overground, and most National Rail services in London. They are a convenient way to pay for travel around London, as they are cheaper than buying individual tickets and they cap your spending if you travel a lot in one day.
You can buy Oyster cards at Stansted Airport in the following locations:
- The Oyster Ticket Shop at Stansted Rail Station.
- The Left Luggage/Excess Baggage store in the arrivals area of Stansted Airport, between Costa and Burger King.
- The Information Centre at Stansted Airport.
Please note that you cannot use an Oyster card for travel between Stansted Airport and Tottenham Hale. You will need to buy a separate ticket for this journey. It is recommended that you buy a ticket to your London destination (e.g. Liverpool Street) and then purchase an Oyster card from the ticket office there.
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Using Oyster cards on the Stansted Express
The Stansted Express is a train service that runs between London Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport, stopping at Tottenham Hale. The journey takes around 50 minutes, and trains run every 30 minutes during the day and every 15 minutes in the early morning and evening.
You can use your Oyster card on the Stansted Express between London Liverpool Street and Tottenham Hale. However, you cannot use your Oyster card for the entire journey to Stansted Airport. If you are travelling to or from the airport, you will need to purchase a separate ticket that covers the whole journey. You can buy tickets online, from a ticket machine at Stansted Airport Station, or from the Rail Information desk.
It is important to note that the Stansted Express does not accept contactless payments on board, including Oyster cards. Therefore, you must buy a ticket before travelling. The cheapest way to buy tickets for the Stansted Express is to book online, where you can find tickets from as low as £9.50 for journeys between Tottenham Hale and Stansted Airport.
If you are looking to purchase an Oyster card, you can do so at the Oyster Ticket Shop at Stansted Rail Station. Additionally, Oyster Cards are available at the Left Luggage/Excess Baggage store in the arrivals area of Stansted Airport, located between Costa and Burger King.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can buy an Oyster Card at the Oyster Ticket Shop at Stansted Rail Station, which is a two-minute walk from the airport terminal. You can also purchase Oyster Cards from the Left Luggage/Excess Baggage store in the arrivals area of Stansted Airport, between Costa and Burger King.
No, you cannot return your Oyster card at Stansted Airport.
You can use your Oyster Card on the Stansted Express only for journeys between London Liverpool Street and Tottenham Hale. You cannot use your Oyster card to travel to or from Stansted Airport.























