Illustrative comparison based on typical fares and public transport costs. Ticket prices vary by airline, season and booking date.
Heathrow is 24km from central London — less than half the distance of Stansted at 55km.
The Elizabeth Line and Piccadilly Line run every 10–15 minutes with no traffic risk.
Heathrow's total journey cost is lower once the shorter, cheaper airport transfer is included.
Door-to-door time is shorter — the faster transfer outweighs the slightly longer flight.
More transport options mean less schedule waiting and fewer missed connections.
If you find a ticket at least €50 cheaper than the Heathrow option — the saving may justify the longer coach or train transfer.
If you are travelling with only hand luggage — the baggage cost advantage of full-service airlines disappears.
If you are heading to northeast London, Cambridge or East Anglia — Stansted is geographically closer to these destinations.
If you are on a tight budget and willing to trade 25–40 minutes of transfer time for a lower ticket price.
Illustrative breakdown. Actual costs depend on your specific flight, baggage and chosen transfer option.
Predictable train connections, closer to most London offices and meeting venues.
Direct train or Tube from the airport — no coach transfer with tired children and luggage.
The ticket saving matters most. Take the coach for the lowest total cost if you have time.
Every hour counts on a short trip. The faster transfer means more time in London.
Stansted is closer to Stratford, Hackney and East London. The transfer geography works in your favour.
With a longer trip the transfer difference matters less. Choose by total cost and convenience.
Add baggage fees, airport transfer cost and schedule waiting time before comparing.
Stansted is 55km from central London. The Stansted Express costs ~£17 one way and takes 50 minutes.
Budget airlines flying into Stansted often charge €30–60 for a checked bag. Add it to the total.
The flight to Stansted is ~15 min shorter — but the longer transfer to central London more than cancels that saving.
Stansted often has cheaper ticket prices because it serves more budget airlines. However, once you add baggage fees and the longer, more expensive airport transfer, Heathrow is frequently cheaper overall. Always compare the complete door-to-door cost: ticket + baggage + Berlin airport transfer + London airport transfer.
The Stansted Express train takes approximately 50 minutes to Liverpool Street station and costs around £17 one way off-peak. National Express coaches take 75–90 minutes to central London and cost £10–15. The coach is cheaper but slower and subject to traffic. Trains run every 15–30 minutes; coaches every 30–60 minutes.
The Elizabeth Line takes approximately 35 minutes to central London and costs around £12 off-peak. The Piccadilly Line takes 50–60 minutes and costs £5–6. The Heathrow Express takes 15 minutes to Paddington but costs £25. All three options run frequently throughout the day.
Yes. Late-night arrivals at Stansted mean fewer train departures. The last Stansted Express leaves around 23:30. Late-night arrivals at Heathrow still have the Piccadilly Line (24-hour service on Fridays and Saturdays) and night buses. Early morning departures from Stansted may require arriving the night before if public transport is not running.
Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) is the city's single main airport, located approximately 27km south of the city centre. The S-Bahn (S9, S45) connects BER to central Berlin in about 40 minutes. The journey to BER is the same regardless of which London airport you fly to — only the London side changes.
Last reviewed: July 2026 · Next factual review: January 2027
Paste your two flight options and see which really wins — door to door, with your exact ticket prices, baggage and preferred transfer.
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