Illustrative comparison based on typical fares and public transport costs. Ticket prices vary by airline, season and booking date.
Luton's DART + Thameslink reaches St Pancras in about 40 minutes versus about 50 minutes on the Stansted Express — about 10 minutes faster.
Total costs are effectively level in this comparison — about £100 at Luton versus about £102 at Stansted.
Luton's total journey is about 15 minutes shorter door-to-door once baggage and the transfer are counted.
Stansted still wins on route choice: Ryanair's base there is the widest budget network in the UK.
Luton is better placed for north London, Milton Keynes, Bedford and the Midlands.
Choose Stansted if flying Ryanair — it is their largest UK base with the most routes.
Choose Luton if flying Wizz Air or easyJet — both have major operations at LTN.
Stansted is better for Cambridge, northeast London and East Anglia.
Luton is better for north London, Milton Keynes, Bedford and the Midlands.
Choose Luton if a 10-minute faster transfer and slightly lower total cost matter to you.
Illustrative breakdown. Actual costs depend on your specific flight, baggage and chosen transfer option.
Ryanair's biggest UK base — maximum route choice and frequency.
Both airlines have major operations at Luton with competitive fares.
Stansted is geographically closer and the Stansted Express serves Liverpool Street.
Luton is closer to north London, Luton, Bedford and Milton Keynes.
Both are budget airports. Choose by which airline has the best fare and schedule.
Both budget airports involve longer transfers. Gatwick is more family-friendly with direct trains.
Add baggage fees, transfer cost and schedule waiting. A £50 saving on the ticket can disappear after one checked bag.
Luton is 45km from central London. Stansted is 55km. The transfer cost and time differ significantly.
Budget airlines charge around £40 for a checked bag. Full-service airlines often include it.
Stansted is better for northeast London. Luton is better for north London.
Luton edges it for most travellers: its transfer is about 10 minutes faster, the total journey about 15 minutes shorter, and total costs are effectively level. Stansted wins if Ryanair's route network is the reason you are flying there.
The Stansted Express reaches Liverpool Street in about 50 minutes (~£22 walk-up; advance fares from £9.90). Coaches take 75–90 minutes for about £10–15. The last Express leaves around 00:30.
The DART rail link connects the terminal to Luton Airport Parkway in about 5 minutes (£4.90), then Thameslink reaches St Pancras in about 30 minutes — roughly 40 minutes and ~£15 in total. DART is an automated people mover on rails, not a bus.
Stansted typically costs around £102 door-to-door in this comparison; Luton around £100. The difference is within £2 — effectively a tie.
Stansted serves mainly Ryanair (largest UK base). Luton serves mainly Wizz Air and easyJet.
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Next factual review: April 2027
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