Travelvus
Home›London Airports›Airport Choice

Which London airport should you choose?

London has six airports, but for most travellers flying from Europe, the real choice is between Heathrow and Stansted. Different airlines, different transfers, different total costs. Choosing the right one saves you money and time.

Compare Heathrow vs Stansted →
Interactive Decision EngineDestination-awareDoor-to-door AnalysisScenario Recommendations
LHR

Heathrow

London's main international hub — fastest transfer, most routes

Strengths
+Direct Tube/Elizabeth Line to central London
+Fastest door-to-door journey times
+Checked bag often included in full-service fares
+24h Piccadilly Line (Night Tube Fri–Sat)
Watch out
!Higher ticket prices on most routes
!Can be crowded during peak hours
!Further from East London destinations
Best forFastest arrival, business travellers, central & west London
STN

Stansted

Budget airline hub — cheaper tickets, longer transfers

Strengths
+Lower ticket prices on Ryanair and easyJet
+Stansted Express direct to Liverpool Street
+Good for East London and the City
+Often cheaper total cost once you compare
Watch out
!45–85 min transfer to most destinations
!Checked bag adds €45 — can erase ticket savings
!Limited late-night train service after 00:30
Best forBudget travellers, East London, Liverpool Street area

Transfer at a glance

Door-to-door transfer costs and times for the most common London destinations.

LHR → Central London
Piccadilly/Elizabeth Line, ~50 min
€18
STN → Central London
Stansted Express + Tube, ~70 min
€32
LHR → Paddington
Heathrow Express direct, ~30 min — fastest
€29
STN → Liverpool St
Stansted Express direct, ~55 min — best STN connection
€28

Which airport for your situation?

Each scenario links directly to the Decision Engine with prefilled assumptions.

01Lowest total cost
With a €58 ticket, Stansted is often cheaper even after adding baggage and transfer costs. But the gap is narrower than it looks.
Compare cost →
02Fastest city arrival
Heathrow reaches central London in ~50 min with direct Tube. Stansted takes 70+ min with at least one change.
See times →
03Business traveller
Heathrow Express reaches Paddington in 15 min. Stansted Express to Liverpool Street takes 50 min but serves the City directly.
Paddington →
04Family with luggage
Heathrow's checked bag is often included. Stansted charges €45 — which can negate the cheaper ticket for families.
With baggage →
05East London destination
Stansted Express arrives at Liverpool Street in 55 min direct. For Shoreditch, Canary Wharf, or Stratford, Stansted can be the smarter choice.
Liverpool St →

More about London airports

Best Airport for Central London
Read guide →
Heathrow vs Gatwick
Read guide →
London Airports overview
Read guide →
How we calculate this

Transfer costs are illustrative EUR values based on TfL/National Rail fares reviewed July 2026. Airfares are illustrative planning estimates. The Decision Engine calculates real trip cost including baggage, seat selection, and airport transfers.

Last reviewed: July 2026