Home / London /Heathrow / RailAir RA2 and South Western Railway to Southampton vs National Express coach to Stansted

LHR → London · head to head

RailAir RA2 and South Western Railway to SouthamptonorNational Express coach to Stansted?

The short answer

For one traveler the National Express coach to Stansted is cheaper by up to £27.00. The National Express coach to Stansted fare is sold "from" a price rather than at it, so this comparison holds only at the advertised prices and the real answer can change with the day you travel.

The National Express coach to Stansted is quicker: 1 h 30 against 1 h 44. The RailAir RA2 and South Western Railway to Southampton varies between 100 and 125 minutes.

RailAir RA2 and South Western Railway to Southampton: 04:50–22:20. National Express coach to Stansted: 07:35–23:30.

Priced against each other

Whole-party totals · adult fares
What each costs for the whole party, in GBP. The cheaper of the two is marked on every row.
TravelersRailAir RA2 and South Western Railway to SouthamptonNational Express coach to StanstedDifference
1£48.30from £21.30up to £27.00
2£96.60from £42.60up to £54.00
3£144.90from £63.90up to £81.00
4£193.20from £85.20up to £108.00
5£241.50from £106.50up to £135
6£289.80from £127.80up to £162.00
7£338.10from £149.10up to £189.00
8£386.40from £170.40up to £216.00

Side by side

Where each one leaves you
RA2SWR · RailAir and South Western RailwayRailAir RA2 and South Western Railway to Southampton
From
Terminal 3 (Stands 7/8), Terminal 2 (Stands 11/12) or Terminal 5, on the RailAir RA2 coach
To
Southampton Central, changing at Woking
Luggage
The RA2 coach takes 2 bags of up to 30 kg and hand luggage per person; extra bags are £5 each. The train has racks.
Runs
04:50–22:20
Journey
100–125 min

The through ticket is only valid via Woking: a ticket by any other route costs more.

The train from Woking runs hourly, so a missed connection costs close to an hour.

RailAir RA2 and South Western Railway to Southampton: price for every party size

Check times and fares with National Rail
shuttle · National ExpressNational Express coach to Stansted
From
Heathrow Central Bus Station for Terminals 2 and 3, outside Terminal 5 (stops 11 to 15) or outside Terminal 4 (stops 12 to 14)
To
Stansted Airport coach station, bays 20 to 22
Luggage
One large suitcase (or two medium) and one soft hand-luggage item per person.
Runs
07:35–23:30
Journey
80–110 min

There are only about a dozen coaches a day and most start from the coach station at Stansted, so a missed coach costs hours.

National Express advises being at the airport three hours before a flight, so do not plan a connection tighter than that by coach.

National Express coach to Stansted: price for every party size

Check times and fares with National Express

This compares two of 19 options. See all of them ranked for your party size

The other comparisons at Heathrow