Stansted ExpressorTrain to Cambridge?

The short answer

These do not go to the same place, so price is not the comparison. The Stansted Express reaches Liverpool Street, on the eastern edge of the City; the Train to Cambridge does not. Cambridge is a separate city up the line, not part of central London.

The Train to Cambridge is quicker: 31 min against 48 min.

Stansted Express: 05:30–00:30. Train to Cambridge: 05:25–23:25.

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.
Travelers	Stansted Express	Train to Cambridge	Difference
1	from £9.45	£14	up to £4.55
2	from £18.90	£28	up to £9.10
3	from £28.35	£42	up to £13.65
4	from £37.80	£56	up to £18.20
5	from £47.25	£70	up to £22.75
6	from £56.70	£84	up to £27.30
7	from £66.15	£98	up to £31.85
8	from £75.60	£112	up to £36.40

Side by side

Where each one leaves you

Stansted Express · Greater AngliaStansted Express

From: Stansted Airport station, directly beneath the terminal, a two-minute walk
To: Liverpool Street, calling at Tottenham Hale and with connections to Stratford
Luggage: No stated limit; racks at the ends of each carriage.
Runs: 05:30–00:30
Journey: 48 min

A 06:00 flight on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday has no train that works. The first from Liverpool Street those days is 04:40, and the airport's own advice is to allow at least four hours for the journey from London.

The train stops for five hours overnight. The coaches do not, so a landing between 00:30 and 05:30 is a coach whatever the price says.

Group and two-person tickets exist but cannot be priced here. Duo Single and Stex Duo cover two people traveling together; Anytime Group covers three to five and is sold only at ticket offices. GroupSave, the usual third off for three or more, does not apply between Stansted and Liverpool Street or Tottenham Hale.

Railcards are accepted at ticket offices only, not on online bookings, and the ticket office is open 06:30 to midnight.

Tapping in with contactless works here since March 2026 and is not the cheap option; Oyster does not work at all.

Stansted Express: price for every party size

Check times and fares for the Stansted Express

regional · Greater AngliaTrain to Cambridge

From: Stansted Airport station, directly beneath the terminal
To: Cambridge station, direct
Runs: 05:25–23:25
Journey: 31–38 min

The £8.00 Advance fare is cheaper but ties you to one specific train on CrossCountry only — a delayed flight loses it.

Train to Cambridge: price for every party size

Check times and fares with National Rail

This compares two of 9 options. See all of them ranked for your party size

Stansted ExpressorTrain to Cambridge?

Priced against each other

Side by side

The other comparisons at Stansted