For one traveler the National Express coach is cheaper by up to £2.45. Both fares are 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 Stansted Express is quicker: 48 min against 1 h 08. The National Express coach varies between 45 and 100 minutes.
Stansted Express: 05:30–00:30. National Express coach: Runs all night.
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
National Express coach
Difference
1
from £9.45
from £7
up to £2.45
2
from £18.90
from £14
up to £4.90
3
from £28.35
from £21
up to £7.35
4
from £37.80
from £28
up to £9.80
5
from £47.25
from £35
up to £12.25
6
from £56.70
from £42
up to £14.70
7
from £66.15
from £49
up to £17.15
8
from £75.60
from £56
up to £19.60
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.
National Express · National ExpressNational Express coach
From
Coach station, a two-minute walk from the terminal
To
Liverpool Street on route A8; Stratford, Victoria and others on A6 and A9
Luggage
One suitcase up to 20 kg and one hand bag up to 10 kg per person.
Runs
All night
Journey
45–100 min
Three routes, three journeys. A9 reaches Stratford in about 45 minutes; A8 reaches Liverpool Street in about 1 h 08 and Victoria in about 1 h 40; A9 continuing to Liverpool Street takes about 95 minutes. Check which route your ticket is for.
The operator says the service runs round the clock, and its individual route timetables show first and last departures from the airport clustered around midnight — A6 00:15 to 23:55, A8 00:10 to 23:50, A9 00:05 to 23:45.
The 33 per cent group discount needs four or more people, applies to single journeys only, and cannot be combined with a Coachcard or other offer. Book it online or at the National Express desk, not by phone or on board.
The cheapest ticket type is Restricted, which cannot be changed or refunded. Change & Go costs GBP 5 each way and lets you take any coach within twelve hours either side of your booked departure — worth it if your flight might slip.
A seat is not guaranteed unless your ticket names a specific service.
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