Stansted Taxi Services

Stansted Airport

London Stansted is not, as its name may suggest, located in London but lies in fact 30 miles north east of the capital’s centre, in Essex, only 3 miles from Bishop’s Stortford and 6 miles from Harlow.

The airport started life as an RAF airfield during the Second World War and was then used by charter operators in the 1960s. It was not until the advent of low cost flights in the late 1990s, however, that its popularity really took off.

The proposals for a second runway at Stansted have caused a major headache for BAA and the government and are strongly opposed by the pressure group Stop Stansted Expansion.

Stansted is the third largest and third busiest airport in London and a major hub for many European budget carriers, principal of which is Ryanair, which operates flights to over a hundred destinations from Stansted.

What about taxis for getting to and from Stansted airport?

A taxi between central London and Stansted may cost between £80 and £100 (significantly more for a VIP service) and will take about 1 hour 10 minutes, although much depends on the time of day and driving conditions on the M11. The shorter trip between Stansted and Cambridge is cheaper at around £60. Although a lot of companies will charge extra for anti-social hours this is not always the case, so do your homework before committing. You may also like to check that there is no charge for a delayed flight.

There is no taxi rank at Stansted so it is not possible just to take pot luck and queue for one. If, however, you have not pre-booked it is possible to make arrangements in the International Arrivals Hall at the appropriate desk.

When deciding whether or not to book a taxi or take your own car to the airport, it is worth bearing in mind that apart from the costs of parking, the long stay facilities involve a 15 minute transfer on the shuttle bus.

Therefore it may be advisable to pre book with reliable and official airport transport companies to make sure your taxi will always be there on time.

Mottolines is the only London Airports operated taxi service that offers excellent service and a hugely discounted fare if you are departing or arriving in any of the listed airlines .

With many people choosing to fly with nothing but hand luggage, especially on many of the budget airlines, it is worth pointing this out that Mottolines does not build in any extra charges except for all pick ups that requires a "Meet and Greet". You will be asked to indicate how you wish to be pick up on arrival.

Popular meeting points for taxi drivers include the Airport Information Desk (clearly marked near the Arrivals gate) although some companies will ask you to phone the driver on arrival to make arrangements and this can keep parking charges to a minimum.

Every possible type of vehicle is available from Mottolines for trips to and from Stansted, from the bog standard saloon carrying 4 passengers and a couple of suitcases up to people carriers and mini buses carrying larger groups with more luggage.

If you fancy travelling in style or are a business traveller wanting to work on the journey you might like to consider a VIP taxi, commonly a Mercedes or BMW, driven by a uniformed chauffeur who will even carry your luggage into your house. Leather upholstery, Sat Nav, air conditioning and Wi Fi are the norm when paying for this sort of service. Drivers are also CRB cleared and discreet so that you should have no worries if making confidential business calls from the vehicle.

Stansted Taxis, Minicabs – what’s the difference?

Most of us prefer to pre-book our travel to and from the airport but if not, then in theory at least, we would be able to flag down a taxi, whereas minicabs must in law be booked in advance. Both, however, have to meet certain regulations in order to be licensed and drivers of both classes of vehicle should be equally competent and reliable.

Best options is to book a transfer with Mottolines and get double discounted fare (Upto 40%) if your airline is listed

What can I do near Stansted?

Times allowed are a rough guide only.

London

(allow 1 hour 10 minutes to travel the 30 miles)

To quote Dr Johnson “When a man is bored of London, he is bored of life”. This was true in the 18th century and still holds good today. Whether you want to ride the London Eye, try your hand at ice skating at one of the outdoor rinks put up specially for the Christmas period, go to a concert at the Albert Hall, visit an exhibition at one of the many galleries, shop till you drop or just do the tourist thing on an open topped bus, the capital city will not disappoint.