London Stansted is the UK’s fourth busiest airport and a major hub for budget airlines including Ryanair and Jet2. Located in Essex, about 40 miles northeast of central London, Stansted handles over 28 million passengers a year. If you’re flying from Stansted, here’s how to find the cheapest and most convenient parking.
Why Stansted Parking Is Different
Stansted has one terminal, which simplifies things enormously compared to Heathrow or Gatwick. There’s no risk of parking at the wrong terminal. However, the airport’s location means many travellers face a longer drive, making the right parking choice even more important.
The airport is owned by Manchester Airports Group (MAG), which also runs the official car parks. These are well-maintained but expensive compared to the many off-airport alternatives that have sprung up along the A120 and M11 corridors.
Parking Options at Stansted
Official Short Stay
Located directly opposite the terminal with a covered walkway — you can be at check-in within 3 minutes of leaving your car. Perfect for drop-offs and pick-ups, but very expensive for longer stays. Expect to pay £30-50 per day at walk-up rates. Pre-booking brings this down but it’s still the most expensive option.
Official Mid Stay
A newer addition to Stansted’s parking portfolio. Located a short walk or shuttle from the terminal. Prices sit between short stay and long stay, making it a good compromise between convenience and cost. Pre-booked prices start around £8-10 per day.
Official Long Stay
The furthest official car park, connected by regular shuttle buses running every 10-12 minutes. Journey time to the terminal is approximately 10 minutes. Pre-booked prices start from around £6-7 per day, making it reasonable for longer trips.
Off-Airport Park & Ride
This is where the real savings are. Companies like Airparks, NCP, and I Love Meet & Greet operate secured compounds near the airport with free shuttle transfers. Prices start from as low as £3.50 per day — less than half the cost of official long stay. Shuttles run every 15-20 minutes and the journey takes 5-15 minutes depending on the provider.
Meet & Greet
Several providers offer Meet & Greet at Stansted, where a chauffeur takes your car at the terminal drop-off. Prices start from around £6 per day — significantly cheaper than Meet & Greet at Heathrow or Gatwick. Stansted’s single terminal makes the handover process quick and straightforward.
How to Get the Best Deal
Stansted has more off-airport parking competition than almost any UK airport, which works in your favour. However, prices still spike during school holidays, bank holidays, and the summer peak (June-September).
Our top tips for cheap Stansted parking:
Book 2-3 weeks ahead. This is the sweet spot for Stansted pricing. Earlier than that and prices are already low; later and they start climbing.
Compare at least 5 providers. Price differences between providers can be £20-40 for the same dates. A quick comparison on Park4Travels shows all options side by side.
Consider the total journey time. The cheapest off-airport option with a 20-minute shuttle might not be worth the saving over a slightly more expensive option with a 5-minute shuttle, especially if you’re travelling with children or heavy luggage.
Check shuttle hours. If you have a very early flight (before 6am) or late arrival (after midnight), confirm that your chosen car park’s shuttle operates at those times. Most do, but some smaller operators have reduced overnight schedules.
Getting to Stansted by Car
From central London, Stansted is approximately 40 miles via the M11 (junction 8). Allow 50-75 minutes depending on traffic. From the M25, use junction 27 onto the M11 northbound.
Sat nav postcode for the terminal: CM24 1QW. Most off-airport car parks will provide their own postcode with your booking confirmation — use that rather than the airport postcode to avoid confusion.
The A120 approach from the east (Colchester, Braintree direction) connects directly to the airport. If coming from Cambridge or the north, the M11 southbound junction 8 is the most direct route.
EV Charging at Stansted
Stansted has installed EV charging points in the official mid-stay and long-stay car parks. As of 2026, there are approximately 60 charge points available, with plans to expand. If you drive an electric vehicle, check availability when booking and arrive with enough charge for the return journey in case your preferred charge point is occupied.
Alternatives to Parking
The Stansted Express runs from Liverpool Street station in central London, taking 47 minutes and costing from £12 single if booked in advance. National Express coaches also serve Stansted from multiple London locations. For solo travellers on short trips, these can be cheaper than parking.
However, for families, couples, or anyone with more than hand luggage, driving and parking remains the most convenient and often the cheapest option.
Summary
Stansted offers some of the cheapest airport parking in the London area, with Park & Ride from under £4 per day and Meet & Greet from £6 per day. The single terminal makes everything straightforward. Book 2-3 weeks ahead, compare providers, and you’ll get a great deal.