London Stansted Airport (STN) and London City Airport (LCY) are approximately 30 miles apart by road, connected via the M11 and North Circular (A406) rather than the M25 — making this one of the more straightforward inter-airport road journeys in the London area. By rail, the standard route uses the Stansted Express to Tottenham Hale, then a connection to Stratford, followed by the DLR to London City Airport's dedicated station. There is no direct airport-to-airport train or coach.
Last reviewed: September 2026
⚙ Quick Answer
Stansted and London City Airport are approximately 30 miles apart via the M11 and A406 North Circular — a route that, unlike most London airport transfers, avoids the M25 entirely. There is no direct train or coach; rail requires the Stansted Express plus a DLR connection via Stratford. A pre-booked private car provides the only direct road transfer.
Stansted to London City Airport: Quick Answer Table
| Question | Planning answer |
|---|---|
| Approximate road distance | ~30 miles |
| Main road corridor | M11 → A406 → A13/A1020 |
| M25 required? | No |
| Direct train? | No — Stansted Express + DLR via Stratford |
| Direct coach? | No — no simple direct service |
| Private car? | Yes — direct road transfer |
| London City Airport DLR station? | Yes — dedicated station |
Quick Answers
How far is Stansted Airport from London City Airport?
Approximately 30 miles by road, via the M11 southbound and A406 North Circular toward the A13 and Royal Docks. The route does not require the M25.
Is there a direct train from Stansted to London City Airport?
No. The rail journey involves the Stansted Express to Tottenham Hale (~36 minutes), a connection to Stratford, then the DLR to London City Airport (~20 minutes from Stratford).
Does the Stansted to London City Airport route use the M25?
No. The normal road route uses the M11 southbound and A406 North Circular, avoiding the M25 — an advantage over longer London airport transfers.
How long does the drive take?
Approximately 45 to 60 minutes off-peak via the M11 and A406 North Circular. Weekday morning peaks can add 15 to 25 minutes.
How much is a private car from Stansted to London City Airport?
Stansted Airport Taxi's fixed fares start from £62.50 for a Saloon (approximately 30 miles).
Does London City Airport have its own train station?
Yes. London City Airport has a dedicated DLR station directly at the terminal, served by DLR services toward Stratford, Bank and Canary Wharf.
London City Airport or London City Centre: What Does This Page Mean?
The query "distance from Stansted to London" often refers to different things depending on the searcher. This page specifically covers the airport-to-airport journey: London Stansted Airport (STN) to London City Airport (LCY).
If you are looking for the distance from Stansted Airport to Central London by train or road, that is a different journey with different planning requirements. The distance from Stansted to London City Airport is shorter than the distance from Stansted to Central London, and the route avoids most of the major orbital motorway congestion.
Why Do Stansted-to-London City Airport Distance Figures Differ?
Straight-Line Distance vs Road Distance. The straight-line (geographic) distance between Stansted and London City Airport is shorter than the road distance, because the route must follow the road network east of London through the North Circular corridor. The road distance of approximately 30 miles reflects the actual driving route, which is the more useful planning figure.
Airport-to-Airport vs "Stansted Town" Distance. Some distance tools calculate from Stansted town centre rather than the airport terminal. London Stansted Airport (STN) is located several miles east of Stansted town, and using the town postcode rather than the terminal postcode produces a different result. Always use the terminal postcode (CM24 1RW) for accurate journey calculations.
Stansted to London City Airport by Car
The road distance from Stansted Airport to London City Airport is approximately 30 miles, via the M11 and A406 North Circular.
Main Driving Route. Stansted Airport → M11 southbound → A406 North Circular → A13 / A1020 → Royal Docks → London City Airport
This route is notably different from most London airport transfers in that it does not require the M25. From Stansted, the M11 southbound runs toward London, transitioning to the A406 North Circular at around Junction 4. The North Circular then connects eastward to the A13 and A1020 corridor, which leads into the Royal Docks area where London City Airport is located.
Does This Route Use the M25? No. Unlike the Stansted–Heathrow and Stansted–Gatwick transfers, the normal Stansted–London City Airport road route does not use the M25. This means it avoids the orbital motorway's notorious congestion, making journey-time planning somewhat more predictable than cross-M25 routes.
How Long Does the Drive Take?
| Conditions | Journey-planning guidance |
|---|---|
| Early morning (before 6 am) | ~35–45 minutes |
| Normal off-peak | ~45–60 minutes |
| A406 / A13 peak (weekday 7–9 am) | Allow 60–80 minutes |
| Friday afternoon | Allow additional time |
The A406 North Circular and A13 have their own congestion patterns, particularly through the Wanstead and Barking stretches. Unlike the M25, these are urban A-roads with traffic lights and junctions, which adds variability.
Private Car from Stansted to London City Airport
A pre-booked private car provides a direct road transfer from Stansted Airport to London City Airport — no rail connection, no DLR transfer, no luggage at intermediate points.
Why Use a Private Car for an Airport Connection? The rail route between Stansted and London City Airport involves the Stansted Express, a connection at Tottenham Hale or a change to the DLR at Stratford. For passengers with multiple bags or groups travelling together, managing luggage through these interchanges adds meaningful time and effort. A direct private car eliminates every exchange point.
Stansted Airport Taxi Private Car Service. Stansted Airport Taxi provides pre-booked private-hire transfers between Stansted Airport and London City Airport. Fares for approximately 30 miles:
| Vehicle | Capacity | STN → London City Airport |
|---|---|---|
| Saloon | Up to 4 | £62.50 |
| Estate | Up to 4 + luggage | £64.95 |
| MPV5 | Up to 5 | £68.75 |
| MPV6 | Up to 6 | £72.00 |
| Executive Saloon | Up to 4 | £81.00 |
| Executive MPV | Up to 6 | £94.50 |
Fares fixed at booking — no surge pricing, no card fees. Enter STN and LCY at stanstedairport-taxi.com for the confirmed fare.
See London City Airport Taxi for full service details.
LCY Pickup and Drop-Off Arrangements. London City Airport has specific vehicle drop-off and pickup zones. For private-hire vehicles, passengers are collected from designated areas at the terminal. Confirm the current LCY collection arrangements with the driver when booking.
Stansted to London City Airport by Train
There is no direct train between Stansted Airport and London City Airport. The standard rail route involves at least two stages and a DLR connection.
Stansted Express to Tottenham Hale. The Stansted Express departs from the station directly beneath Stansted Airport terminal. The journey from Stansted to Tottenham Hale takes approximately 36 minutes on this service. Tottenham Hale is the key interchange point for this route.
Tottenham Hale to Stratford. From Tottenham Hale, passengers take the Victoria line southbound to Stratford (approximately 15 minutes). Alternatively, a train to Stratford International may be available depending on services. Stratford is the main interchange point for the DLR to London City Airport.
DLR to London City Airport. London City Airport has its own dedicated DLR station — one of the few airports in the UK with a directly adjacent light rail stop.
Stratford / Stratford International → DLR → London City Airport
TfL confirms London City Airport DLR station serves the airport directly, with connections toward Bank and Canary Wharf as well as Stratford. The DLR journey from Stratford to LCY takes approximately 20 minutes.
Luggage and Interchange Considerations. The complete rail journey involves the Stansted Express, a Victoria line platform change at Tottenham Hale, and then the DLR at Stratford. Passengers with large cases should factor in the time and physical effort of managing luggage through these transfers — including staircases, lifts and platform changes at busy stations.
Stansted to London City Airport by Bus or Coach
There is no simple direct coach service between Stansted Airport and London City Airport. The airport's east London location and the DLR's strength as a connection mean there is no established direct coach route comparable to, for example, the National Express Stansted–Heathrow service.
Coach to Stratford. Bus or coach services toward the Stratford area may be available, but for most passengers the rail connection via the Stansted Express and DLR will be more practical.
Why There Is No Simple Direct Airport Coach. London City Airport's design as a compact inner-London business airport means it is served primarily by DLR rather than coach. The DLR station directly at the terminal removes the need for a separate coach connection in the way that more distant airports require.
What Is the Cheapest Way from Stansted to London City Airport?
| Mode | Cost characteristic | Key compromise |
|---|---|---|
| Rail (Stansted Express + DLR) | Generally lower cost | Multiple interchanges; luggage handling |
| Private car | Higher than rail | Direct, no changes; fixed booking time |
For a single passenger without significant luggage, the rail route via Stansted Express and DLR is the most cost-effective option. For groups, families with luggage, or business passengers valuing a direct transfer, a private car provides better value relative to the hassle involved.
Train, Coach or Private Car: Which Fits the Journey?
| Factor | Private car | Rail (Express + DLR) |
|---|---|---|
| Direct airport-to-airport | Yes | No — two interchanges |
| Luggage handling | Remains in vehicle | Passenger manages at each change |
| Journey time | ~45–60 min off-peak | ~70–90 min inc. connections |
| Traffic exposure | A406/A13 | Largely underground |
| Departure flexibility | Pre-booked time | Timetabled |
| Cost | Higher | Generally lower |
How Much Time Should You Allow Between Flights?
For passengers connecting between Stansted and London City Airport:
- Landing and disembarkation at Stansted
- Passport control where applicable
- Baggage reclaim (~20–40 minutes)
- Journey to LCY — 45–60 minutes by private car off-peak; 70–90 minutes by rail including connections
- LCY check-in and bag drop
- Security at LCY
- Boarding
London City Airport is a compact airport with faster security throughput than larger airports, but passengers should still allow 60 to 90 minutes for LCY airport processes after arrival.
A realistic minimum connection time between Stansted and LCY with checked luggage is approximately 3 hours by private car off-peak or 3h30 to 4h by rail, depending on connections and Stansted baggage time.
Why London City Airport's DLR Station Matters
London City Airport is one of the few UK airports with a rail station physically at the terminal. Passengers do not need to take a shuttle or walk significant distances from a nearby station — the DLR platform is essentially within the airport building. This makes rail access to LCY from the north and east of London more straightforward than the equivalent at many other airports.
The station serves services toward Bank, Canary Wharf, Stratford and other key DLR destinations, making it particularly accessible from the City of London and east London — though for Stansted-origin passengers, the Stratford interchange remains the practical entry point.
London City Airport to Stansted: Is the Distance the Same in Reverse?
Yes. The road distance of approximately 30 miles is the same in either direction, using the A13/A1020, A406 North Circular and M11 in reverse. The rail route from LCY to Stansted follows the same stages in reverse: DLR from LCY to Stratford, then Stansted Express from Tottenham Hale to Stansted Airport.
Journey times may differ slightly between directions depending on traffic patterns and rail connections, but the overall distance and routing are the same.
How to Plan Your Exact STN-to-LCY Journey
- Confirm your LCY terminal or destination — LCY is a single terminal
- Select transport mode based on luggage, group size and connection time
- Estimate journey time — 45–60 minutes by private car, 70–90 minutes by rail
- Add LCY airport-process time — check-in deadline, security and boarding buffer
- Work backwards from LCY boarding time to find the required Stansted departure time
- Book in advance — private car at stanstedairport-taxi.com; rail via National Rail and TfL
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How far is Stansted Airport from London City Airport?
A: Approximately 30 miles by road, via the M11 southbound and A406 North Circular toward the A13 and Royal Docks. The route does not require the M25.
Q: Is there a direct train from Stansted to London City Airport?
A: No. The rail journey involves the Stansted Express to Tottenham Hale (approximately 36 minutes), a connection to Stratford, then the DLR to London City Airport (approximately 20 minutes from Stratford). At least two interchanges are required.
Q: How long does the drive from Stansted to London City Airport take?
A: Approximately 45 to 60 minutes off-peak via the M11 and A406 North Circular. Weekday morning peaks on the A406 and A13 can add 15 to 25 minutes.
Q: Does the Stansted to London City Airport route use the M25?
A: No. The normal road route uses the M11 southbound and A406 North Circular, avoiding the M25. This is an advantage over longer London airport transfers and makes journey-time planning more predictable.
Q: How much is a private car from Stansted to London City Airport?
A: Stansted Airport Taxi's fixed fares start from £62.50 for a Saloon (approximately 30 miles). See London City Airport Taxi for the full fare table and booking.
Q: Does London City Airport have its own train station?
A: Yes. London City Airport has a dedicated DLR station directly at the terminal, served by DLR services toward Stratford, Bank and Canary Wharf.
Related Pages
- London City Airport Taxi — private transfers to and from LCY
- London City Airport Taxi Prices — fare information
- Stansted Airport Taxi — Stansted-based private hire
- Stansted Airport Public Transport — transport guide
Book Your Stansted to London City Airport Transfer
Avoiding the M25 entirely, Stansted Airport Taxi provides a pre-booked, fixed-fare direct road transfer between Stansted and London City Airport.
👉 Get your fixed-fare quote in under two minutes — book online or call +44 20 3617 7825.
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Published by the Stansted Airport Taxi editorial team. Last reviewed September 2026. Stansted Airport Taxi is operated by QMH Technologies Ltd (Co. No. 13506378, registered office 10–16 Tiller Road, London E14 8PX — verified via Companies House).
