Whether you have a layover, overnight sleepover or you are just quickly passing through, our London Stansted Airport Guide is a great place to start planning your visit. Here, you’ll find information on services and facilities available inside the airport – including details about airport lounges, WiFi, mobile charging points, lockers, 24-hour food options, nearby hotels, and everything in between.
Airport is now open 24/7. Possible to stay overnight again. – a traveller (May 2022)
STN Airport Overview
To help you plan your layover or overnight sleepover, here is a quick run-down about what to expect during your time at London Stansted Airport.
What to Expect
London Stansted Airport (Code: STN) is a small, single terminal airport, mainly serving budget airlines. While the airport is pretty barebones, you can expect 4 free hours of WiFi, plenty of electronic outlets, and a handful of food and beverage spots, including one grocery store. For those looking for a little added comfort, there is one first class lounge that economy class passengers can pay to access. See Airport Lounges in the guide below for location and access information.
Sleeping in London Stansted Airport
London Stansted Airport is now open again for the night but good sleeping spots may be hard to come by. Prepare for limited seating options, noise, crowds, and cold temperatures. Reviewers have mentioned the Burger King chairs, which can be pushed together to make a sort of temporary bed, and some wooden benches in the terminal. Even though the latter are said to be quite small. Benches have also been spotted past departure but these are quite worn out and dirty. Most people end up sleeping on the floor, so make sure to bring a mat if you have one.
Explore our guide to sleeping in Stansted Airport or read some traveller airport reviews for more tips if you are sleeping there during the day. If you have a late arrival or early departure from this airport, you should plan to either stay at the hotel connected to the airport, or one of the other hotels nearby, connected by shuttles. See the Airport Hotels section below for locations.
To help us keep this guide up-to-date, you can add or update information or write a review to submit airport tips and photos. You can also visit the airport’s web site for current information. For more airport information continue scrolling down to explore more in our London Stansted Airport Guide.
In this guide we may refer to locations as “landside” and “airside”. Landside is the public area of the terminal located in the non-secure zone, before security. Airside is the secure area of the terminal that you must reach by going through security. For more information on Europe’s Schengen Area, click here.
Airport Hours
The airport is open 24 hours, but is said to “close” for several hours at night. We haven’t heard of people being kicked out of the terminal if they are already inside at the time of the closure. If you know and can confirm this information, click here to update this guide.
London Stansted Airport Hotels & Day Rooms
Quick Facts
- Nearest Hotel: Connected to the airport
- Sleep Cabins & Pods: No
- Day Rooms: Yes
- Nearby Hotels with Shuttles: Yes
When the prospect of sleeping on the floor or in a chair is giving you nightmares, there is good news for those of you who are looking to sleep at Stansted Airport in comfort. If you are on a layover, you will have to pass through immigration/security as there are no transit hotels. Once you are in the public area of the terminal, there are two hotels connected to the airport by covered walkways. A number of nearby hotels offer airport shuttles for a fee.
- Hampton by Hilton – Connected to the terminal via a covered walkway. A 5 minute walk to the terminal. » Check Rates
- Radisson Blu Hotel London Stansted Airport – A 5-minute walk to the terminal via a covered walkway. Day rooms for 4 & 8 hour blocks are offered between the hours of 8:00AM – 6:00PM. » Check Rates
- Holiday Inn Express London Stansted Airport – A paid shuttle is available for £4 per person. » Check Rates
For more options, visit Tripadvisor to see a list of hotels near Stansted Airport that can be sorted by price, distance, traveller rating and popularity.
Airport Lounges
Pay-per-use, Single Visit Passes & Lounge Memberships
Regardless of what class of service you are flying, there is a lounge that you can enter by paying at the door, purchasing a lounge pass or through a lounge membership program. Visit the individual lounge page for more details about the lounge itself and to also find out how you can gain lounge access with just an economy class ticket!
- Escape Lounge – Location: International Departures, Airside, Mezzanine Level. Lounge Access: Pay at the Door • Prepaid lounge passes • Lounge membership programs.
Related Pages: London Stansted Airport Lounges
Drinking Water
Thirsty? Water fountains and bottle refill stations are available. Locations: Airside, International Departures, behind Pret a Manger Passport Control • Airside, near Gates 1-19 & Gates 40-59 • International Baggage Claim, near Reclaim area 9 • Landside, Arrivals Hall, near Burger King.
Food & Drinks
Most food concessions throughout the airport operate according to flight schedules. The following options are available 24 hours: Costa Coffee (Landside, Arrivals) • Pret-a-Manger coffee shop (Airside).
Need to pick up groceries on your way home from the airport? M&S Simply Food has produce, wines, deli items, ready-to-go meals and everyday household items. Location: Arrivals, landside. Hours: 24 hours.
Luggage Storage & Lockers
We were unable to confirm if the left luggage is still available. Based on the last information we had, it was located at Luggage-Point Airport Services desk, landside, International Arrivals, Zone A. Hours: Open 24 hours. Click here to update or confirm this information.
Mobile Charging
A reader tells us “All seats in the waiting have usb ports under the arm rests. Useful, but maybe 40% of them actually work. So it’s worth trying the port first before getting comfy if you need power. Also, some of the restaurants have plug sockets on the tables. ” (November 2019)
Rest & Relaxation Zones
There are no dedicated sleeping areas, quiet areas or rest zones. If this information has changed, click here to update this guide.
Showers
Unfortunately, there are no showers available to freshen up.
WiFi / Internet
Free WiFi is available in London Stansted Airport for 4 hours. Connect to the “’_FreeWifi” network. Passengers can pay £1 for 10 times faster speed.
More Airport Information
ATMs / Cash Machines – Need cash? ATMs are available. Fees may apply, so be sure to check your bank’s fee schedule and your daily withdrawal limit if you are travelling internationally. You may also want to notify your bank of your travel plans. Locations: Landside and Airside.
Changing Rooms – Changing rooms are available airside in the Departures Area, and landside at Arrivals.
Currency Exchange – ChangeGroup offers currency exchange services in over 60 currencies. Brachens can be found in the Departures Area and the Baggage Reclaim Area, together with 26 ATMs scattered all over the terminal.
Drinking Water – see “Drinking Water” above.
Duty Free & Shopping – World Duty Free is available, as well as a variety of retail shops. Most stores are open from the first flight of the day until the last.
Family Services
- Baby Changing Facilities – Baby changing facilities are available in the following locations:
- Departures: Zone A Check-In area restrooms • Main Departures Lounge (nursing room also available) • Family restrooms at Gates 13, 33/34, 43, and 59 • Gates 81-88 area (ladies restroom)
- Arrivals: UK Baggage Reclaim (ladies restroom) • International baggage reclaim 1 (family restroom) • Intl Baggage Reclaim 9 (restrooms) • Arrivals Route 40-59 (accessible toilet) • Main Arrivals Greeting area (restrooms).
- Breastfeeding – A dedicated breastfeeding room can be found in the main departures lounge should you wish to breastfeed in private.
Fast Track Service – As a premium service, customers with Fast Track security passes will be given priority service to ensure that waiting is kept to a minimum. Rate: £8.00, book online at least one hour before your flight. The airport also offers a Passport Control Fastrack for arriving passengers. Rate: £8.00, book online at least one hour before your arrival.
Grocery Store – see “Food & Drinks” above.
Hotels – see “Airport Hotels” above.
Information Desk – Get info about the airport or flights, page a person, send or receive faxes, make photocopies or print online boarding documents (£5.00 each) at the Information Desk. Locations: International Arrivals area, Landside (Hours: 24 hours) • Departures Area, Airside, this location is an airline information desk (Hours: unknown).
Lounges – see “Airport Lounges” above.
Luggage
- Baggage Trolleys – Need a hand with your luggage? Baggage trolleys are available in the baggage reclaim area. Rate: £1. If you don’t have coins, you can make use of the change machines located in the baggage hall, the terminal forecourt, and the coach station.
- Luggage Storage & Lockers – see “Luggage Storage & Lockers” above.
- Luggage Weighing – For £1 per bag, you can avoid overage charges by checking the weight of your luggage before you check it in. Six Luggage Point weight check systems are located throughout Zones A – G, landside in the Check-In area. If your bag is overweight, you get a free weight recheck after you have adjusted the weight.
- Luggage Wrapping – Rates start at £10 per bag. Location: Luggage-Point Airport Services desk, landside, International Arrivals, Zone A. Hours: Open 24 hours.
Mobile Charging – see “Mobile Charging” above.
Pharmacy – For any last minute medical needs, stop by Boots. Location: Airside, Departures Hall. Hours: 4:00AM – 10:30PM. • Landside, Arrivals. Hours: 1:00AM – 11:30PM (Mon – Fri) Hours: 4:00AM – 8:30PM.(Sat – Sun).
Postal Services – At one point, a mailbox was located Landside, in the Check-in Zone E, next to WHSmith and Arrivals.
Prayer Room – There are two 24-hour interfaith prayer rooms in the terminal: One is located landside opposite Check-In Zone A, and the other is located airside near Escape Lounge in the main Departure Area. Ablution (ritual washing) facilities are located next to each prayer room.
Rest Zones – see “Rest & Relaxation Zones” above.
Showers – see “Showers” above.
SIM Cards – A reader tells us there are SIM card vending machines. “If you just landed, after passing through passport control-UK Border and heading to the exit of that area, just at the right of the doors with a headline of “customs nothing to declare”, there are some vending machines and one of them is of SIM cards.” (October 2022)
Smoking – There are no designated smoking areas inside the terminal. Once you have passed through security, there will be nowhere to smoke.
WiFi / Internet – see “WiFi / Internet” above.
Related Pages: Things to do on a layover at London Stansted Airport
Bus and Coach
STN airport is well connected to the bus system. Whether you need a shuttle bus to the train station, want a fast bus connection to central London or need a long distance coach, there is probably a bus for you. The airport bus and coach terminal is located opposite the main terminal entrance. To plan your route or pre book your ticket visit the London Stansted Airport website.
Car Rentals
The following car rental companies are located onsite: Alamo • Avis • Budget • Enterprise • Europcar • Hertz • National • Sixt.
Hotel Shuttles
Some local hotels provide airport shuttles for a fee. See also Airport Hotels above.
Ride Sharing
Uber operates throughout the UK. A ride to London city centre will cost you about £68.
Trains
Stansted Airport rail station is located directly below the terminal building, just a 2-minute walk from Check-in and Arrivals. Trains are available to central London, long-distance destinations and more. Train tickets are sold online and at the rail station. The London Stansted Express offers frequent service between Stansted Airport and the primary Liverpool Street Station, with travel times from 47 minutes. Other station stops are Tottenham Hale and Stratford (London). To check schedules or book a fare, visit Stansted Express web site.
Taxi
Street Cars Taxis is the official taxi service provider of Stansted Airport, offering 24-hour transportation to and from the airport. Alternatively, you may use the services of Minicabit (downloaded app) to compare prices from all the approved airport taxi companies and proceed to book your ride when you are happy with the fare.
Airport Photo Gallery 
Last updated: 2024-02-21
This guide is for informational purposes only to assist with your planning. All information, including rates and hours, is subject to change at any time without notice. The information in this airport guide is based on information collected and/or received from the airports, lounges, hotels, transportation providers, and their websites. We are not representatives of any of the above-mentioned service providers. To report errors or to add/update any items mentioned in the guide: update the airport guide or write a review.