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Laurie Sep 29th, 2002 08:55 PM

jubilee line to stansted airport
 
I think I read somewhere that the Jubilee line goes to the Stansted airport. We will be staying near the Tower of London. Can anyone please tell me the easiest and least expensive way to get to Stansted for our flight to France? Thank you. Laurie

Ben Haines Sep 29th, 2002 09:05 PM

The Jubilee line does go to a station in Essex from which you transfer to the train to Stansted. But the simple route is a bus number 42 or 78, a taxi, or the Circle line underground from the Tower to Liverpool Street, whence a train leaves every 15 minutes and takes 50 minutes to Stansted.<BR><BR>Welcome to London.<BR><BR>Ben Haines<BR>

Laurie Sep 29th, 2002 09:20 PM

Thank you for your reply, Mr.Haines.Can you please tell me which option is the quickest and the least expensive? Thank you! Laurie

Nigel Doran Sep 30th, 2002 03:12 AM

I would for for the Tube or bus to Liverpool Street if you are travelling light, or a taxi to Liverpool Street station if you have more baggage. The Stansted Express (www.stanstedexpress.com) is good, if a little expensive (&pound;23 return, &pound;13 single. Don't go for business class.) You can just turn up and buy the ticket - there are no discounts for booking ahead. BUT if you are travelling on a Sunday, don't go by train. There will be no train service. Instead, you'll pay train prices for a bus service. Not recommended. Alternatively, take advice from this site on airport cars, such as Swiss Cottage Cars. They are door-to-door services and are often good value if there are a few of you travelling. <BR>Finally, if you are coming back to London from Stansted, buy a return ticket instead of two singles (return=round trip, single=one way).

Karen Sep 30th, 2002 03:14 AM

Laurie<BR><BR>Hi. I use Liverpool Street station every day, so hopefully this info will be useful! :)<BR><BR>Definitely go to Liverpool Street rather than Stratford. Stratford is completely out of the way if you are staying near the Tower, and if you are north of the Thames the jubilee line isn't even convenient, Tower Hill tube is on the circle and district lines. Liverpool street is also easier to navigate than Stratford (plus trains will come into Stratford from Liverpool Street already full).<BR><BR>Anyway, getting a taxi to Liverpool Street will cost at least &pound;5, more if the traffic is heavy, and probably take at least 10 minutes. If you take a taxi ask the driver to drop you off at the back of the station - the taxi rank next to platform 10. The other taxi rank is at the front of the station which is further and it's either steps or escalator down onto the concourse.<BR><BR>If you take the tube, it would be as Ben already said, the Circle Line which is 2 stops from Tower Hill to Liverpool St. The Circle Line can be unreliable and infrequent (1 tube every 10 minutes in peak times) but should only take 5 minutes.<BR><BR>This is the site for the Stansted Express - www.stanstedexpress.co.uk which will give you fares and times. The fares are quite high, but then Stansted is further out than the other London airports. <BR>There are coaches that run from London to Stansted but they depart from central London, which is out of the way from where you are (and going back on yourself). I can't imagine the fares are THAT much cheaper either. It would be far too much hassle and journey time to save a few &pound;'s.<BR><BR>Basically, it depends whether you want to take the tube or a taxi to Liverpool Street. Obviously the taxi option is more expensive.<BR><BR>Karen

Karen Sep 30th, 2002 03:20 AM

I forgot to say, if you are travelling before 9.30am or evening rush hour (on weekdays) then best avoid the tube, it will be packed with commuters! Liverpool Street station will also be very busy at these times, but the taxi rank next to the platform I mentioned is fairly close to the Stansted ticket office and machines, so you wont have far to wade through the crowds.

Laurie Sep 30th, 2002 02:08 PM

Thank you all for your replies. There are 4 of us and we will be going to Stansted on a Sunday. We will probably have one large suitcase and several backpacks for all 4 of us. So, should we take the tube on the Circle Line to Liverpool station and then take the Stansted Express from there? How much time should we allow for this trip?<BR><BR>Does anyone know how much Swiss cottage cars charges for service to the Stansted airport?<BR><BR>Thanks so much for your help! Laurie

Nigel Doran Oct 1st, 2002 03:21 AM

Re-read the note I posted before. DON'T travel by Stansted Express on Sunday as it will not be operational. You will pay for a train ticket and then get a bus, taking you up to 90 minutes longer than the train. Instead, get a car/minivan.

Laurie Oct 1st, 2002 07:52 PM

Mr. Doran, I apologize. I reread your post and I think that I understand. You are suggesting that we hire a car service, such as Swiss Cottage Cars?<BR><BR>Do you know how much Swiss Cottage Cars charges for a one way trip to Stansted for 4 people? How much time should we allow for this trip?<BR><BR>Thank you for your help. Laurie

anotherxxx@zzz Oct 1st, 2002 09:05 PM

Cost: Last time four of us went to Stansted by rail we worked out that it would have been cheaper to hire a cab<BR><BR>Sunday Travel: We also made the mistake of travelling on a sunday - being transfered onto a very old bus was not pleseant.


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