mennodrew

My friend and I will be arriving London Stansted Airport from JFK at 8:30 on Wednesday morning and we have a connecting flight departing to Prague at 17:15. Does anyone have any suggestions of how to pass the time without going too far from the airport? We're not certain the time and expense of going to the city center will be worthwhile for such a short time but it would be nice to get out of the airport for a few hours. Anything of interest near Stansted airport? We have wide spectrum of interests and are greatful for any suggestions. Thanks!

Robespierre

Stansted is a half hour by train (if you choose a through train) to Cambridge, a historic university town with a 21st century veneer. It's a little disorienting to have lunch in the Thomas More room while down the street are the labs where DNA and Black Holes were first elucidated.

A short bus ride from the station will get you to RAF Duxford, the "air arm" of the Imperial War Museum. You'll see quite a number of one-of-a-kind static displays of WWI and WWII aircraft, and quite a few more contemporary but rare models (I think the only flyable Vampire in the world). Here's the skinny:

http://duxford.iwm.org.uk

Steve_James

Hi Menno - Cambridge is about an hour away and has a direct National Express coach service from Stansted.

You would have about 3 hours there, as you would need to catch the 14.30 return coach (- arr. Stansted 15.20).

For details see:
http://www.nationalexpress.com/bp/b2.cfm?id=81053711

Alternatively you could just catch the local bus into the nearby town of Bishop's Stortford for lunch and a wander.

http://www.stanstedairport.com/

Hope this helps ...

Steve

PalenQ

Cambridge is very close to the airport and there are frequent direct trains right from the airport to Cambridge, of course, one of the nicest cities in Europe. There is also near the airport a famous American war memorial i know little about.

samscomps

If you want to stay around Stansted head to the Radisson SAS - they have a nice wine bar (maybe a bit too early in the morning but perhaps in the afternoon?) with a live acrobat getting you bottles from a wine tower. They also have a swimming pool, jacuzzi, gym which may be possible to use on a day rate. We spent the night at the hotel before an early morning flight and thought it was quite a nice place to spend some time.

smarty

The Stansted Express into London is very convenient, easily as convenient as getting to Cambridge. Trains run every 15 minutes and trip takes about 45 minutes. Just something to consider!

Carolina

Another vote for Cambridge.
Carolena

RM67

You could visit Audley End House, quite an impressive pile. Train to Audley End (only about 10-15 mins from Stansted), but you'd then need a taxi to the house - about another 1- 1.5 miles, though not really walkable due to the busy road.

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/s...=conProperty.1

RM67

PS - I would probably not recommend London as you'll be arriving at Liverpool Street, in the heart of the financial district, rather than than the more touristy bits like the West End. By the time you've added on a tube journey, plus the return trip it won't be worth it.

alanRow

Just to point out that there are only 3 trains per hour between Cambridge & Stansted and if you miss one you could, because of the timings, have to wait 30 minutes for the next one. Also there is a slow train (40 minutes) & a fast train (30 minutes) so know which one you are getting.

In your case you'd be looking at either the 2:51pm to get back to Stansted in time allowing for problems

Also the train station in Cambridge isn't in the centre of town so you have to allow extra time for getting to & from the station

As for coaches there is - on average - one coach per hour and the latest you could leave Cambridge & have some leaway is about 2:30pm

owain

"PS - I would probably not recommend London as you'll be arriving at Liverpool Street, in the heart of the financial district, rather than than the more touristy bits like the West End. By the time you've added on a tube journey, plus the return trip it won't be worth it."


Are you mad? There's more than the West End to London, you do realise?! It would be an easy circular walk from Liverpool Street to take in the Tower (and Tower Bridge) and St Pauls.

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap...mp;A=Y&Z=2