Stansted, England
 

Does anyone know of an INEXPENSIVE b&b or such type accommodations in Stansted? I'm arrivng at Gatwick but can't make the same-day connection.

Marie, I think you are not getting a reply ecause the question is too hard. <BR> <BR>When do you get into Gatwick. How are you going to Stansted? will you have transport? What time is your flight out? Do you know that Stansted is in the middle of nowhere with no hotels/B&Bs on site? <BR> <BR>Bishops Stortford is the nearest town. I go though Stansted all the time froma town about 60 miles north and almost always end up staying tere and driving in early for my red eye back north. Is that an option. How about London, using the Stansted Express to get out early?

Marie, there are a few B&Bs in Bishops Stortford, which is about 8 miles, 10 minutes by train to Stansted. <BR>http://www.stortford.co.uk/accomodations <BR> <BR>You would get to Stortford by local train from Liverpool Street Station instead of the express to Stansted. <BR> <BR>Hope this helps. (I have no personal knowledge of these places, but you were sounding so desparate.) <BR> <BR>Hope this helps.

Thanks so much for your replies -- this has turned out to be fun! Sheila, you gave me a laugh with your questions such as did I know that it is in the middle of nowhere -- clearly I know nothing about it :-). And Ron, I've decided that you are very perceptive in noticing that I am desperate!! <BR> <BR>In any case, there have been some changes. (In fact, I'm not even asking for myself but for friends who will join me in France) They now think they will arrive in HEATHROW, not Gatwick at 9h30 and can get a flight out of Stansted at 12h50 but it's still the same old story - we don't know how to get to Stansted from Heathrow and we don't know if it's do-able in that short time... <BR> <BR>I'm going to check on the stortford accom. site just in case. <BR> <BR>Thanks again for your help and the smiles.

Are you playing with us, Marie? Surely there must be planes from Heathrow to wherever you (they) are going to in France? Even if the fare is higher, it would still have to be better than spending 2 to 3 hours schlepping luggage on a multimodal journey across London, with the potential cost of accomodations and meals if you have to stay overnight in or around London. <BR> <BR>You do not sound desperate (got the spelling right this time) enough for me to do your research today, but my guess that the quickest way to Stansted is via Heathrow Express to London Paddington (16 minutes), London underground to Liverpool Street (say, 30 minutes) and the train to Stansted (45 min). Add a minimum half hour to clear customs and immigration in LHR, 15 min walk to the Heathrow Express terminal, 15 minute transfer time at Paddington, 15 to 30 minutes waiting for the train at Liverpool Street and you are getting close to 3 hours, i.e. 12:30, IF the plane arrived on time in Heathrow. <BR> <BR>There would also be bus service connecting the two airports which would take about the same length of time, a lot less schlepping, but not very frequent service. <BR> <BR>Do keep us informed. <BR> <BR>Ron

Thanks Ron. Trust me, I'm not playing with you -- I just don't "know my way around" the internet yet. I found this forum by accident :-) I can see that you are however since you talked about research and I don't know where to start. <BR> <BR>I did go to the accommodations site suggested by Sheila and it was great! The only flight my friends can get from London to Carcassonne, France is from Stansted and therein lies the problem. They may just have to spend the night at Stortford which looks quite do-able. The flight from Canada to Ottawa is quite reasonable as is the one to Carcassone so they might not mind spending a night in Stordford. Their route to Carcassone is not the most direct but it's because they are stopping in London for a few days on their way back. <BR> <BR>Anyway, I now love this forum and have spent far too much time reading everyone's posts but it's so interesting! <BR> <BR>Thanks again.

Marie <BR> <BR>If that means your friends have from 9.30am one day until 12.30 the next, I have 2 suggestions. <BR> <BR>One:- they should stay in London and have a good day there. Anything's better than Bishops Stortford. <BR> <BR>Two:-Why not go into London and get the Euro Star to Paris and the train on to Carcassonne? <BR> <BR>Web sites abound with information on both. In fact they're probably in here if you use the search function.

Marie, both of Sheila's suggestions are good. My assumption had been that the arrival in Heathrow was late in the day, they could not make the last flight of the evening out of Stansted and had to take an early morning one the next day. Since that is not the case and they have over 24 hours, what I would do if it were me, would be to go from Heathrow to Cambridge, spend the rest of the day and night there and take the train to Stansted in the morning, which takes about half an hour. Lots of B&Bs in Cambridge - you can find listings on the AA site and the s-h systems sites. <BR>http://www.s-h-systems.co.uk/

Ron's last suggestion is a good one - I was thinking of suggesting it myself and then there it was!! I had the same problem a couple years ago and decided to end my England vacation in Cambridge and take the train into Stansted the morning of my flight home. I was VERY glad I made that decision when I saw how many small town/village train stops were just a small "dock-like" standing area with a board posting messages. You then have to decide which way is town and set off hoping you are going in the right direction - hauling your luggage! Love the country, of course, but it was "culture shock". Don't misunderstand me - I can't wait to get back there and have been 3 times - but just wanted to second Ron's suggestion!

Hello Marie, <BR> <BR>It is very easy to get to Stansted airport from central London, Liverpool Street station. <BR> <BR>I would suggest taking the piccadilly line from Heathrow changing at Holborn, and getting to Liverpool street via the central line. There are escalators and stairs to negotiate at Holborn. If your friends wish, they can get a room/s at Russell square (also on the Piccadilly line), plenty of hotels, and close to the British Museum (walkable), Covent Garden, Oxford Street. Heathrow to Liverpool St. takes around 50-60min. <BR> <BR>Trains go from Liv.St. to Stansted every half hour on the half hour and take around 45min. Ticket prices are currently £10.70 &lt;single&gt;, £12.40 &lt;rtn&gt;. <BR>Slower trains take 1hr 6min. UK train timetables are available at <BR>http://www.rail.co.uk <BR> <BR>Its worth mentioning that at present the circle line is out of action due to engineering work, as is the Northern line between Moorgate and Morden. <BR>http://www.londontransport.co.uk <BR> <BR>For general travel and things to do, try <BR>http://www15.pair.com/ci