I'm back to thinking of ditching our rental car while in Cardiff and taking the train to Stansted to fly out. I know that we need to change train stations in London and a taxi really looks like the easy way out to do that with the luggage, etc. But what is the deal when you get to Stansted. Does the train come right into the terminal? Just walk to check-in? Or is there still a shuttle required or something?
Money wise, it seems a toss up between turning our car in a day earlier and taking the train, or keeping the car to drive to Stansted and turn it in there. And we don't have to be at Stansted until 3 PM. so there's no problem there.

www.baa.com has a direct link to Stansted airport and its transport services.

Hi Patrick,

The Stansted Express terminates inhe basement of Stansted Airport,you then simply take the lift up to the Departure area.There are ample free luggage trolleys where the train pulls in.There is plenty of room on the trains for your luggage so there is not real hassle,however there has been no service on Sundays for the last year due to egineering work. WWwstanstedexpress.co.uk

Thanks, bbib, I had looked at that link and several others, but while feeding me a lot of stuff, none would really explain where the train arrives. Thanks, infomania, for providing more specific and exact information that I could find through the links. Right downstairs with a lift up. Can't beat that. I think the train is sounding better than driving and doing a car return at the airport!

Not sure where you will be staying in London. If you are two or more in the company, you might think of using Waterloo Taxi's. I found them to be cheaper for 2 of us than using the Stansted express and a lot easier.

Huh? Guess you didn't read the question. It has to do with getting from Cardiff (that's in Wales) to Stansted.

Or are you suggesting it would make sense for the car service to meet us when we arrive at Paddington to then take us to Stansted from there? I was under the impression that our rail tickets could be purchased from Cardiff to Stansted, and the Stansted Express part of that total ticket was pretty inexpensive. Am I wrong? Also I'm assuming it wouldn't cost much for a taxi to take us from Paddington to Liverpool Station?

infomania:

Do you know when Sunday service will resume? I'm flying in and out on Sundays this summer.

infomania:

I looked on the website you mentioned and it looks like they have a replacement coach even if the train is not operating.

Thanks

Does anyone know how to contact waterloo taxi as suggested in the thread by Wolfie?

I found the Stansted Express website to be a little lacking in info, and no email address was given. It says a round-trip ticket runs 24 GBP (ouch!). Does anyone know if I'd have to buy a ticket for my 2-year-old as well, or do they ride free?

Would love info on the waterloo taxi's as mentioned above.

Thanks!
Mindy

I would not think that the Stanstead Express is linked with your rail ticket from Cardiff. Make sure this is the case. I think its a separate service and charged separate.

Also If you take a taxi to Stanstead as mentioned keep in mind the traffic. It may be easier to take the train to the airport due to time and traffic constraints. It's so handy once you arrive you just take a lift or escalator to the terminal.

kids under 5 ride free on the Stansted Express

you may be able to get a cheap flight from Cardiff to Stansted.

sorry - just did a check and you can't fly from Cardiff to Stansted...so ignore my last post!

I see this two month old thread of mine was brought back up. Forget about helping me with the situation. I had looked at trains, but in the end have rented a car with Auto Europe, picking up in London when we leave for Stratford and then Wales, and will be driving that day to Stansted and turning it in there. It just seemed like the easiest in the long run, especially since it wasn't costing us anything to keep the car an extra day (an even week).