Comparing Stansted and Gatwick, and wondering which costs more to reach from London? The two airports sit on opposite sides of the capital — Stansted north-east, Gatwick south — and transfer costs differ accordingly. This guide compares Stansted vs Gatwick transfer costs from London, so you can factor travel into your choice of airport.
Stansted lies around 40 miles north-east of central London off the M11, while Gatwick sits around 30 miles south off the M23. Both are major airports serving huge route networks, so travellers often have a genuine choice, especially for European destinations. When that choice exists, the cost and convenience of getting there from your part of London can be a deciding factor — and the two differ because of their distances and directions from the city.
Stansted is a little further from central London than Gatwick.
Your side of London matters — north-east for Stansted, south for Gatwick.
North London favours Stansted; south London favours Gatwick.
Both priced the same way by vehicle size and passengers.
| From | Saloon | Executive | MPV | 8-Seater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| To/From Stansted | £146 | £171 | £158 | £172 |
| To/From Gatwick | £123 | £142 | £146 | £158 |
From central London. Gatwick is a little cheaper from the centre; your specific area shifts the comparison. Saloon first; larger vehicles more.
From central London, Gatwick is typically a little cheaper to reach than Stansted, being somewhat closer. But the picture shifts with your location: if you're in north or east London, Stansted may be closer and cheaper for you; if you're in the south, Gatwick's advantage grows. So the "cheaper" airport for transfers depends on where in the London area you are. For an exact comparison, give us your postcode and we'll quote both — letting you weigh transfer cost alongside flight price and schedule when choosing.
Understanding how to weigh transfer costs alongside other factors helps you make the smartest choice when you have the option of flying from either Stansted or Gatwick. The two airports genuinely compete for many travellers, particularly for European and holiday destinations served by both, so when the flights themselves are comparable, the practicalities of getting to and from the airport can rightly become a deciding factor — and transfer cost is a key part of that. The fundamental geographical fact is that the airports sit on opposite sides of London: Stansted to the north-east, roughly 40 miles from the centre up the M11, and Gatwick to the south, around 30 miles down the M23. From the very centre of London, Gatwick's slightly shorter distance typically makes it a little cheaper to reach by transfer, but this headline comparison is only the starting point, because your specific location within the London area can shift the picture significantly. If you live or are staying in north or east London, Stansted may well be closer and cheaper for you than Gatwick, as you're already on its side of the city and avoid crossing London entirely; conversely, if you're in south London, Gatwick's advantage widens, as Stansted would require a longer cross-city journey. So the honest answer to "which is cheaper" is genuinely "it depends where you are". Beyond transfer cost, a complete decision weighs several things together: the flight prices from each airport (a cheaper flight from the further airport might be offset by a pricier transfer, so it's the combined total that matters), the flight times and schedules that suit you, and the overall convenience including transfer duration. The sensible approach is to get fixed-price transfer quotes for both airports from your specific location — which we can readily provide if you give us your postcode — and then add each to the respective flight price to see the true total cost of each option. Understanding that the cheaper airport for transfers depends on your location, and that transfer cost should be weighed together with flight price and convenience, helps you make a genuinely informed choice between Stansted and Gatwick.
A: From the centre, Gatwick is usually a little cheaper, being closer; but your side of London can change this.
A: Yes — north/east London favours Stansted, south London favours Gatwick; give us your postcode for both quotes.
A: Yes — both by fixed fare based on route and vehicle, no meter or surge.
A: Yes — tell us your area and we'll give fixed fares for both, to compare.
From central London, Gatwick is usually a little cheaper to reach than Stansted, being closer — but your side of the city shifts the comparison, with north and east favouring Stansted. Factor the transfer cost from your area into your airport choice, and we can quote both airports' fixed fares to compare.
We'll quote both airports' fixed fares from your area — compare and choose.
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