London Stansted Airport (STN)

This impressively modern and user-friendly airport is an expanding hub for the increasingly popular budget airlines, which offer cut-price flights to many cities across Europe. One of Europe's fastest growing airports, Stansted is located 48 kilometres (30 miles) north-east of central London and serves 22 million passengers per year. It is estimated that by 2008, this figure will reach 25 million. Consultation is currently under way to look into the feasibility and impact of building a new runway there, to increase capacity for the south east of England.

Newly renovated and expanded facilities include bureaux de change, ATMs, left-luggage, airport information, hotel reservation desk, shops, duty-free outlets, restaurants, bars and car hire from Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz and National. Broadband wireless Internet access is available in the departure lounge.

The Stansted Express train service to Liverpool Street station operates daily 05:30-00:30, departing every 15 minutes, (journey time 49 minutes).

The main coach service to central London is the A6 Airbus run by National Express, which travels to Victoria coach station every 10 minutes, 24 hours a day (journey time 1 hour 45 minutes).

Taxis are usually available at the airport or can be booked via telephone. Airport Carz charge approximately £80 for the 60-minute (depending on traffic and conditions) journey to central London.