Coach and Minibus Hire in the United Kingdom

Stansted arrivals for groups large and small

Stansted's coach station sits right beside the terminal, which is good news when you're wheeling cases and pushchairs. Which part of it you use, or whether you head for the car park instead, depends on the vehicle you've booked.

If a coach is meeting you

Your coach will board you from one of bays 32 to 39. Until then it's parked up in a layover area round the back of the coach station, and it only pulls forward when your party is standing there ready. It then has 20 minutes on the bay, so gather everyone before you ring the driver.

Drivers must never leave a coach unattended in a bay, so they won't come into the terminal to look for you. If anyone travelling uses a wheelchair, tell us when you book: the coach station has a dedicated wheelchair-accessible bay, number 29.

Mercedes-Benz V-Class passenger van, front view
Mercedes-Benz V-Class passenger van, front view

Smaller vehicles and the Short Stay car park

Anything lower than 2.2 metres, or seating fewer than nine people once you count the driver, is sent to the Short Stay car park to collect you, unless the airport has agreed otherwise. In practice that means cars and people carriers, and possibly a lower minibus.

Which rule applies depends on the height and the seats, so your confirmation should say plainly where to meet. Save it on your phone before you fly.

The terminals

  • Single passenger terminal

Good to know at London Stansted Airport

  • Cars dropping off at the terminal use the Express Set Down, a barrierless camera-controlled zone paid by midnight the day after the visit; free drop-off is available in the Mid Stay car park, with a shuttle bus to the terminal.
  • Coach drivers must keep to 5 mph in the coach station, wear high-visibility clothing while loading and never leave the coach unattended in a bay.
  • Vehicles under 2.2 m high or with fewer than nine seats including the driver must use the Short Stay car park facilities for pick-ups unless authorised by the airport.
  • Coaches drop off free of charge; a charge applies to each coach pick-up.

On the road

Allow a good hour, 65 to 70 minutes when the roads are kind, for the 37 or so miles to Trafalgar Square; rush hour adds more. For an evening arrival with tired children, a stop for food on the way is easy to add if it's in the booking from the start.

Your questions

Does it cost anything to be collected at Stansted?

The airport charges for each coach pick-up, while dropping off by coach is free. Ask for the quote to show whether the pick-up charge is included.

We're a family of seven with a lot of luggage. Minibus or people carrier?

A minibus of 16 to 19 seats has luggage space at the back, but it gets tight with every seat taken. Tell us the number of cases, golf bags or pushchairs and the quote will suggest a size that fits people and bags.

Will the coach be waiting at the bay when we come out?

Usually not, and that's deliberate. It's parked behind the bays and comes forward once you're ready, so a quick call from the group leader brings it round.

Where is the free drop-off for friends bringing us by car?

The Mid Stay car park has free drop-off with a shuttle bus to the terminal. The Express Set Down by the terminal is charged and paid by midnight the following day.

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