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Thinking about heading to Stansted? Here’s why the Finsbury Park bus is cheaper, easier and less stressful than doing it yourself.
As a travel blogger, I’ve traveled to Stansted dozens of times over the years. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that the trip to the airport can make or break a trip. I drove each time because I was convinced it gave me more control. Then I considered what I would actually spend on parking, petrol and the hassle of the M11 and A120 on a bad day and started looking for alternatives.
These days when I go to Stansted alone I almost always take the bus instead. It’s become such a habit that now I actually look forward to it, which is something I never thought I’d say about the ride to the airport. In this post, I share the seven reasons why I think more people should do the same, from the cost savings to the sheer convenience of being able to ditch the car altogether.
1. It’s incredibly easy to book and offers incredibly good value for money
Let’s start with the obvious: the cost. A bus ticket from Finsbury Park to Stansted starts from just £8.99 when you book online. That’s a fraction of what you would spend on gas and parking for the same trip. I paid more for a coffee and a pastry at the airport than I did for some of my bus tickets. Booking on your phone takes two minutes and that’s it. You no longer have to fiddle with parking apps or remember which terminal parking garage you left your car in three weeks ago.
2. You skip the parking nightmare entirely
This is the one that originally sold me. Parking in Stansted isn’t cheap and even the drop and go option incurs a cost if your flight is delayed and you’re making it through. I swear every year they charge a new fee to squeeze even more money out of you. Well, there’s none of that with the coach. You get off, go into the terminal and that’s it. No barriers, no tickets to keep track of, no wonder you still remember where you parked when you come back exhausted at midnight.
3. The direct route from Finsbury Park is extremely convenient for North Londoners
If you live near Finsbury Park, Wood Green or Enfield this route is easy. You don’t have to drag your case to central London, which many people find necessary. Finsbury Park itself is one of the city’s busiest transport hubs and is served by the Victoria Line, Piccadilly Line and National Rail, making travel from virtually anywhere in North London easy. From Finsbury Park the bus will take you to Stansted in around 90 minutes, which is comparable to a journey by car on a busy day. With a bad one, it’s much quicker.
4. The buses run every 45 minutes day and night
One of the things that stopped me from taking buses in general was the fear of missing my bus and getting stuck. That’s not a problem here. The flights operate around the clock every 45 minutes. This means that even if you catch an early morning flight or land on a delayed flight, there is always another one coming. Due to the traffic jam on the way to the stop, I arrived later than planned more than once and never had to panic because of it.
5. Your ticket is valid all day, so your plans will not be affected by delays
It’s a small detail that makes a surprisingly big difference. Your ticket is not tied to a specific departure; It applies to every bus that day until 4am the next morning. If your flight is delayed or you simply misjudged your timing, simply switch to the next flight. This has happened to me before on a delayed return flight, and not having to rebook or pay a fee because I missed my “slot” gave me one less thing to worry about when I was already tired and irritable from traveling.
6. It’s actually a relaxing way to start or end your trip
There’s something really nice about being driven somewhere instead of driving yourself, especially after a long flight. I can pull out my phone, check the news, or just stare out the window and listen to music. The buses themselves are modern and comfortable and luggage is also included in the ticket price. As I said, it’s all very simple!
7. It’s a more sustainable way to travel
I try to be aware of it when I can without judging it. Taking a shared bus instead of going to the airport alone is an easy way to reduce unnecessary emissions, especially if you would otherwise have to make the return trip twice – once to drop off, once to pick up. It won’t make up for a long-haul flight, but every sensible decision along the way adds up, and this one is one of the easiest.
If you’re planning a trip outside of Stansted and are staying anywhere near North London, I highly recommend you try the bus at least once. I was skeptical the first time, mostly out of habit, but now it’s my default option. Sometimes the simplest and cheapest choice really is the best.
