The London Stansted drop-off charge in detail
Express Set Down: £10 for up to 15 minutes.
If you overstay: £28 beyond 15 minutes; 30-minute maximum stay, then Parking Charge and enforcement.
How to pay: Pay by 23:59 the day after your visit.
What the London Stansted drop-off is actually like
The Express Set Down is on the main terminal forecourt directly outside Departures, with barrier-free number-plate entry; the free Mid Stay alternative is about a 7-minute shuttle transfer away.
Source: the airport's own directions page.
Free or cheaper alternative
Mid Stay car park — Free period with transfer to terminal. Allow 15–25 extra minutes versus the barrier.
Picking up at London Stansted
Like most UK airports, London Stansted applies the same £10 charge to pick-ups as to drop-offs — the same area, the same tariff. It's always worth confirming on the day, as signage and enforcement can change.
If you're waiting on a delayed flight, Mid Stay car park is usually the cheaper choice than paying at the barrier by the minute.
Where to go
London Stansted Airport terminal. Follow the drop-off signs on site — the zone can sit a short walk from the doors.
© OpenStreetMap contributors · Get directions →
By rail — Stansted Airport station is directly beneath the terminal, a two-minute step-free walk, on the Stansted Express to London Liverpool Street.source
Parking & travel
Affiliate links — we may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. It never affects the charge data above.
Questions about London Stansted
How much is the drop-off charge at London Stansted Airport?
London Stansted Airport charges £10 for up to 15 minutes at the drop-off area closest to the terminal. If you overstay: £28 beyond 15 minutes; 30-minute maximum stay, then Parking Charge and enforcement.
Is there a free drop-off at London Stansted Airport?
Yes. London Stansted keeps a free or cheaper option — Mid Stay car park: Free period with transfer to terminal. Allow 15–25 extra minutes.
How do I pay the London Stansted Airport drop-off charge?
Pay by 23:59 the day after your visit.
Do you have to pay to pick up at London Stansted Airport?
At London Stansted, as at nearly every UK airport, the same charge applies to pick-ups as to drop-offs — £10 for the same window. Confirm on the day, as rules can change.
Has the London Stansted Airport drop-off charge gone up?
Yes. It rose from £7 in 2025 to £10, an increase of about 43%.
Nearby & related airports
Method & corrections
Every figure on this page is checked against the airport's own published charges and stamped with the date we checked it. We re-verify the full dataset quarterly, and after any reported change.
Spotted an error? Email hello@airportdropoffcharges.co.uk — corrections are made visibly and dated. The dataset behind this page is free to reuse with attribution: JSON · CSV (CC BY 4.0).