Edinburgh to Stansted bus with National Express

Sat 05 Sept
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The cheapest and fastest coaches from Edinburgh to Stansted

Showing times, prices and bookable tickets for 05 Sept

Cheapest price on 05 Sept

£42

Average ticket price on 05 Sept

£45

Fastest journey on 05 Sept

12 h 5 m

Average journey duration on 05 Sept

12 h 5 m

Buses on 05 Sept

2

Distance

505 km

Cheap tickets

The best way to find a cheap coach ticket from Edinburgh to Stansted is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.

The average ticket from Edinburgh to Stansted will cost around £45 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap coach tickets today for only £42.

Fast coaches

On Sat 05 Sept, we found 2 buses from Edinburgh to Stansted, including 2 direct services.

These direct buses cover the 505 km distance in an average of 12 h 5 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 12 h 5 m .

The slowest buses will take 12 h 5 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.

  • National Express
    10:3512h05
    Edinburgh
    22:40Stansted
    £421One-way
    0 changes
  • National Express
    22:0512h05
    Edinburgh
    10:10Stansted
    £481One-way
    0 changes

Travel Information

Compare coach, flight and train for Edinburgh to Stansted

Omio recommends booking the coach as it is the most popular option from Edinburgh to Stansted among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the coach, with an average ticket price of £40 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 3h 19m. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £40, while a train costs an average of £74.

Distance: 505 km

Compare bus with

Most popular
Coach
Flight
Train
Driving

£40

Average Price

Cheapest

£56

Average Price

£74

Average Price

£139

Average Price

(fuel + tolls)

11h 30m

Average total duration

11h 0m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

3h 19m

Average total duration

Fastest

1h 19m

Onboard

+

2h 0m

Additional time*

5h 42m

Average total duration

5h 12m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

6h 49m

Average total duration

(door-to-door)

National Express

Most popular bus company

easyJet

Most popular airline

Lumo

Most popular train company

Your own car or car rental

Direct Options

Direct Options

Direct Options

Direct Options

The cheapest way to travel from Edinburgh to Stansted is a coach with an average price of £40.

This is compared to other travel options from Edinburgh to Stansted:

A coach is £15 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Edinburgh to Stansted costing on average £56.

A coach is £34 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Edinburgh to Stansted costing on average £74.

The fastest way to travel from Edinburgh to Stansted is by flight with an average journey time of 1h 19m.

Other travel options to Stansted take longer:

Train takes on average 5h 12m.

Coach takes on average 11h 0m.

It's helpful to compare your options as there are 3 ways to travel between Edinburgh and Stansted including taking a coach, flight and train.
Take the bus. It's the cheapest way to make this trip, and the price gap is usually bigger than people expect.

Tickets start at around £40 compared to roughly £139 in fuel and tolls — a saving of about £98. The journey takes 11h 0m versus 6h 49m by car, so you'll arrive a bit later, but you can use the time productively rather than spending it behind the wheel. No parking to sort, no fuel stops, and most coaches have Wi-Fi and power outlets.

Driving is worth considering if you're on a tight schedule, travelling as a group (where fuel costs split several ways), or want the flexibility to stop along the way.

Live departures

Edinburgh to Stansted bus times

The table below shows live departures for Edinburgh to Stansted coaches for today, Friday 4 September. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated coach journeys.

Last updated at
ProviderDepartsDurationArrivesChanges
Tickets
National Express21:05 Edinburgh
12h05
9:10 Stansted0 changesdirect
National Express22:05 Edinburgh
12h05
10:10 Stansted0 changesdirect
Saturday 5 September
National Express10:35 Edinburgh
12h05
22:40 Stansted0 changesdirect

This is the last bus of the day.

Find all the dates and times for this journey

Compare prices and tickets Edinburgh to Stansted by coach, flight or train

Compare coach, flight and train prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.

Sat
05 Sept
Sun
06 Sept
Mon
07 Sept
Tue
08 Sept
Wed
09 Sept
Thu
10 Sept
Fri
11 Sept

Why should you book Edinburgh to Stansted coaches with Omio?

National Express operates all coaches services from Edinburgh to Stansted.
Omio is an official ticket reseller for all your travel options from Edinburgh to Stansted.

Why book with Omio vs National Express?

  • Designed for International Travelers: Omio is in your language including 24/7 customer service and offers multiple payment options, including PayPal, credit cards, and bank transfer, in your preferred currency.
  • Compare all your options: Omio allows you to compare National Express with all available travel options, which are bus, flight and train to ensure you get the best deal for traveling from Edinburgh to Stansted.

Why book with Omio over Wanderu?

  • Multiple modes of transport: Omio allows you to compare travel options including bus, flight and train to find the ideal travel option from Edinburgh to Stansted.

Journey information

Overview: Bus from Edinburgh to Stansted

United KingdomUnited Kingdom
United KingdomUnited Kingdom
Icon of bus

Buses from Edinburgh to Stansted run on average 4 times per day, taking around 11h 0m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at £35 but you can travel from only £18 by flight.

The earliest coach runs at 00:45, the last at 23:50. The fastest coach covers the 505 km distance in 12h 5m.

Fares are the lowest economy prices found on Omio. Early booking often means lower prices. Prices change daily and are subject to availability. Discount cards, coach trips, and booking fees are not included.
Price information
Cheapest alternative travel mode
Flight from £18
Distance
505 km
Average bus duration
11h 0m
Cheapest ticket price
£35
Buses per day
4
Fastest bus
12h 5m
First bus
0:45
Last bus
23:50
Cheapest Month
Apr
Cheapest Day
Sat
High Season
Apr - Jun
Low Season
Oct - Dec
Busiest Day
Fri
Least Busy Day
Fri
Best time to book
84 days
Fares are the lowest economy prices found on Omio. Early booking often means lower prices. Prices change daily and are subject to availability. Discount cards, coach trips, and booking fees are not included.
Price information
Cheapest alternative travel mode
Flight from £18

Bus providers: National Express from Edinburgh to StanstedYou can travel by bus between Edinburgh to Stansted with National Express for as low as £18. When you search for schedules and tickets, Omio will show you the best journey

National Express

About
National Express is the UK’s leading long-distance coach company, operating over 550 services per day and serving more than 900 destinations nationwide. It also runs frequent services to major UK airports — including Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, and Bristol — 24 hours a day. All National Express coaches are air-conditioned and offer free Wi-Fi and onboard entertainment. Most vehicles are equipped with seat belts and power outlets at every seat, allowing you to charge your phone or laptop during your journey. Ticket options include Restricted Fare, Standard Fare, and Fully Flexible Fare, with the latter providing maximum flexibility for cancellations or changes.
Luggage & cancellation policy
Average National Express Duration
12h 5m
Cheapest National Express Price
£35
Luggage included
Two medium-sized suitcases up to 20kg each and one small piece of hand luggage.
Additional luggage
10€ per additional bag.
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel your ticket up to 24 hours before departure for a refund minus a cancellation fee. Changes can be up to 24 hours before departure for a fee.
Amenities on board the bus
Wifi
Food sold onboard
Seat reservation
Toilets
USB plugs
Accessibility
Assistance; Priority seating; Accessible toilets.
Bikes
Folding Bikes are allowed; non-folding bikes are not allowed.

What's included in each class

Compare National Express classes and the amenities included in each one.

Standard
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Power plugs

FAQs: Edinburgh to Stansted coach

Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Edinburgh to Stansted by coach. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest coach, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Stansted, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

FAQs
Cheap coach tickets from Edinburgh to Stansted can start from as little as £35 when you book in advance. The average coach ticket price for Edinburgh to Stansted is £40; however, prices vary depending on the time of day and class and they tend to be more expensive on the day.
The average journey time by coach from Edinburgh to Stansted is 12h 5m to travel the 505 km long route. Journey times can vary on weekends and holidays, so use our Journey Planner to search for a specific date.
The earliest coach from Edinburgh to Stansted leaves at 0:45. Plan your trip with the Journey Planner from Omio.
The latest coach from Edinburgh to Stansted leaves at 23:50.
There are 4 coaches a day from Edinburgh to Stansted which require at least one change with National Express. Schedules can vary on holidays or weekends with fewer coaches.
When taking a coach from Edinburgh to Stansted, you can count on National Express for the best way to get you to Stansted. You can also check all possible coach companies who offer a service between Edinburgh and Stansted and compare the amenities they offer before buying a coach ticket.
When departing from Edinburgh , you have various coach station options to start your route from including Edinburgh, Bus Station . When arriving in Stansted , you can end your route in coach stations like Stansted, London Stansted Airport Coach Station, Harlow, Temporary Bus Station (Stand D).Passengers board the coach most frequently from Edinburgh, Bus Station, which is located around away from the city centre, and they get off the coach at Stansted, London Stansted Airport Coach Station, located 1 away from the city centre.
A trip to Stansted from Edinburgh is worth doing but not as a day trip with a journey time of 12h 5m each way. Check with Omio app the best way to travel.
The cheapest month for a coach from Edinburgh to Stansted is April.
It's helpful to compare your options as there are 3 ways to travel between Edinburgh and Stansted including taking a coach, flight and train.
Yes, there are bathrooms on board the coach from Edinburgh to Stansted for coach company National Express.
Yes, the following accessibility options are available when taking the coach from Edinburgh to Stansted:
  • National Express
    • Assistance
    • Priority seating
    • Accessible toilets.
Whether you can cancel your coach ticket from Edinburgh to Stansted depends on the coach companies:
  • National Express
    • You can cancel your ticket up to 24 hours before departure for a refund minus a cancellation fee. Changes can be up to 24 hours before departure for a fee.
Yes, bikes are allowed on board the coach with coach company National Express.
Tickets are often cheaper when booked early. Traveling during off-peak hours or on weekdays can help you save money. Sort results by price to quickly identify the most affordable options. Check for promotions or discounts available on our website and app.
No, there is no food available to purchase on board the coach from Edinburgh to Stansted.
Yes, the following luggage options are included when booking a coach ticket from Edinburgh to Stansted:
  • National Express
    • Two medium-sized suitcases up to 20kg each and one small piece of hand luggage.
Yes, the following additional luggage options are available when booking a coach ticket from Edinburgh to Stansted:
  • National Express
    • 10€ per additional bag.
Unfortunately, pets are not allowed on the coach from Edinburgh to Stansted.
You can reserve your seat on the coach from Edinburgh to Stansted with the following coach company: National Express
Yes, there are USB plugs on board the coach from Edinburgh to Stansted with the following coach company: National Express.
Yes, there is Wifi on board the coach from Edinburgh to Stansted with the following coach company: National Express.

popular bus stations

Important Stations and Airports in Edinburgh and Stansted

Most Edinburgh to Stansted buses use the Edinburgh, Bus Station to Stansted, London Stansted Airport Coach Station station pair. Use this guide to compare Edinburgh and Stansted bus stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like bus station facilities and services.

Departure bus stations in Edinburgh
Arrival bus stations in Stansted

Which Edinburgh station do buses to Stansted leave from?

Buses from Edinburgh to Stansted leave from Edinburgh, Bus Station. The station is from Edinburgh city centre at Elder Street, Edinburgh EH1 3DX, United Kingdom.
Edinburgh, Bus StationElder Street, Edinburgh EH1 3DX, United KingdomWifiParkingDiningATMTaxisAccessibilityWCTicket Office
City-centre transport

Getting to Edinburgh, Bus Station from Edinburgh city centre

Bus10, 11 · 2m · £2 · every ~30 min
Uk090 · 5m · £0.90 · every ~32 min
TramEdinburgh York Place - Edinburgh Airport, T50 · 3m · £4 · every ~38 min

Edinburgh, Bus Station bus station facilities and services

Edinburgh, Bus Station has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC and Ticket Office.

Food and drink

Food options include: Café at the Station (in the station), Sandwich Shop (in the station).

Wi-Fi and ATMs

Free Wi-Fi. ATMs are located near the main entrance.

Tickets and information

Ticket office support is available at Edinburgh, Bus Station.

Parking, taxis and toilets

Available at Edinburgh, Bus Station: Parking, Taxis, WC.

Accessibility

Accessibility facilities are available at Edinburgh, Bus Station: Elevators, ramps.

More options for your journey from Edinburgh to Stansted

Here are some other resources that might have the information you need

HomeCoachesEdinburgh to Stansted bus

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