To get to London from Southend Airport, the easiest option is usually the Greater Anglia train, which connects the airport directly to Liverpool Street station in about an hour. Taxis, ride-hailing services, and private transfers are also available, but they are much more expensive.
Southend Airport (SEN) is one of the London airports farthest from the city center. Located on the east coast of England, about 40 miles (65 km) from London, it requires a longer transfer time than Heathrow, Gatwick, or London City.
The good news is that the airport has its own train station, which makes the journey to London relatively easy to organize. In this article, I explain how to get from Southend Airport to London, with the different transport options, their prices, journey times, and the situations where they make the most sense.
- The Greater Anglia train is generally the best option to get to London from Southend Airport: direct, fast, and often economical.
- Allow about 55 to 65 minutes to reach Liverpool Street station in central London.
- Taxis, ride-hailing services, and private transfers are more comfortable but cost significantly more than the train.
- If your flight arrives late or leaves early, the Holiday Inn Southend, located right next to the airport, is the most convenient hotel.
- Southend is now a secondary airport in the London network, with mainly a few British and European routes.
- If you can choose between several airports to visit London, Heathrow, Gatwick, or London City are generally more convenient.
- How to reach London from Southend Airport?
- Taking the train between Southend Airport and London
- Taxi and ride-hailing services between Southend Airport and London
- Sleeping in Southend if you arrive too late to go to London
- Traveling with a mobility impairment via Southend Airport
- Traveler's memo for getting from Southend Airport to London
- Conclusion: how to get from Southend to London without stress
How to reach London from Southend Airport?
From Southend Airport, the Greater Anglia train is usually the simplest solution. Taxis and ride-hailing services offer more comfort but are much more expensive.
| Option | Time to London | Indicative budget | Ideal if... |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Anglia train | 55 to 65 min | From £13 | You are looking for the best balance between price and journey time. |
| Taxi or private hire vehicle | 1h30 to 2h | £110 to £130 | You are traveling with a lot of luggage or in a group. |
| Hotel near the airport | - | From £90 | Your flight arrives very late or leaves very early. |
Taking the train between Southend Airport and London
The Greater Anglia train is the fastest and simplest way to reach London from Southend Airport. With a direct connection to central London and a station just a short walk from the terminal, it's the option I recommend in the vast majority of cases.
Accessing the station from the terminal
Southend Airport station is just a short walk from the terminal. Once you leave the arrivals area, just follow the "Train Station" signs to reach the platforms in a few minutes on foot, with no shuttle or intermediate transfer.
This is one of the main advantages of this airport: unlike some where you have to take a bus to reach the nearest train station, here everything has been designed to make transfers easier. You can go from plane to train in just a few minutes.
Journey time and train frequency
The trains are operated by Greater Anglia and provide a direct connection between Southend Airport and London Liverpool Street.
Allow about 52 minutes to reach Liverpool Street and about 43 minutes to reach Stratford, another major transport hub in East London. At peak times, up to 6 trains per hour serve the airport, which generally keeps waiting times low.
For most visitors, Liverpool Street is the most convenient terminus because it offers immediate connections with several London Underground lines as well as the Elizabeth Line. The station is also ideal if you are staying in the City, Shoreditch, Spitalfields or East London. For Westminster, Kensington or Notting Hill, you can simply plan for a tube connection.
I am particularly fond of this option because it is very smooth: you leave the terminal, get on the train and less than an hour later you find yourself in the heart of London, without having to deal with traffic jams or multiple changes.
Ticket price and booking
The price of a one-way Southend Airport → London Liverpool Street ticket varies depending on the time of day, the type of ticket you choose and how far in advance you book.
In practice, fares start at around £13 for a single journey in 2026 but vary depending on the time and date of purchase.
You can buy your ticket:
- From the ticket machines located in the terminal or at the station.
- At the station ticket office, which is open every day.
- Online on the National Rail website or directly from Greater Anglia.
Booking in advance is not essential, but it can sometimes help you get better fares.
British rail fares vary depending on the time of travel, the type of ticket chosen and the date of purchase. The prices indicated in this article correspond to the ranges most frequently observed in 2026.
Arrival at Liverpool Street and connections
Once you arrive at London Liverpool Street, you will be able to continue your journey easily thanks to the many available connections.
The station is served by several London Underground lines:
- Central Line for Oxford Street, Tottenham Court Road or Notting Hill.
- Circle Line and Metropolitan Line for Paddington, King's Cross or West London.
- Hammersmith & City Line for King's Cross St Pancras and several northwestern neighborhoods.
You can also take the Elizabeth Line, which serves Farringdon, Tottenham Court Road, Bond Street and Paddington, among others. This line is also one of the simplest ways to reach Heathrow or to make certain connections to Gatwick and Luton.
If you are using an Oyster card or a contactless bank card, you just need to tap in at the Underground or Elizabeth Line gates to continue your journey.
Taxi and ride-hailing services between Southend Airport and London
The train is generally the best option for getting to London from Southend Airport. However, if you are traveling with a lot of luggage, with young children, or if you arrive after the last train, a taxi or ride-hailing service can be an appealing alternative.
Taking a taxi at Southend Airport
The taxi rank is located directly in front of the terminal, just outside the arrivals exit. You therefore do not need to take a shuttle or walk to a distant parking lot to find a vehicle.
The airport's official service is provided by Andrews Taxis, which can be reached on +44 (0) 1702 200 200. You can book your trip in advance or simply take a taxi when you arrive.
To reach central London, you can generally expect to pay around £110 to £130 for a vehicle, with a journey time often between 1½ and 2 hours, depending on traffic.
Shared taxis after the last train
If your flight arrives after the last train to London has left, Andrews Taxis offers a shared taxi service to central London.
The idea is simple: several passengers share the same vehicle to reduce the cost of the trip. The fare is £27.50 per person, with a minimum of four travelers. If fewer than four people use the service, the cost of the journey is divided among the passengers present.
It is a useful option to avoid an unplanned hotel stay when trains are no longer running.
Comparing ride-hailing services with Minicabit
If you prefer to book a vehicle in advance and compare several companies, you can use Minicabit, an airport partner.
The platform lets you compare prices from many operators for a journey between Southend Airport and London, with a fare set in advance and the choice of vehicle type depending on the number of passengers and the amount of luggage.
In most cases, ride-hailing services offer a similar level of comfort to a regular taxi. They can sometimes be slightly cheaper, but they are still significantly more expensive than the train.
Sleeping in Southend if you arrive too late to go to London
If your flight arrives in Southend too late to catch a train to London that same day, or if you have a very early departure, staying right next to the airport can make your trip much more relaxed. It is also a comfortable solution if you prefer to avoid adding a long transfer after your flight.
Unlike Heathrow or London City, Southend is relatively far from central London. When you arrive late in the evening, insisting on reaching the capital that same day is not always the most comfortable option. In some cases, a night on site lets you set off rested the next morning and avoid a tiring transfer after a long day of travel.
The most practical option is usually to book a night at the Holiday Inn Southend, located right next to the airport. This is the property I recommend first when the goal is simply to spend the night before or after a flight.
Holiday Inn Southend: sleeping just steps from the terminal
The Holiday Inn Southend remains, in 2026, one of the most practical options for staying right next to the airport. It is designed to accommodate both business travelers and tourists in transit, with comfortable rooms, a 24-hour front desk, and services suited to late arrivals as well as very early departures.
The comfort/convenience ratio is particularly good if:
- You land after the last train to London.
- You are traveling with children who are tired from the day.
- You have a flight that takes off at dawn and prefer to already be on site.
- You want to avoid a long transfer to London after a late arrival.
Rates vary depending on the season, level of demand, and how far in advance you book, but they generally remain comparable to those of 4-star hotels located near other major UK airports, between £90 and £110 per night.
Traveling with a mobility impairment via Southend Airport
Southend Airport is a relatively small airport, which often makes getting around easier for travelers with reduced mobility. Distances are short and the main facilities are grouped around the terminal.
The airport offers a special assistance service for travelers who need help during their time at the airport. This assistance must be booked with your airline, travel agency, or tour operator at least 48 hours before departure, so the airport team can arrange the right support for you.
Southend Airport station is only a very short walk from the terminal, which also makes it easy to access trains to London. Suitable parking spaces are available close to the terminal for travelers arriving by car.
To arrange special assistance or get additional information, visit the dedicated page on the airport's official website or contact your airline before your trip. Booking your assistance in advance remains the best way to ensure support tailored to your needs.
To reach London, the train is often the simplest option for travelers with reduced mobility, thanks to how close the station is to the terminal and the possibility of requesting rail assistance.
Traveler's memo for getting from Southend Airport to London
Here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions about transfers between Southend Airport and central London, to help you finalize your practical choices.
Conclusion: how to get from Southend to London without stress
Even though Southend Airport is farther from central London than Heathrow, Gatwick, or London City, the journey is still relatively straightforward to organize. Having a station just a few steps from the terminal makes things a lot easier: for most travelers, the Greater Anglia train to Liverpool Street is the best balance of cost, simplicity, and travel time.
Taxis and ride-hailing services can also be a good option if you are traveling with a lot of luggage, with young children, or if your flight arrives at an inconvenient time. And if you land very late, spending a night near the airport can sometimes be more comfortable than heading straight into London.
Southend is still a secondary airport within the London airport system. If you have a choice when booking your flight, I would generally recommend prioritizing Heathrow, Gatwick, or London City, which offer faster transfers to the city center. On the other hand, if you find an appealing flight to Southend or if this airport fits your itinerary, it is still entirely possible to easily organize your arrival in London.
I hope this guide helps you choose the option best suited to your situation. To plan the rest of your stay, feel free to check out my other articles about London: transportation, neighborhoods to stay in, key sights, and practical tips to really make the most of the British capital.
