I've been looking for the most convenient way to get to Stansted Airport from London as we'll be traveling with a 2-yr old, a stroller, and a few pieces of baggage for a flight to Palermo. We'll be in London for a couple of days, hopefully staying near Paddington Station, and would be leaving on a Monday to catch a 4.45 flight out of Stansted. I'm trying to minimize slogging thru town/tube/rail/coach with all this paraphenalia.

I read that one must negotiate the fare with a Black Cab if traveling outside Greater London, so I thought it might be a good idea just to rent a car -- agree? disagree? I would be doing the same in reverse upon our return to Stansted for a flight home out of Heathrow

Anybody? Bueller?

I would not go to all the trouble of renting a car just for this drive. Think of the time standing in line and filling out paperwork. Use a car service. We have used a car service to get from a London hotel to Gatwick. They will have fixed prices to quote you for an airport pickup or dropoff.

Either ask your hotel for a recommendation or google to find one. I have more info on this page:
Slow Travel UK - Trip Planning - How to Find a Car Service

Pauline, THANK YOU! This is just the information I was after. Much appreciated

I'm not too sure how much a taxi will cost from Paddington to Stansted but between £50 - £75, I'd have thought.

There is another alternative that would be cheaper but not quite as convenient. National Express run a bus service from Victoria to Stansted that makes several stops to pick up passengers on the way. The Marylebone stop (or even the Baker Street or Finchley stops) would be quite close to Paddington and even if you factor in the cost of a taxi from Paddington to Marylebone you'd save a lot of money.

Thank you BeeBee. I'll take both suggestions under advisement. Since we'll be in the Notting Hill-Bayswater area, it may make sense to take a taxi. Since we got such a great fare out of Stansted on RyanAir I may splurge on the ride up and back.

The advice that you have been given was quite right. Don't take a taxi (black cab). Ask your hotel to recommend a reliable "minicab" service to take you to the airport - it is usually much cheaper. You will have to book in advance though.

You can find a Paddington minicab here. If you contact them in advance, you can arrange to be met at the airport by a driver. It is much the most convenient way to travel from any of the London airports.

The Stansted Express train from the Liverpool station to Stanstead is easy and fabulous. I stay in the Bayswater area when in London and I just take the tube to Liverpool and then the express to Stanstead. With your situation as it is I would simply take a cab to Liverpool and then use the express train. It is actually a nice ride out to the airport! Save your money for Italy...

All great advice. Thanks everyone. Now if I had just done a little more homework before booking my very mixed-reviewed hotel on Priceline!

quote:

Originally posted by beebee: I'm not too sure how much a taxi will cost from Paddington to Stansted but between £50 - £75, I'd have thought.

Beebee, that would be a good deal if that is the rate. The last time I took a cab just from from Parson's Green to Heathrow (which is much shorter than Paddington to Stansted), it was £40! So I wouldn't want to try predict Paddington to Stansted. Then again - maybe I was just ripped off? (It was a registered black cab service with meter. For the same trip on other occasions, a reserved car service was £25.)

I realize that convenience is the issue here, but for the cost, I would guess that the other options mentioned - cab to Victoria + National Express bus, or cab to Liverpool Street + Stansted Express, or pre-arranged car service - would provide a better value for convenience plus cost. Good luck, Baking Goddess, whatever you choose!

quote:

Originally posted by KimC:
Beebee, that would be a good deal if that is the rate. The last time I took a cab just from from Parson's Green to Heathrow (which is much shorter than Paddington to Stansted), it was £40! So I wouldn't want to try predict Paddington to Stansted. Then again - maybe I was just ripped off? (It was a registered black cab service with meter. For the same trip on other occasions, a reserved car service was £25.)

I should have been more specific. I was speculating on the rates that a minicab (rather than a black cab) would charge and on re-thinking about it I feel confident that the price would be at the top of the range I quoted. We live in the Stoke Newington area which is much further east (so closer to Stansted) and we've been charged £50 so it must be more from Paddington.

But £40 from Parsons Green. indeed! I have way too much Scots blood in my veins to pay that kind of money. Especially when you're so close to the Piccadilly line there and the fare would be £6 max.

quote:

Originally posted by beebee:
But £40 from Parsons Green. indeed! I have way too much Scots blood in my veins to pay that kind of money.

LOL, that's why we only ever did it once, and why it stands out so much in my mind! To be fair, it was a bad traffic day when it happened. But after that, we did use a car service if we had to travel at odd times when the Tube was not an option, or Tube whenever possible. Because I share your opinion on paying that kind of money if I don't have to! Thanks for the additional insight into how you were estimating fares.