Southend is the furthest east of London’s main passenger airports, but it has one unusually useful advantage: the railway station is next to the terminal and direct trains run to Stratford and Liverpool Street.
For Stratford and Liverpool Street, the direct train is exceptionally straightforward. For west, south or central-West-End addresses, include the London connection after the airport train.
The direct train is a strong default for east and central London. The final address decides whether it remains simple after Stratford or Liverpool Street.
| Option | Direct? | Strongest for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train to Stratford | Yes | Stratford, east London, Canary Wharf connection | Onward connection for Canary Wharf / elsewhere |
| Train to Liverpool Street | Yes | City of London, Liverpool Street area | West/south London still needs another leg |
| Private transfer | Door to door | Groups, luggage, late arrival, awkward address | Long road distance; traffic and price |
Greater Anglia says Southend Airport station is about a two-minute walk from the terminal. Direct trains run to Stratford and London Liverpool Street, avoiding the airport-bus-to-station step found at some other airports.
Greater Anglia currently publishes reference journey times of about 46 minutes to Stratford and 55 minutes to central London. It also says services to Liverpool Street run up to three times per hour on weekdays.
The direct train closely matches the final area and is the first option to compare.
Direct rail remains simple and avoids a cross-London transfer.
Change at Stratford for the final east-London leg rather than travelling past it to Liverpool Street.
Count the London connection after the direct train. For a group with luggage, compare that total friction with a vehicle quote.
Use current fares from Greater Anglia and a real private-transfer quote. The calculator below turns per-person fares into a group total.
Train frequency, fares and engineering work can change. Check the live journey planner for your exact date and landing time.
Yes. Greater Anglia operates direct trains from Southend Airport to Stratford and London Liverpool Street.
Greater Anglia currently advertises about 46 minutes to Stratford and about 55 minutes to central London. Exact times vary by service and date.
Greater Anglia says the airport railway station is about a two-minute walk from the terminal.
Greater Anglia currently states that trains run up to three times per hour on weekdays. Check the live journey planner for your travel date.
It can be useful for groups, heavy luggage, late arrivals or destinations in west or south London where the direct train still leaves a substantial onward journey.
Terminal2City now has a detailed route from each of the six main London passenger airports.