Have you found yourself with a layover at London Stansted Airport and wondering how to make the most of your time there instead of just waiting?
Time is priceless and there are ways to make it worthwhile by embarking on a new adventure and starting to explore!
After all, the area near Stansted Airport is full of unique gems, so rest assured the options will entertain you.
In today’s guide, we’ve done our digging to present you with the best things you can do near Stansted Airport during a layover or flight delay.
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Without further ado, let’s dive into it!
9 Things to Do Near Stansted Airport (STN) During a Layover
There are plenty of things a traveler can do near Stansted Airport during a layover since the opportunities are endless; the challenge here lies in choosing the best spots to visit!
Below, we present you with our list starting with no other than visiting the Bishop’s Stortford Escape Rooms!
1) Visit Bishop’s Stortford Escape Rooms
If you are an adventurous spirit, want to bring to the surface the inner child you have within, or you have children, then you need to pay Bishop’s Stortford Escape Rooms a visit.
With over 250,000 Escape Room players (company-wide) so far, Bishop’s Stortford Escape Rooms is among the best-reviewed games in Stortford.
Teams consist of 2-10 people who need to escape the games in 60 minutes or less.
That being said, to make a booking and reserve a spot the minimum number of people is 2.
Opening times: Monday-Sunday from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Address: Millars One, Southmill Rd, Bishop’s Stortford CM23 3DH, United Kingdom
Proximity to Stansted Airport: 2.2 miles from Stansted Airport
2) Discover the Historic Mountfitchet Castle
Mountfitchet Castle is a historic attraction that encapsulates the magic blend of the magnificent Mountfitchet Castle & Norman Village of 1066, House on the Hill Toy Museum, and Dinosaur Encounters.
If you want to travel back in time to Norman England in 1066, then this is your chance.
What is more, a minimum of 2 hours is ideal to ensure you enjoy the full extent of this historic site, and there is no need to book in advance.
Opening times: Every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Saturday 9th March until Friday 8th November 2024 including all weekends and bank holidays.
The last Admission is at 3.30 p.m. and the Museum closes at 4.45 p.m.
Prices:
- Adults: £17.00
- Children (3-13yrs): £13.50
- OAPs: £15.50
Address: Mountfitchet Castle, Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex CM24 8SP England
Proximity to Stansted Airport: 2.1 miles from Stansted Airport
3) Play Golf at Golf World Stansted
Golf World Stansted is an ideal golfing venue, with a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, set in Essex countryside near Stansted Airport.
Apart from the courses offered such as the 1066-themed Adventure Golf Course, there is also a gym, a restaurant, a bar, and a function room.
Opening times
- Monday – Thursday: 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.
- Friday – Saturday: 7 a.m. – 12 a.m.
- Sun: 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Prices vary according to the type of adventure, number of participants, and time of attendance (i.e. midweek or weekend).
For instance, in case you go for the 1066 Adventure Golf, the prices are as follows:
- Children: £8.00
- Adults: £10.00
- Families of 3-5: £23- £36
Address: Hall Road, Elsenham CM22 6FL England
Proximity to Stansted Airport: 1.6 miles from Stansted Airport
4) Explore Hatfield Forest Nature Reserve
If you want to take some time to relax, feel the nature’s serenity and recharge your batteries, then you should go exploring Hatfield Forest Nature Reserve.
Hatfield Forest National Nature Reserve is Britain’s best-preserved Royal Hunting Forest with ancient oaks, and also home to a vast array of wildlife.
As for February, according to the day of the month, the forest can be either closed or open from dawn to dusk.
Also, the entrance to the forest is completely free but car parking until 29th February 2024, is £8.00 for Non-National Trust members.
Address: Bush End Road, Takeley, Bishop’s Stortford, Essex, CM22 6NE
Proximity to Stansted Airport: 2 miles from Stansted Airport
5) Spend a Few Hours at The Gardens of Easton Lodge
If you’ve found yourself with a long layover and have a few hours to kill, then you should visit the Gardens of Easton Lodge.
The Gardens of Easton Lodge is an idyllic place with historic gardens that date back over 400 years.
For February 2024, Garden opening times are as follows:
- For snowdrops, on Sunday 18 February, Thursday 22 February, Sunday 25 February, and Thursday 29 February.
- Main season Sunday Open Days: These are held one Sunday a month from 11:00 to 17:00, with last entry at 16:00 and gates locked at 17:30
Prices:
- Adults: £5.50 if booked in advance and £6.50 on the Gate.
- Children under 16 years old: free of charge.
Address: Saffron Walden Road Little Easton, Great Dunmow CM6 2BB England
Proximity to Stansted Airport: 3.5 miles from Stansted Airport
6) Pick Pumpkins at Hatter’s Farm
If you find yourself in a long layover during the Halloween season, then why not grab the opportunity to pick pumpkins at Hatter’s Farm.
After all, when life gives you pumpkins, you can make pumpkin pie!
Jokes aside, Hatter’s Farm is a family-run Pumpkin Farm based in the Essex Countryside.
Provides a wide range of pumpkins to choose from and there are also more activities to do such:
- New Hatter’s MadHouse – an indoor clown-themed maze
- Live street actors
- Bale Mountain and Hay Bale Maze
- Incredible photo opportunities including the world’s biggest welly
Opening hours:
- Pumpkin Picking Daytime: 1st, 7th, 8th, 14th, 15th, 17th, 18th October 9:30 am – 4:30 p.m. (last entry 3:30)
- Pumpkin Picking Daytime: 21st to 29th October 10 a.m – 5 p.m.
- Pumpkin Nights: 21st-23rd, 26th-29th 5 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. (last entry 7:30 p.m.
It is open only in October and is located 1.7 miles from Stansted Airport.
Address: Takeley, Bishops Stortford CM22 6NP England
7) Visit Whoosh Explore Canoe Club
Whoosh Explore Canoe Club offers canoeing and kayaking sessions and a paddle equipment rental on the River Stort in Hertfordshire and Essex.
If you are up for an adventure and want to try something new, then you should give it a go.
Also, in case you are a group of friends then it’s a great bonding and relaxing experience to try out.
Whoosh Explore Canoe Club consists of an experienced team of coaches who work with you to ensure that you have an enjoyable paddle on the river.
Prices vary depending on the session.
For example, if you choose to enjoy an evening Canoe session on the River Stort from Sheering Mill Lock in Sawbridgeworth, prices are as follows:
- From £18.00 per adult
- From £15.00 per child
Address: Whoosh Explore Canoe Club, 82 Rainsford Rd
Proximity to Stansted Airport: 5.8 miles from Stansted Airport
8) Enjoy a Drink at The Redchurch Brewery
In case of a longer layover or a flight delay, you can enjoy a drink at the Redchurch Brewery located in Harlow, Essex.
It has won 9 World Beer Awards so far and 5/5 reviews.
There is a click-and-collect service and a brewery tour every Tuesday and Thursday evening and Saturday morning.
Regarding the opening hours, they are as follows:
- Monday to Friday: 09:30 – 16:00
- Saturday: The taproom terrace bar is open from 14:00 – 20:00
- Sunday: Closed
Address: Mead Park, 15-16 River Way, Harlow CM20 2SE, United Kingdom
Proximity to Stansted Airport: 8.6 miles from Stansted Airport
9) Have a Blast at The Pinball Office
If you are a lover of Pinball, then the Pinball Office which is located in Sawbridgeworth Hertfordshire, with over 30 pinball machines set on free play is your chance to shine.
The admission depends on the session, number of people, etc.
More specifically, the Pinball Office offers the following:
- A 3-hour long session for £15 per adult and £12.5 per child.
- A 6-hour long session for £25 per adult
If you’re interested in private sessions of private hire for parties and events, they have the following pricing options:
- For private sessions (MAX 2 people): £ 50 / hour per adult
- For up to 20 guests: £200 for 2 hours
Regarding the opening hours, they are as follows:
- Saturday: 10:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Sunday: 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Proximity to Stansted Airport: 6.1 miles from Stansted Airport
Address: Unit T2 (Third Floor) Allen House Business Center, Sawbridgeworth CM21 9JX England
Now that we covered some cool things to do near Stansted Airport, let’s see how easy it is to get around Stansted.
Getting Around Stansted
Getting around Stansted Airport is quite easy since there are numerous options to choose from.
Travelers can easily leave Stansted and go back to it, through transport options such as train, bus, and car.
For instance, there are regular trains to and from London, with Stansted Express offering the fastest way to travel between London Stansted Airport and London Liverpool Street in central London.
And even if you are someone who requires accessibility services, you’ll be able to find a full range at the train station.
What is more, although train and bus services tend to be the cheapest options, an alternative to have total freedom and control throughout your trip is car hire.
If you’ve come this far you might ask yourself: What about my luggage, am I supposed to drag it around with me?
Of course not!
Let’s see right away how to store your luggage near Stansted Airport!
How to Store Your Luggage Near Stansted Airport
A pain point that travelers often have to deal with is finding a safe place to store their bags near Stansted Airport while exploring all the cool things we mentioned earlier.
That’s where we’re stepping in!
At Stasher, we’ve partnered with hotels, cafes, and local shops, in over 890 cities worldwide to cater to the needs of every traveler, looking to safely store their luggage for a few hours or days.
Let’s walk you through the simple step-by-step process of how to store your bags near Stansted Airport with the help of Stasher.
After selecting Stansted Airport, you need to choose the date or dates and the amount of bags that you’ll carry with you.
Next, all you have to do is press the search button and a map will be presented to you along with the available nearby hotels, Airbnbs, shops, etc.
Moving on, you can choose the desired place to store your bags (we call them “Stashpoints”) and then press the “book” button.
Up next, it’s time for your checkout; move forward with your payment and you are ready to go!
Quite simple, right?
Stasher is super easy to use and store your bags and you can book a location either through our platform or app in under 2 minutes!
Go ahead and give it a go yourself in the interactive demo below.
Based on the above facts, if you feel that Stasher is the best fit for you, you can simply head over to our homepage or download our app for Android or iOS, and store your luggage anywhere with Stasher!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Some frequently asked questions that travelers often have regarding Stansted Airport are as follows:
How far is Stansted Airport from London?
London Stansted Airport is approximately 40 miles away from Central London.
The travel duration can vary depending on the means of transportation and traffic conditions.
Typically it takes about 1 to 1.5 hours by car, and around 45 minutes to 1 hour by train.
Which city is the closest to Stansted Airport?
The city closest to London Stansted Airport is Harlow, within 20 miles of the airport.
What is the area around Stansted Airport?
The area around Stansted Airport is primarily rural and surrounded by Essex countryside.
To the southwest of Stansted Airport, there are towns such as Bishop’s Stortford and Sawbridgeworth and to the northwest of Stansted Airport is nestled Cambridge, approximately 30 miles away.
How can I store my luggage at Stansted Airport?
There are several options for luggage storage at Stansted Airport, but if you aim for flexibility, less money spent, and safety, you can store your luggage in trusted hotels and shops near the airport from £4.75 per bag with Stasher.
