Stansted's single terminal has one airside lounge, free wifi throughout, two 24-hour prayer rooms and a left luggage office that closes at 18:00. Fast Track security costs from £6.49 per person, and special assistance must be booked through your airline at least 48 hours before you fly. Checked August 2026.
Airport lounges
Essence by Escape Lounges is Stansted's airside lounge, open roughly 04:00 to 19:30 daily. Pre-book from £19.99 per person, or pay from £48.99 on the day, and access is usually limited to three hours before your flight. It includes free wifi, work spaces and charging points, plus complimentary tea, coffee, soft drinks, wine and bottled beer. There are no showers. Booking ahead saves a significant amount over the walk-in price, so it is worth reserving as soon as you know your flight time.
WiFi, charging and workspaces
Free wifi is available throughout the terminal. The airport's own facilities page does not state a time limit on the connection, so confirm on the airport's website if you plan to be online for a long stretch. The Escape Lounge adds dedicated work spaces and charging points if you want a quieter spot with a table.
Food, drink and shopping
Stansted's main concourse has the usual mix of shops, cafes and restaurants you would expect at a major UK airport, along with cash machines dispensing pounds, euros and US dollars, and a travel money and currency exchange desk. For the current list of specific outlets and their opening hours, confirm on the airport's website, since the tenant mix changes from year to year.
Left luggage and lockers
Excess Baggage, in the International Arrivals concourse, holds bags daily from 06:00 to 18:00. An indicative price of around £7.50 for three hours has been reported, but confirm the current tiered pricing on the airport's website before you travel. Because the desk closes at 18:00, it is not a workable option if you land late at night; an off-airport locker provider may suit better for evening arrivals.
Special assistance and accessibility
Special assistance (PRM) is a free, regulated service delivered by the airport's assistance team. Book it through your airline, not through the airport itself, at least 48 hours before you fly. On the day, report to the Assistance Reception in Zone A before security. Stansted also runs the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower scheme: collect a lanyard free from the Assistance Reception in Zone A with no booking needed, though it does not grant Fast Track access. A Changing Places facility is available for passengers who need it. Assistance dogs are welcome; there is a relief area near the APV building after security, and at the security lane the dog is screened alongside you, with its harness kept on and then swabbed.
Travelling with children and families
Baby-change and breastfeeding facilities are provided in the terminal, alongside the Changing Places facility for passengers who need a fully accessible space. The airport's facilities page does not list specific play areas, so confirm on the airport's website if that is important for your trip.
Prayer and multi-faith rooms, quiet spaces
There are two prayer rooms: one landside, opposite Check-in Zone A, and one airside, near the Escape Lounge. Both are open 24 hours a day and have ritual washing facilities.
Smoking and vaping
A designated smoking area is provided. The airport's facilities page does not break out a separate vaping policy, so confirm the current rules on the airport's website if this affects your trip.
Security fast-track and how early to arrive
Fast Track security costs from £6.49 per person, with a Fast Track Plus option from £9.99 per person, and runs roughly 04:00 to 20:00; choose a timeslot around two hours before your departure. Despite Stansted's next-generation CT scanners, the airport still enforces the standard 100ml limit on liquids in a single container as of August 2026, unlike some UK airports that have moved to a 2-litre allowance. As general guidance, arrive around 2 hours before a short-haul or domestic flight and 3 hours before a long-haul or international one. The airport has reported that the large majority of passengers clear security within 15 minutes, though the 05:00 to 09:00 window can run considerably longer during school holidays.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a lounge at Stansted and how much does it cost? Yes. Essence by Escape Lounges is the main option, from £19.99 per person pre-booked or £48.99 walk-in, open roughly 04:00 to 19:30 and usually accessible up to three hours before your flight.
Does Stansted still have the 100ml liquids rule? Yes. Despite new CT scanners in the security lanes, Stansted still enforces the standard 100ml limit per container as of August 2026.
How much is Fast Track security at Stansted? From £6.49 per person, with Fast Track Plus from £9.99 per person, and it runs roughly 04:00 to 20:00.
Does Stansted have a prayer room? Yes, two: one landside opposite Check-in Zone A and one airside near the Escape Lounge, both open 24 hours with washing facilities.
Is there left luggage at Stansted? Yes. Excess Baggage in International Arrivals is open daily 06:00 to 18:00, with an indicative price of around £7.50 for three hours; confirm the current tiers on the airport's website.
How do I book special assistance at Stansted? Book it free through your airline at least 48 hours before you fly, then report to the Assistance Reception in Zone A on the day.
Where do I get a Sunflower lanyard at Stansted? Free from the Assistance Reception in Zone A, with no booking required. It does not grant Fast Track access.
Can I bring an assistance dog through Stansted? Yes. There is a relief area near the APV building after security, and the dog is screened alongside you at the security lane.
How we verified this
The details on this page were checked in August 2026 against the airport's own website, including its facilities, escape lounge and special assistance pages. Facilities, hours and prices change, so confirm specifics on the official Stansted Airport site before you travel. Sources: Stansted Airport's official facilities, escape lounge, security and assisted-travel pages.
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Last verified August 2026 by the London Stansted Airport Guide editorial team. Prices and timetables change, so confirm the specifics on the official London Stansted Airport website before you travel.