The answer depends entirely on whether you mean Southend-on-Sea (3 km away) or Central London (60 km away). The costs are wildly different.
To Southend-on-Sea (the local city)
| Transport | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Taxi | £7-12 (€8-14) | 5-10 min |
| Train (1 stop) | Check Greater Anglia for the current local fare | 4 min |
| Transfer | Fixed, quoted at booking | 5-10 min |
Fixed-price private transfer
SEN Basildon
From€56for 2 passengers
Other destinations
Southend is right next door. Any option works — this is a cheap, easy transfer.
To Central London
| Transport | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Train to Liverpool Street | £13-22 (€15-26) | 53 min |
| Taxi | Agreed fare — beyond the metered zone, several times the train fare | 60-90 min |
| Uber/minicab | Dynamic app pricing, similar scale to a taxi | 60-90 min |
| Pre-booked transfer | Fixed, quoted at booking | 60-90 min |
The train is the obvious winner
For Central London, the train beats everything else by a huge margin. At £13-22 (Greater Anglia, July 2026), it's a fraction of a negotiated taxi fare and usually faster too (53 minutes vs 60-90 by road, which can extend to 2 hours in traffic).
How to save on train tickets:
- Book online in advance via Greater Anglia for the cheapest fares
- Off-peak tickets (after 9:30 AM, weekends) are cheaper than peak
- Use a contactless card or Oyster for the London end of the journey
- Railcard holders get 1/3 off
When road transport makes financial sense
Groups: A transfer at €120 split 4 ways is €30 per person — comparable to a peak train ticket but door-to-door.
Destinations not near Liverpool Street: If your hotel is in West London (Paddington, Notting Hill), the train drops you at Liverpool Street, and you still need a tube or taxi. A door-to-door transfer might save total costs.
Late night: After the last train (~11 PM), a taxi or transfer is your only option. A taxi this far is an agreed, un-metered fare — confirm the price before you set off, or book a fixed-price transfer in advance.
Hidden costs
- Train + London transport: The train fare gets you to Liverpool Street. From there, a tube/bus ride costs £2-4 more with Oyster/contactless.
- Taxi tips: Tipping isn't expected in UK taxis but rounding up is appreciated.
- Congestion charge: If your taxi enters Central London during charging hours (Mon-Fri 7AM-6PM, Sat-Sun 12PM-6PM), there may be a surcharge — TfL's Congestion Charge is £18/day as of January 2026 — confirm with the driver or transfer company.
- Parking at the airport: If someone is picking you up, the airport's short-stay car park charges from £25 for the first 30 minutes (London Southend Airport, July 2026) — check the airport's own parking page before you go, as a quick drop-off/pick-up (kiss-and-fly) area may be cheaper if available.