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 | £8-15 (€10-18) | 5-10 min | | Train (1 stop) | £3-5 (€3.50-6) | 4 min | | Transfer | €15-22 | 5-10 min |
Southend is right next door. Any option works — this is a cheap, easy transfer.
To Central London
| Transport | Cost | Time | |---|---|---| | Train to Liverpool Street | £15-25 (€18-30) | 53 min | | Taxi | £80-120 (€95-140) | 60-90 min | | Uber/minicab | £70-110 (€82-130) | 60-90 min | | Pre-booked transfer | €90-140 | 60-90 min | | National Express bus | £8-15 (€10-18) | 90-120 min |
The train is the obvious winner
For Central London, the train beats everything else by a huge margin. At £15-25, it's 4-5 times cheaper than a taxi 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. Budget £80-120 for this.
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 of £15 — confirm with the driver or transfer company.
- Parking at the airport: If someone is picking you up, short-term parking is £3-5 for 30 minutes.