London is the capital city of the United Kingdom and one of the biggest cities in the world. Millions and millions of people visit London every year, therefore the need for several airports: Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, London City and Southend.

Stansted started in 1943 as a small airfield, initially owned by the USAAF Eighth Air Force and used as a bomber airfield. After World War II, Stansted was placed under the Air Ministry and it was used for…storage. In 1966 though, Stansted Airport was taken over by the BAA – British Airports Authority. since then, it was constantly improved and expanded, so that now it has a maximumum capacity of 25 millions people.

Stansted is one of the most populated airports in England and the third biggest airport in London. With an annual average traffic rate of 16 million passengers, you would not believe that it only has one terminal. Stansted Airport is being used by both public and private companies, and it is preferred by the low-cost ones. Located at a 40 miles distance from London, Stansted provides trains and coaches that not only connect the airport to London, but also to other cities of the country, as not all of them have international airports.

The airport has numerous facilities, like restaurants, bars, lounges, coffee-shops, showers and even a multi-religion chapel, where people of all religions and nationalities can pray. Stansted also has Internet access and it offers luggage services, an exchange bureau and a car rental service.

Here is why you do not necessarily have to land on the biggest airport of London (which as probably most of you know, is Heathrow Airport). A smaller, but more intimate airport, like Stansted, can also provide all the services and the facilities of a world-class airport, but it has the advantage that it is less crowded and, most importantly, less expensive.