Airport compare

NWI vs STN

Airport AAirport BAirport CAirport D

Verdict

NWI leads at 7.2

NWI 7.2 vs STN 6.8

NWINorwich AirportMinor STNLondon Stansted AirportNormal

Widest gaps

Ease of use
NWI 8.6 vs STN 7.0
+1.6
Reliability
STN 6.5 vs NWI 5.6
+0.9
Comfort & amenities
NWI 7.2 vs STN 6.5
+0.7

Pick NWI if Norfolk travellers who want to avoid a Stansted (STN) transfer · Priority Pass holders connecting on KLM to Amsterdam
Pick STN if Budget airline connections · Fast train to London

Airportist Scores stay free. Every airport tab is free to open on each airport page.

NWI7.2

Norwich · Leads

STN6.8

London Stansted

On the ground

NWI

The entrance to the arrivals and departure lounge of Norwich Airport which is located north of the city of Norwich , Norfolk, England. — Credit: Kolforn ( Kolforn ) I'd appreciate if you could mail me (Kolforn@gmail.com) if you want to use this picture out of the Wikimedia project scope. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license. You are free: to share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work to remix – to adapt the work Under the following conditions: attribution – You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. share alike – If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same or compatible license as the original. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 CC BY-SA 4.0 Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 true true

To city center: Norwich · ~4.9 km
Time to city: A2B Taxis · ~15–25 min to Norwich centre / ~20 min to the rail station

STN

N308FE DC-10-30F Federal Express at London Stansted Airport/EGSS, February 1988: Just two years old, delivered new in 1986. Underwent MD10-30F conversion in 2008. This superb machine is still in service after 35 years and flying Memphis (MEM)-Guadalajara (GDL) as FDX65 as I type. Seen taxying for ru — Credit: Colin Cooke Photo

To city center: London · ~49 km
Time to city: Stansted Express · 48 min

Where they are

One map, pinned from each airport’s published coordinates.

Category scores

Overall is the published weighted sum. A highlighted score is ahead; a tie stays plain.

Ease of use

25% · Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.

NWI8.6+1.6

STN7.0

Comfort & amenities

20% · Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.

NWI7.2+0.7

STN6.5

Food & retail

15% · Food and retail quality and variety.

NWI6.6+0.4

STN6.2

Ground access

15% · Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.

NWI7.4

STN8.0+0.6

Reliability

15% · Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.

NWI5.6

STN6.5+0.9

Lounges

10% · Worth-it density and access quality.

NWI6.9+0.5

STN6.4

Best for

NWI

Norfolk travellers who want to avoid a Stansted (STN) transferPriority Pass holders connecting on KLM to AmsterdamDrivers who can use Car Park 1 drop-off within 20 minutes

STN

Budget airline connectionsFast train to LondonPre-bookable parking deals

Watch out for

NWI

No on-airport rail — First PR1 or taxi to Norwich stationClassic liquids bag + laptop-out security (not CT leave-in-bag)ATC industrial action closed the field on 28 Aug 2026 — always re-check airline noticesTicketed to “Norwich” but flying from STN Stansted is a common East Anglia mix-up

STN

Satellite 1 lounge access restrictionsMorning security peaksLimited premium lounge options

Amenities and tips

NWI

Executive Lounge (airside)First PR1 Airport Park & RideCar Park 1 drop-off £8 / 20 minutesFast Track Security £7Flour & Bean + WHSmith + World Duty FreeA2B Taxis official rank

Still classic 100 ml + clear bag — laptops come out
Pack the clear liquids bag and pull the laptop; Fast Track is a same-day £7 desk purchase (or free for listed KLM / Loganair elites).
First PR1 Park & Ride is the city shuttle — electric, up to every 14 minutes
PR1 is the default public link into Norwich — budget £3 adult day or a taxi to the station; there is no on-airport rail.
Executive Lounge is £29.99 or Priority Pass — after security
Real airside lounge with Priority Pass — worth it on long KLM or TUI waits; confirm evening opening if your check-in bank is late.

STN

Fast Track SecurityEssence LoungeStansted ExpressWorld Duty FreeFree Wi-Fi

Stansted Express ~48 min — Advance or contactless, not Oyster
Rail ~48 min to Liverpool Street; Advance from £9.90; contactless PAYG yes; Oyster no.
Still 100 ml — no bag, liquids can stay packed
Classic 100 ml still in force (Apr 2026). Fast Track is queue only, not 2 L.
Essence and Emirates are Sat 1 / gates 1–19 only
Sat 1 only — Ryanair/easyJet cannot use Essence or the EK lounge.

Lounges

NWI

1 lounge · 1 worth-it

NWI lounges

STN

2 lounges · 1 worth-it · 1 depends

STN lounges

Executive Lounge
Main terminal (airside)
- Day pass: Pre-booked paid entry via Norwich Airport lounge booking (£29.99 per adult; email executive.lounge@norwichairport.co.uk)
- Day pass: Walk-up purchase at the lounge when space allows
- SkyTeam Elite Plus: Complimentary for KLM Business Class, Ultimate, Flying Blue Platinum / Gold, C2000 Skippers, SkyTeam Elite Plus, Delta Elite Plus
- Priority Pass / Lounge Pass / LoungeKey / Diners Club / DragonPass subject to space
- LoungeKey subject to space
- DragonPass subject to space

Score summaries

NWI · Compact Norfolk airport north of Norwich with classic UK 100 ml security, a £29.99 / Priority Pass Executive Lounge, First PR1 electric Park & Ride into the city, and a £8 / 20-minute Car Park 1 drop-off — confirm NWI not STN, and watch ATC industrial-action notices after the Aug 2026 closures.

STN · Solid low-cost hub with efficient transport links but suffers from peak congestion and average on-time performance.

Deeper factors

Amenities, traveler tips, and the disruption write-up stay on each airport page. Scores on this compare stay free.

NWI tips NWI disruptions NWI amenitiesSTN tips STN disruptions STN amenities