Stansted Bubble Park & Ride

Stansted Bubble Park & Ride

Stansted Bubble Park & Ride is a low-cost non-flexible parking service using the I Love parking operation at Southgate, around 1.5 miles from the terminal. Drive to the car park, leave your keys at reception and take the on-demand shuttle, which takes around three minutes. The service operates 24 hours a day and your vehicle may be moved between I Love’s secure car parks within the airport boundary.

Bubble is essentially a cheaper, more restrictive version of the same underlying Southgate Park & Ride operation. The main trade-off is flexibility: the current Bubble product cannot be amended or cancelled.

Why choose Stansted Bubble Park & Ride?

• Very short transfer: the on-demand shuttle takes around three minutes.
• 24-hour operation: the service runs day and night.
• Low-cost product: Bubble is positioned as a budget, non-flexible version of the Southgate Park & Ride service.
• Secure parking: the site has 24-hour security, fencing, automated gate/barrier entry and lighting.
• No height restriction: useful for vehicles that may not fit some multi-storey products.
• Park Mark operation: the underlying I Love parking sites hold recognised safer-parking accreditation.

How does Bubble Park & Ride compare with I Love Park & Ride?

I Love Park & Ride is the closest comparison because Bubble uses the same Southgate / I Love operation. Both require you to leave your keys, both use an on-demand transfer and both may move your vehicle between secure I Love car parks within the airport boundary.

The key difference is flexibility. Bubble is currently sold as a non-flexible product that cannot be amended or cancelled, so compare the saving against the value of being able to change your booking.

How does Bubble Park & Ride compare with FHR Park & Ride?

FHR Park & Ride also uses the same Southgate parking operation, requires you to leave your keys and has a similarly short transfer.

Because the underlying parking experience is so similar, compare the final price, cancellation terms and any airport-access charges rather than treating them as completely different car parks.

How does Bubble Park & Ride compare with APH Park & Ride?

APH Park & Ride also operates from the Southgate/I Love setup and requires you to leave your keys. APH quotes a transfer of around five minutes, while Bubble is currently listed at around three minutes.

Choose Bubble when its lower non-flexible rate works for you. Choose APH when its booking terms or included charges make the total package more attractive.

How does Bubble Park & Ride compare with Official Long Stay?

With Bubble, you leave your keys and take a very short on-demand shuttle. With Official Long Stay, you park the car yourself, keep your keys and take a longer airport shuttle.

Choose Bubble when a short transfer and budget third-party rate matter more. Choose Long Stay when keeping your keys and using an official airport-operated car park are more important.

Important things to know

Bubble Park & Ride is a non-flexible product and cannot currently be amended or cancelled. You must leave your keys, and your car may be moved between I Love’s secure parking sites within the airport boundary. Transfers are on demand and take around three minutes. A £7.50 airport access fee per vehicle is currently payable at reception to cover terminal drop-off and collection. Up to five passengers per booking may use the transfer bus, and there is no stated height restriction. Return collection is from Zone C on the terminal forecourt.

Directions

Follow signs from the motorway towards the mid-stay car park, using post code CM24 1PY in your Sat Nav. The car park is located next to Holiday Inn, just opposite MacDonald's and before the BP garage. Turn in to the Holiday Inn entrance and then immediately on the right hand side is the entrance to the car park.

Arrival procedure

On arrival at the car park, please park in a customer parking space on the right hand side. Please go to reception to check in before unloading your bags.

Return procedure

Please ensure you collect all your luggage and clear customs before calling the number on your confirmation (option 1) to be collected. Please make your way to the forecourt, just outside the terminal doors and wait in Zone C by the flag poles. Please remain on the same level as departures.

They are unable to wait for more than 5 minutes so it is essential that you are ready to be collected; otherwise you may be liable for any excess fees they incur.

Security

The car park has 24 hour security including security fencing, gates and lighting. It has been awarded the Park Mark, Safer Parking Award.

Additional information

No height restriction.

Transfer costs £7.50 per vehicle, covering drop off and pick up on the terminal forecourt.

You will be required to leave your keys and your car may be moved and stored in one of their Park Mark car parks, all located within the airport boundary.

Bubble Park & Deliver - Return Meet

If you book the Bubble Park & Deliver - Return Meet option, your car will be returned to you outside terminal.

On arrival, please drive to the car park following the instructions above and take the 2-3 minute transfer to the terminal.

On return, your car will be brought to your return terminal so you can drive straight home. Clear customs and when you are in the arrivals hall, please call to have your car delivered.

Transfer costs £7.50 per vehicle, covering drop off and pick up on the terminal forecourt

Your car will be unable to be on the forecourt for more than 10 minutes so it is essential that you are ready to collect your car on return and exit the forecourt within the 10 minute period.