Road

Birchanger is very close to the junction of the A120 (Harwich to Standon) and the M11 (London - Cambridge). These roads intersect at M11 junction 8, Stansted Airport. Access to the village can be gained form either end of Birchanger Lane, as well as by the minor Tot Lane.

For details of road access see the map.

Rail

To Harlow, London, Cambridge and Stansted Airport

There are two stations close to Birchanger, both of them on the London Liverpool St. to Cambridge and Stansted Airport line. Bishop's Stortford station has a frequent service of stopping and semi-fast services in both directions.

Stansted Mountfitchet has a less frequent service, but is slightly quicker to get to and has cheaper and easier parking.

Trains on the Liverpool Street to Bishop's Stortford, Stansted Airport and Cambridge line are operated by National Express East Anglia.

For a summary of train times between Stansted Mountfitchet, Bishop's Stortford and London click here.

To Cambridge, Ely, Peterborough and Birmingham

Cross Country run an hourly service from Stansted Airport via Audley End, Cambridge, Ely, March, and Peterborough to a number of destinations in the Midlands and Northwest including Nuneaton, Birmingham, Nottingham, Sheffield and Liverpool. They're not too quick but it can be a convenient way to travel. Destinations on the East Coast Main Line such as Leeds, York, Newcastle and Edinburgh can be reached by changing at Peterborough.

For all train travel enquiries and bookings see the National Rail or Trainline sites, or call National Rail Enquiries on 0845 7484950.

For information on London buses, tubes, trams and river services see the Transport for London site or call 020 7222 1234.

Station Opening Hours

The ticket offices are open as follows.

Station Parking

At Bishop's Stortford the main car park is reserved for monthly or annual parking season ticket holders only during the week. To apply for a season ticket call NCP on 0870 606 7050 or email them. Casual parking is allowed in the main car park at weekends and costs £2.

Weekday casual parking is in the North car park at the end of Anchor Street and costs £6.00. It costs £3.50 after 1000, £2.00 on Saturdays and £1 on Sundays and Bank holidays. Banknotes, £2 coins and credit/debit cards are not accepted. No change given. It is now possible to pay for your parking by phone using NCP Fastpark. For information text HELP to 07950 080201. To open an account call 0870 458 9600. You will need to provide your registration number and a credit or debit card details.

The station car park at Stansted Mountfitchet costs £3 (£2 after 1000 and £1 at weekends). Weekly, monthly and annual season tickets are available (see NCP contact details above).

Bus

The village is served by route 301, which runs from Bishop's Stortford to Saffron Walden via Stansted Mountfitchet, Widdington, Newport and Audley End Station. The official village stops have tradionally been The Three Willows, Birchanger Social Club and the Post Office - now long gone - by which they mean the end of Bradley Common. However the route through the village is officially hail-and-ride: The bus will stop wherever it is safe to do so (N.B. Someone has now informed me that this is NOT the case. Your mileage may vary).

The 301 is operated by Stansted Transit on contract to Essex County Council.

Buses from Birchanger to Bishop's Stortford Interchange (near the station) run at the following times on Mondays to Saturdays only.

• 0753 (Schooldays only - this bus continues to St. Mary's R.C. School)
• 0808 (Saturdays and non-school days)
• 0940
• 1040
• 1140
• 1240
• 1340
• 1440
• 1540
• 1640
• 1740
• 1840
• 1940

The times above are when the bus is due at the Bradley Common stop.

Buses from Bishop's Stortford back to Birchanger leave from the Interchange at the following times, and they pick up in Riverside one minute later.

• 0755
• 0900
• 1000
• 1100
• 1200
• 1400
• 1300
• 1400
• 1500
• 1600
• 1700
• 1800

There are also school buses serving the village, taking our schoolchildren to and from Stansted, Newport and Saffron Walden. Some of these are available for use by the general public.

Route 322 runs from Old Harlow via Hatfield Heath, Little and Great Hallingbury, Birchanger, Stansted Mountfitchet, Quendon, Widdington, Newport and Saffron Walden, and is the bus that Birchanger scholars use for Newport Free Grammar School and Saffron Walden County High School. The 322 picks up at 0752 (Duck End), 0753 (Birchanger Lane - presumably by the Social Club), 0754 (Post Office) and 0756 (Stansted Road).

The return journey leaves Saffron Walden High Street at 1505, County High at 1520, Newport Free Grammar School at 1529 and arrives at the various Birchanger stops between 1555 and 1558.

There are other buses that are within walking distance from some parts of the village. From the Sion House (NW) end of Birchanger Lane there is the Village Link 7a route (Stansted Mountfitchet to Bishop's Stortford) which is routed via Stansted Road, Snowley Parade, Birchwood High School. Dunmow Road, Herts and Essex Community Hospital and Hockerill to terminate at the Railway Station. Buses leave Stansted (Maitland Road) on the hour from 0900 to 1400 Mondays to Fridays, calling at the end of the Lane seven minutes later. Buses back from the town leave at 28 minutes past the hour, call at the Hospital at 35 minutes past the hour and pass Sion House at 46. The first bus is at 0928 and the last 1428.

From the motorway end of the village, and from Stansted Road outside Homebase, the 510 stops on its way from Stansted Airport to Harlow via Bishop's Stortford and Sawbridgeworth.

Finally, also calling at the Motorway end of the village is the Village Link 7 route which runs between Bishop's Stortford and Bentfield Green via Takeley, Stansted Airport, Elsenham, Henham and Stasted Mountfitchet.

For details of local bus information in Essex go to Essex County Council and click on the Public and Community transport link on the Travelling section, or call Traveline on 0871 200 2233 (textphone 0870 241 2216).

Taxi

The following taxi companies work in the area. Their inclusion below should not be taken as a recommendation.

• Birchanger Cars 07875 284364
• Associated Taxis 01279 655666
• Checker Cars (Stansted Airport) 01279 661111
• Elsenham Cabs 01279 815303
• Kwikcars 01279 654321

Air

Stansted Airport is on our doorstep. Its site is here.