Seamus, if you're carrying luggage, and maybe even a guitar, I'd be tempted to have a cup of coffee at the airport so you miss St. Pancras during the morning rush - it'll be packed.

Bonnie is mistaken, Liverpool Street is the only London terminus for Stansted trains. Do take care not to board a Liverpool train at the airport. Ramsgate is served from both St Pancras and Victoria.

If he is arriving at 8, after allowing for usual airport delays, the rush hour should be over when he gets to London.

With luggage a taxi from Liverpool Street may be more practical than following the route planners and taking the Victoria Line from Tottenham Hale.

Trains are every 15 minutes from Stansted and twice an hour from St P. Remember that a higher fare is payable to use the high speed service from S P. For standard fares you need to take the slower, half hourly, service from Victoria.