How convenient is Stansted verses Heathrow

It's much easier to get to Heathrow than Stansted from Hyde Park. Stansted would probably have cheaper flights though as it's a low cost hub for Ryanair.

If you're on the north side of Hyde Park it's the Central Line to Liverpool Street, then the Stansted Express every 15 minutes- journey time 50 minutes from Liv Street. Current cost £21.90.

So a bit longer journey than to Heathrow. Allow 90 minutes for the journey.

Stansted is outside the London Zones, so like HEX it is a separate ticket.

National Express run a bus every 1/2 hour from Victoria- journey time about 1 hour 45 minutes.

If booked ahead that is £11, or £17 on the day. Those buses pick up at Marble Arch, and run 24/7, useful for a very early morning flight.

I would also look at City and Gatwick airports for options. City is the closest airport to central London. It’s all and an absolute breeze to fly through, much the best passenger experience. As a result though the prices might be higher.
Gatwick is one of EasyJet’s main bases so again could have well priced flights and it say bit quicker and cheaper to get to than Stansted.

Heathrow is going to be easier with more options.

Stansted is a little out of your way. I would check Gatwick or City Airport. Gatwick is a big EasyJet hub. Sometimes the budget airlines are cheaper but watch all the hidden costs and luggage restrictions. Heathrow may still be your best option and you will have some familiarity with the airport. There are 4 operational terminals at Heathrow, British Airways uses Terminal 5 which is a little ways from terminals 2 and 3 and maybe a good option for your flight to Rome.

City Airport only has 2 flights a day to Rome changing at Milan until April on ITA.

From April ITA will have 2 direct flights a day to Rome from City, but they will cost over £200.

It is your choice how much you value frequency and cost versus a shorter journey to the airport and the fact that the ITA plane and crew are based in Italy, so they have no London based backup in the event of problems.

Ryanair fly up to 6 times a day from Stansted to Rome Ciampino.

Easyjet are 3x daily from Gatwick to Fiumcino.

Heathrow, looking at a random day in May, has nine nonstop flights a day to Rome. One on ITA and the rest on British Airways.

You have to ask yourself, what is more important to YOU......cost or convenience.

I use Stansted all the time. Super easy. Stansted Express runs direct from Liverpool Street.

If you're considering Ryanair, however, be aware that they tend to land at Roma Ciampino rather than Leonardo da Vinci, meaning its less straightforward to get to central Rome.

Depending on exactly where "near Hyde Park" is, it might be quicker to pick up the Stansted Express at Tottenham Hale.

It has already been mentioned above but it can't really be stressed enough that contactless payment cannot be used to Stansted and a therefore an appropriate ticket has to be bought beforehand. Despite there being poster about 12 feet tall to this effect at the barriers there are still people arriving at the airport that haven't bought a ticket that are caught by the inspection there.

Thanks so much everyone!
We decided to go to LHR and get a British Airways flight to Rome and then back from Bologna.The schedule works for us