niknak, you've got to be kidding me. I have been in and out of Stansted hundreds of times as crew and taught next to it for 3 years, so I do know a little bit about the traffic there.
Essex are busy, of that there is no doubt, in fact at times it's mayhem, but from the sound of it they seem to be a bit more GA friendly than they used to be.
From a commercial point of view, they do a superb job, but from a GA point, I feel they have been lacking. They may not care and that is fine, but at no time have I ever been allowed a non IFR transit, not even to simply cut a corner here and there.
Even at quiet times I have alway been refused transits, or even a FIS when operating close to their boundary. I have been on many visits to ATC units around the country and I am full of respect for all of them, but I have seen and heard what could easily be perceived as a lack of interest toward GA hilst flying.
The airspace around Stansted out towards Clacton is some of the busiest on this planet, but they are the only unit I have ever used that don't seem to want to know when you are near them. Try getting a FIS or RIS outside of the zone..... Aye right! Luton-no trouble, Bournemouth-no trouble, Glasgow-no trouble, Edinburgh-no trouble, Manchester- no trouble, Birmingham-no trouble etc. etc. Even Norwich seem to have time to talk to you!