The Royal Free Hospital London, often shortened to The Royal Free, is a major hospital situated near Hampstead Heath in Central London.
The hospital is a part of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, and offers a wide range of services, including specialist medical services such as robotic-assisted surgery and organ transplantation.
The Royal Free hospital was originally founded in 1828 by William Marsden, and as the name suggests, the purpose was to provide care for people who were not able to pay for medical treatment. The purpose was that a person only had to be ill to be accepted in to the hospital, and the hospital was the only hospital in London to stay open during the cholera epidemic in the 19th century. The Royal Free has since become one of the most well-known hospitals in London, and continues to provide world-class expert care for its patients.
Travelling to The Royal Free Hospital
The hospital is located on Pond Street in Hampstead, and is well connected for those travelling short or long distances to the hospital. The Royal Free hospital post code is NW3 2QG.
If you are travelling to the hospital via the London Underground, the nearest station is at Belsize Park, on the Northern Line (the black line on the tube map). The walk from Belsize Park station is approximately seven minutes, and includes some uphill sections.
If you are travelling to The Royal Free hospital by train, you can travel to Hampstead Heath station, which is very near to the hospital. From the station, it is approximately a 3 minute walk to the hospital.
If you wish to travel to The Royal Free hospital by bus, there are numerous options available to you, with bus routes 24, 46, 168, 268 and C11 all passing by the hospital.
If you are travelling from further afield, there are a number of airports that serve London, with good connections from Heathrow airport, Luton airport, and London City airport.
The Royal Free Hospital parking
Car parking for The Royal Free hospital, is now located at the upper south car park at the bottom of Roland Hill Street, off Haverstock Hill.
Parking is currently charged at £3 per hour, with the maximum charge of £24 which expires at midnight.
The car park is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but tickets are only valid for one 24 hour period. Payment is accepted in cash, card, or via a mobile phone app, with payment points located at the main entrance to the hospital, as well as in the car park itself.
There is also a drop-off point outside the hospital’s main entrance, with a strict five-minute waiting time in force.
The Royal Free Hospital rating
The Royal Free is highly rated in CQC quality inspections, with particular praise noted for the staffing levels of nurses, care workers and other medical professionals, meaning you will receive high levels of care when visiting the hospital.
The Friends and Family Test, an NHS-managed feedback tool which asks patients using the hospital whether they would recommend it to family and friends, rates the hospital highly, especially the inpatient and outpatient departments.
For any further information about the hospital, visit The Royal Free hospital website.