Formed in 2002 from the merger of London Guildhall University and the University of North London — with roots reaching back to the Northern Polytechnic Institute of 1896 — London Metropolitan University is a civic, widening-access university teaching around 10,000 students across six schools. Most courses sit at its Holloway campus in Islington, while the School of Art, Architecture and Design occupies the Aldgate campus in east London, with fashion, textiles and fine art at a Shoreditch site. For students arriving for the first time and the families helping them settle, the spread of campuses is the thing to get right — and this guide covers exactly that.
01 / LOCATIONWhere exactly is London Met?
The main Holloway campus is at 166-220 Holloway Road, London N7 8DB, in the London Borough of Islington, north London — built around the landmark Tower Building right opposite Holloway Road Tube station, next to the Emirates Stadium. The Aldgate campus (Calcutta House, Old Castle Street) sits in east London on the edge of the City, near Whitechapel and Aldgate. Both are central, busy and parking-scarce, with Aldgate within the Congestion Charge zone — so for arrivals a drop-off, not a park-and-stay, is the sensible approach.
02 / CAMPUSESHolloway, Aldgate and Shoreditch
London Met runs three sites, and they're genuinely different parts of town:
- Holloway (Islington, N7) — the main campus and home to most courses, the largest library, the Science Centre and the student venue The Rocket, opposite Holloway Road Tube and beside the Emirates Stadium.
- Aldgate (east London, E1) — the School of Art, Architecture and Design at Calcutta House, near Whitechapel Gallery and the East End markets.
- Shoreditch (E2) — fashion, textiles and fine art at 35 Kingsland Road, near Shoreditch High Street.
Because they're spread north and east across the city, confusing them is easy — and a cross-town hop with luggage is no fun. Check your offer or timetable, and tell us the campus when you book so the driver heads to the right door.
03 / STATIONSNearest stations and getting around
Both main campuses are very well connected:
- Holloway Road (Piccadilly line) is directly opposite the Tower Building — two stops from King's Cross St Pancras — with Highbury & Islington (Victoria line, Overground and rail) a short walk away.
- Aldgate (Circle and Metropolitan lines) and Aldgate East (District and Hammersmith & City) are a few minutes from Calcutta House.
- Liverpool Street and Fenchurch Street mainline stations are a short walk from the Aldgate campus.
Plenty of buses serve Holloway Road and Whitechapel High Street. For getting around day to day, the links are excellent. The familiar catch applies on arrival day: easy with a backpack, far harder with a term's worth of luggage and a cross-London change or two onto the Tube.
04 / AIRPORTSAirport transfer times to London Met
London Met is reachable from every London airport, but the journeys — and how relaxed they are with luggage — vary, and they differ a little between the Holloway and Aldgate campuses. The board below gives realistic door-to-door driving times to the Holloway campus for a pre-booked private hire car. Treat them as a planning guide; north and east London traffic has its own ideas.
From Heathrow
Heathrow is the gateway for most international students, and the Piccadilly line runs direct from the airport to Holloway Road — convenient, though a long ride with cases. A direct Heathrow airport transfer by car removes that long Tube journey, with the driver meeting you in arrivals after baggage reclaim and taking you straight to the right campus.
From the other airports
London City lies to the east, close to the Aldgate campus; Luton and Stansted are to the north, and Gatwick further south. From each, the rail route ends in a Tube ride across town with bags; for a family or anyone with luggage, one car and one fixed price is the gentler option.
Two campuses on opposite sides of town — the key is heading to the right one from the start.
05 / MOVE-IN DAYArriving with luggage on move-in day
Move-in day is where London Met's spread of campuses makes a plan pay off. A pre-booked private hire transfer handles it cleanly: a car sized to the boxes and cases, a driver who knows whether you're heading to Holloway, Aldgate or Shoreditch, and a drop-off at the right door rather than a haul across town on the Tube. With the campuses busy, central and parking-scarce, a drop-and-go beats trying to park — choose an MPV if the family is helping and everyone arrives together for one fixed fare.
Why this helps specifically at London Met: the campuses sit north and east across central London, so a wrong turn means a long cross-town journey, and none has student parking to speak of. A car booked to the exact campus or hall takes the right approach first time — and because the fare is fixed in advance, a few minutes at the kerb to unload costs nothing extra.
06 / VISITSOpen days, applicant days and graduation
For open days, applicant days and graduation, families travel together and to a timetable — and the campuses have no visitor parking. A pre-booked car means everyone arrives at the same time at the right campus, with no circling and no rush-hour stress on a day that matters. Graduation in particular, with smart clothes and proud grandparents in tow, is far more relaxed door-to-door than via the Tube and a walk.
07 / NEARBYWhat's around London Met
The two main campuses sit in lively, very different neighbourhoods:
- Emirates Stadium & Highbury — Arsenal's home is a minute from the Holloway campus, with Highbury Fields nearby.
- Upper Street, Islington — bars, restaurants and the Almeida Theatre a short walk or bus from Holloway.
- Whitechapel Gallery & Spitalfields — by the Aldgate campus, with Petticoat Lane and Columbia Road markets close by.
- The City & the West End — both a short Tube ride from either campus.
08 / FAQFrequently asked questions
Where is London Metropolitan University?
The main Holloway campus is at 166-220 Holloway Road, London N7 8DB, in Islington, opposite Holloway Road Tube station. Its art, architecture and design courses are at the Aldgate campus (Calcutta House) in east London.
What's the nearest station to London Met?
For Holloway, Holloway Road (Piccadilly line) is directly opposite, with Highbury & Islington nearby. For Aldgate, Aldgate and Aldgate East are a few minutes away, with Liverpool Street and Fenchurch Street a short walk.
How do I get from Heathrow to London Met?
Heathrow is around 18 miles away, roughly 50 to 85 minutes by car. The Piccadilly line runs direct to Holloway Road, though it's a long ride with luggage; a pre-booked car runs door to door with the fare fixed in advance.
Which campus do I need — Holloway or Aldgate?
Most courses are at Holloway in Islington; the School of Art, Architecture and Design is at Aldgate (Calcutta House), with some creative courses at Shoreditch. Check your offer or timetable, and tell us the campus at booking.
Is a taxi good for move-in day at London Met?
Yes. With boxes and cases, a pre-booked MPV takes the whole family and luggage straight to the right campus or your hall rather than changing onto the Piccadilly line. The fare is fixed with no surge.
Can I book a fixed-price transfer to London Met in advance?
Yes. With Rushxo you can book online or by WhatsApp at any hour, with the fare confirmed before you ride, no surge pricing and 24/7 human support.
Time Matters
Arrive at London Met the easy way
Fixed-fare private hire to and from London Metropolitan University. Local drivers, flight tracking, no surge — confirmed before you ride.