London Stadium sits in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford, at E20 2ST — the former 2012 Olympic Stadium, now home to West Ham and British Athletics, holding 62,500 for football and up to 80,000 for concerts. The catch is parking: it's a designated "Green Stadium" with none at the ground by design, plus on-street restrictions and road closures on event days. The good news is it sits beside one of the best-connected transport hubs in the country. So the real question is which way in works best for you.

So this guide runs through every way to reach London Stadium, and is honest about how each one copes with the end of an event, when tens of thousands head for the surrounding stations at once.

"Leave the car at home — London Stadium is a Green Stadium with no parking at all. The good news: it's one pre-booked car from your front door to the gate."

The ways in and out, honestly compared

Stratford (the main hub)

The default, and rightly so: Stratford is about a 15-minute walk and one of the best-connected stations in the country — Central and Jubilee lines, DLR, Overground, the Elizabeth line and National Rail, with up to 58 trains an hour. That capacity is a real asset, but everyone uses it, so it heaves before kick-off and runs managed queues afterwards. Brilliant for getting in; the pinch point is leaving.

Pudding Mill Lane (DLR)

The smart move for a quieter approach: Pudding Mill Lane on the DLR is about a 10-minute walk via Bridge 4, and far less crowded than Stratford. It's often recommended for away fans and anyone who wants to avoid the main Stratford crush — a calmer way in and out, especially for the exit.

Hackney Wick & Stratford International

Two more useful options for spreading the load: Hackney Wick (Overground) is about a 20-minute walk via Bridge 3, and Stratford International (Southeastern High Speed, DLR) is around 15–20 minutes via Bridges 1 and 2. Both are far quieter than Stratford and let you dodge the worst of the post-event crush.

Bus

Many routes — the 25, 86, 97, 108, 308, 388, D8 among them — serve Stratford and the Olympic Park. Cheap and frequent, and a good way to hop a short distance to a higher-capacity station — though buses are slowed by the road closures and congestion around the park on event days.

Drive and park — the honest answer

Don't. London Stadium is a designated "Green Stadium" with no parking at the ground by design, on-street parking is restricted, and roads close before, during and after events. The nearest public car park (Westfield Stratford) fills fast and you're advised to travel another way. The only sensible version of "by road" is a pre-booked transfer that drops you right at the gate.

Private hire transfer

The option built for a venue with no parking. A fixed-price London Stadium transfer means your car and driver are arranged in advance and waiting near the stadium at the final whistle or encore — no Stratford queue, no surge-priced app, no hunt for a cab. For groups, hospitality, or anyone who doesn't want a match or concert to end in a scrum, it's the calmest way home, at one fixed fare with no surge.

The quick decision

Solo and travelling light? Stratford in, and Pudding Mill Lane or Stratford International out to skip the crush. As a group, in hospitality, or want a guaranteed ride home with no surge — and no parking to even attempt? A fixed-price transfer to the gate is the calmest option. Get an instant quote for your postcode and compare.

Get an instant fixed fare

Costs: what to expect by car

Indicative fixed private-hire fares to London Stadium, calculated from Rushxo's current tariff, start from around £81 from central London, £115 from Kent and £139 from Heathrow for a saloon, with MPVs and minibuses for groups. The headline figure matters less than the value per person and the certainty: split across a group the per-head cost drops sharply, and unlike a rideshare the fare won't surge the instant the event ends. Your exact price is confirmed at booking.

The Match-Day Problems a Fixed Transfer Solves

Most of the value of a pre-booked car at a venue like this is in the headaches it quietly removes:

1. There is simply nowhere to park

London Stadium is a "Green Stadium" with no parking at the ground by design, plus on-street restrictions and road closures on event days. For visitors, driving isn't an option at all. A transfer sidesteps the whole problem: no parking to chase, no permit, and a drop right at the gate so you walk straight in.

2. The station crush you can't rely on

Stratford heaves after a full house with managed queues, and strikes or signal failures can land on any day. A single disruption turns the journey home into an ordeal. A private car answers to none of it — door to the gate, on your schedule, whatever the network is doing.

3. Sharing an MPV brings the cost right down

The fixed fare doesn't change with the number of passengers, so the more of you who travel together, the less each person pays. A six-seat MPV or eight-seat minibus split across a group routinely works out cheaper per head than separate fares — and it keeps the whole party together, both ways. For groups, combining into one vehicle is almost always the smartest value.

4. Fuel prices that move with the headlines

Pump prices rarely sit still. Global events and geopolitical shocks can squeeze oil supply and send fuel costs — and with them metered taxi fares and rideshare pricing — climbing with little warning. A Rushxo fare is fixed the moment you book, so those swings are the operator's concern, not yours: the figure in your booking is the figure you pay.

5. Self-driving cars aren't built for an event day

Autonomous taxis are appearing on some city streets, but a London Stadium event day exposes their limits. A driverless car can't read the road closures around the Olympic Park, can't hold a spot at the set-down, and won't wait at a pre-agreed point while tens of thousands stream out. A professional, TfL-licensed chauffeur does all three — which is why, on an event day, a human driver still wins.

Practical tips for event day

  • Don't plan to drive. It's a Green Stadium with no parking — come by rail, tube or a pre-booked car.
  • Spread away from Stratford for the exit. Pudding Mill Lane, Hackney Wick and Stratford International are far quieter.
  • Use the right bridge. Each station approaches via a numbered bridge — follow the wayfinding signs.
  • Check the event travel notice. Concerts and athletics sometimes have different arrangements than football.
  • Use a pre-arranged car at the gate. No surge and no scramble when tens of thousands leave at once.

Frequently asked questions

What's the best way to get to London Stadium?
Stratford is the main hub; Pudding Mill Lane and Stratford International spread the load on the way out; and a fixed-price transfer is best for groups or anyone wanting a guaranteed pickup — especially as there's no parking.
Where is it and what's the postcode?
London Stadium, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford, London E20 2ST — Stratford ~15-min walk; Pudding Mill Lane (DLR) ~10 min; Hackney Wick & Stratford International ~20 min.
How do I leave after a match or concert?
Stratford runs managed queues and apps surge. Spreading to Pudding Mill Lane or Stratford International, waiting out the first rush, or a pre-booked transfer with the driver at the gate all ease it.
Is there parking?
No — London Stadium is a designated Green Stadium with no parking, on-street restrictions and road closures on event days. A pre-booked car dropping at the gate is the simplest answer.