Getting to Moorfields Private: the location, the stations and the stress-free arrival

Founded in 1805 as the first hospital in the world dedicated to eye conditions, Moorfields Eye Hospital remains the UK's leading centre for ophthalmology, and Moorfields Private is its private service. Whether for cataract and refractive surgery, glaucoma, retinal or other specialist eye care, patients come from across the UK and around the world. For patients arriving for treatment — many with reduced vision after a procedure — and for visitors, the central location is convenient, but parking is difficult, so the journey to the door rewards planning. This guide covers exactly that.

01 / LOCATIONWhere exactly is Moorfields Private?

Moorfields Private's main building is at 162 City Road, London EC1V 2PD, in the London Borough of Islington near Old Street, with a private outpatient centre around the corner at 9-11 Bath Street (EC1V 9LF). Parking is difficult and the area is busy, so Moorfields itself recommends arriving by public transport or a pre-booked car.

02 / SITESThe hospital and the outpatient centre

Moorfields Private operates two City sites a stone's throw apart, so confirm which one your appointment is at:

• City Road building — 162 City Road, with the private admission and refractive suite and inpatient ward on the upper floors of the main hospital.
• Private Outpatient Centre — 9-11 Bath Street, around the corner, for outpatient consultations and diagnostics.
• Satellite clinics — Moorfields also runs services at sites across London, so check your letter carefully.

The two City sites are only a short walk apart, but they're different doors — booking your car to the exact address saves confusion, particularly if your vision is affected.

03 / STATIONSNearest stations and getting around

Public transport access is excellent:

• Old Street (Northern line) is the nearest Tube, a short walk away.
• Angel (Northern line) and Moorgate (several lines, plus the Elizabeth line) are within easy reach.
• Buses — many routes serve City Road.

For everyday journeys the links are good. The catch is the familiar one: easy when you're well and travelling light, much harder after a procedure, during treatment, or with an overnight bag for an inpatient stay.

04 / AIRPORTSAirport transfer times to Moorfields Private

For international patients and visiting families, the airport run is the journey that matters most — and the one where a tired arrival meets London traffic. The board below gives realistic door-to-door driving times for a pre-booked private hire car. Treat them as a planning guide rather than a promise.

From Heathrow

Heathrow is the airport most international patients arrive through. The rail route is the Elizabeth line into Farringdon or Liverpool Street, then a short onward hop to Old Street — though that's harder if your vision is affected after treatment. A direct Heathrow airport transfer by car removes the changes entirely — a real advantage when you're unwell or carrying luggage — and the driver meets you in arrivals after baggage reclaim, taking you straight to the right hospital entrance.

From the other airports

From Gatwick, Luton and Stansted, the rail options involve a fast train into a London terminus followed by a Tube hop and a final walk with your bags. For a patient or a visiting family, one car, one driver and one fixed price is usually the gentler option.

After an eye procedure, a booked car to the door is far easier than the Underground.

05 / ARRIVINGArriving for an appointment or admission

On the day of an appointment, a procedure or an admission, arriving calm and on time is part of being ready. A pre-booked private hire transfer handles it neatly: a comfortable car to the exact entrance, a driver who knows the area, and a fixed fare set in advance so there's nothing to settle at a difficult moment. For an inpatient stay you can choose a vehicle sized to your bag, and door-to-door travel is far easier than steps and escalators if you have reduced mobility.

06 / VISITINGVisiting a patient

For relatives and friends visiting a patient, the same logic applies — often more so, since visits can fall outside rush hour, late in the evening or early in the morning when public transport is thinner. A pre-booked car means several family members arrive together at the right entrance, and older relatives for whom escalators and platform changes are tiring are spared the Underground. Because the fare is fixed and dispatch runs around the clock, a late visit costs the same as a midday one.

07 / NEARBYWhat's around Moorfields Private

The area around Old Street and City Road is lively and well served:

• Old Street & Shoreditch — cafés, restaurants and bars a short walk away.
• Bunhill Fields — a historic green space nearby.
• The City — the financial district's amenities within easy reach.
• Hotels — Old Street, Shoreditch and the City offer plentiful accommodation for visiting families.

08 / FAQFrequently asked questions