Getting to Richmond American University London: the campus, the stations and a smooth arrival

Richmond American University London is a distinctive private university — founded in 1972 as one of the first to bring the American liberal arts tradition to the UK, and unique in awarding both a UK and a US degree for a single programme. Its community of around 1,000 students comes from more than 100 countries, with roughly four in five from outside the UK. In summer 2022 it moved its entire campus to the award-winning Chiswick Park in west London, and this guide covers exactly how to reach it.

01 / LOCATIONWhere exactly is Richmond American University London?

Richmond is at Building 12, Chiswick Park, 566 Chiswick High Road, London W4 5AN, in the London Borough of Hounslow — in west London, set within the landscaped Chiswick Park business campus. Despite the name, it is not in Richmond-upon-Thames or Kensington; both former sites have closed. The campus sits in the ULEZ, with limited parking, in a part of west London with excellent links to Heathrow and the centre — so for arrivals, a clean drop-off at the campus building is the simplest approach.

02 / CAMPUSESThe Chiswick Park campus

Richmond now teaches from a single, modern campus, which makes arrival refreshingly simple once you know where it is:

• Chiswick Park campus (Building 12, W4) — a state-of-the-art building housing all undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, the library, student services and social spaces.
• The Park itself — 33 acres of landscaped grounds with a lake, waterfall and canopied boardwalks, designed by the renowned Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners, with a gym, cafés, bars and restaurants on site.
• Former sites (now closed) — the historic Richmond Hill and Kensington campuses are no longer in use, so ignore older addresses you may find online.

Many students live at university-linked accommodation such as iQ Haywood House in West Hampstead, a direct train ride away — worth factoring into your move-in plans.

03 / STATIONSNearest stations and getting around

Chiswick Park is well served by west London's network:

• Chiswick Park (District line) is the closest station, a short walk from the campus.
• Gunnersbury (District line and the Overground) and South Acton (Overground) are also within reach.
• Acton Town (District and Piccadilly lines) is nearby too — and the Piccadilly line runs direct from Heathrow. Buses 110, 237, 267, 440 and H91 serve the area.

You can be in central London in around 20 minutes and Richmond itself in about 10. The catch on arrival day is the familiar one: easy with a backpack, far harder with a term's luggage and a Tube change — particularly if your accommodation is across town in West Hampstead.

04 / AIRPORTSAirport transfer times to Richmond American University London

With four in five students from overseas, most arrive via a London airport — and Richmond's west London position makes one airport especially convenient. The board below gives realistic door-to-door driving times for a pre-booked private hire car. Treat them as a planning guide; west London traffic has its own ideas.

From Heathrow

Heathrow is the closest airport — only about nine miles west — so for international students Richmond is one of the easier London universities to reach. The Piccadilly line runs from Heathrow towards nearby Acton Town, a short distance from Chiswick Park. A direct Heathrow airport transfer by car is simpler still, with the driver meeting you in arrivals after baggage reclaim and taking you straight to the campus or your accommodation.

From the other airports

London City lies across town to the east; Gatwick is to the south, with Luton and Stansted further out. From each, the rail route ends in a cross-London journey and a walk with bags; for a family or anyone with luggage, one car and one fixed price is the gentler option.

Close to Heathrow and easy to reach by air — provided your driver knows it's in Chiswick, not Richmond.

05 / MOVE-IN DAYArriving with luggage on move-in day

Move-in day at Richmond has one big watch-out: the name. Set a sat-nav or tell a driver "Richmond" and you could end up miles away in Richmond-upon-Thames. A pre-booked private hire transfer avoids that entirely: a car sized to the boxes and cases, a driver booked to the exact Chiswick Park address, and a drop-off at the campus building — or at your accommodation in West Hampstead. With parking limited at the Park, a drop-and-go in one MPV, for one fixed fare, is the simplest plan for the family.

06 / VISITSOpen days, graduation and visiting

Richmond brings families to Chiswick Park for open days and graduation, and many international parents visit during the year. These are timed occasions, and parking at the Park is limited. A pre-booked car means everyone arrives together at the right campus — not the wrong town — with no rush-hour stress on a day that matters. For parents flying in to visit, a Heathrow transfer straight to Chiswick is an easy, welcoming start.

07 / NEARBYWhat's around Richmond American University London

Chiswick is one of west London's most pleasant districts:

• Chiswick High Road — a lively stretch of cafés, restaurants and shops right by the campus.
• Chiswick Park's grounds — the lake, waterfall and green spaces on the campus itself.
• The River Thames & Chiswick House — the riverside and the historic house and gardens a little to the south.
• Westfield London & Kew Gardens — major shopping at Shepherd's Bush and the Royal Botanic Gardens both within easy reach.

08 / FAQFrequently asked questions