The Royal Free is a major teaching hospital in Hampstead with some of the lowest mortality rates in the country, and the Private Patients' Unit (PPU) brings that clinical depth to private and international patients across cancer, kidney and transplant medicine, dialysis, diagnostics and more. The unit spans dedicated private inpatient wards high in the tower, with hotel-style hospitality and rooms overlooking the Heath. The location, on a rise in leafy Hampstead, is a tonic to recover in — but the approach is steep and the car park small, which is what this guide is here to solve.
01 / LOCATIONWhere exactly is the Private Patients' Unit?
The PPU is on the 12th floor of the Royal Free Hospital, Pond Street, Hampstead, London NW3 2QG, in the London Borough of Camden. The hospital is a distinctive cruciform tower opened in the 1970s, set on a hill between Belsize Park and Hampstead Heath. It's well outside the Congestion Charge zone, though the area is within the ULEZ.
02 / SITESThe unit within the hospital
The Private Patients' Unit is part of the main Royal Free building rather than a separate site, which keeps full hospital services close at hand:
- 12th-floor wards — the PPU comprises dedicated private inpatient wards with en-suite rooms, many with views over Hampstead Heath or central London, plus high-dependency monitored beds.
- Day care & outpatients — supporting private day-case and outpatient facilities within the hospital.
- Main hospital — the PPU has direct access to the full range of Royal Free departments, so specialist care is never far away.
On arrival, head into the main hospital from the Pond Street entrance, take the main lifts to the 12th floor, and the reception team meets you as you leave the lifts.
03 / STATIONSNearest stations and getting around
Two stations sit close to the hospital, both with an uphill finish:
- Belsize Park (Northern line) is the nearest Tube — about a seven-minute walk, partly uphill.
- Hampstead Heath (London Overground, Mildmay line) is even closer at roughly three to five minutes, and accepts contactless and Oyster.
- Buses 1, 24, 46, 168, 268 and C11 serve the hospital directly.
The links are good, but the common theme is the hill: the approach is steep whichever station you choose. That's manageable when you're well, far less so after treatment, with luggage, or for an older visitor.
04 / AIRPORTSAirport transfer times to the Royal Free Hospital
For international patients and visiting families, the airport leg is the journey worth planning carefully. The board gives realistic door-to-door driving times for a pre-booked private hire car — a guide, not a promise, as north London traffic varies.
From Heathrow
Heathrow is the airport most international patients arrive through. By rail it's the Elizabeth line or Piccadilly line into central London, a change onto the Northern line to Belsize Park, and then the uphill walk — awkward with cases. A direct Heathrow airport transfer by car removes the changes and the climb: the driver meets you in arrivals after baggage reclaim and takes you to the Pond Street entrance, straight to the lifts.
From the other airports
Luton is comparatively close to the north, while Gatwick to the south and Stansted to the north-east add cross-London time. For a patient or visiting family, one fixed-price car to the door beats a fast train plus a Tube change and a hill.
The view from the 12th floor is a reward. The uphill arrival is the bit worth taking off your plate.
05 / ARRIVINGArriving for an appointment or admission
On the day of an appointment, procedure or admission, a pre-booked private hire transfer takes the strain out of a hilltop hospital with little parking: a comfortable car to the accessible Pond Street entrance, a driver who knows the Hampstead streets, and a fixed fare set in advance. For an inpatient stay you can choose a vehicle sized to your bag, and being dropped at the door spares you the steep walk that both stations involve.
Why this helps specifically at the Royal Free: parking is very limited with queues for the car park, and every walking route from the stations is partly uphill. A drop-off at the accessible Pond Street entrance removes the climb entirely, and because the fare is fixed in advance, a brief wait at the kerb to help you in costs nothing extra.
06 / VISITINGVisiting a patient
For relatives and friends, the same advantages apply — and visits often fall outside the daytime, in the evening or early morning when the uphill walk is darker and quieter. A pre-booked car brings several family members together to the door, spares older relatives the hill and the platform changes, and — with a fixed fare and round-the-clock dispatch — costs the same late at night as in the middle of the day.
07 / NEARBYWhat's around the Royal Free Hospital
Hampstead is one of London's loveliest neighbourhoods for visitors:
- Hampstead Heath — 800 acres of parkland on the doorstep, perfect for a walk between visits.
- Hampstead village & Belsize Park — independent cafés, restaurants and shops a short stroll away.
- On-site amenities — an M&S Simply Food, WHSmith, a restaurant and coffee shops within the hospital.
- Hotels — Hampstead, Belsize Park and Swiss Cottage offer accommodation for visiting families.
08 / FAQFrequently asked questions
Where is the Royal Free Private Patients' Unit?
On the 12th floor of the Royal Free Hospital, Pond Street, Hampstead, London NW3 2QG. The nearest Tube is Belsize Park (Northern line), about a seven-minute, partly uphill walk.
What's the nearest station to the Royal Free Hospital?
Belsize Park (Northern line) is the nearest Tube, about seven minutes and partly uphill. Hampstead Heath on the Overground is even closer at three to five minutes; the approach is steep.
How do I get from Heathrow to the Royal Free Hospital?
Heathrow is around 17 miles away. By rail it's the Elizabeth or Piccadilly line into central London then the Northern line to Belsize Park and an uphill walk. A pre-booked car runs door to door in about 50 to 80 minutes with the fare fixed in advance.
Is there parking at the Royal Free Hospital?
On-site and street parking is very limited with queues for the car park. The hospital encourages public transport, but a drop-off at the accessible Pond Street entrance is easiest for many.
Does the Royal Free treat international patients?
Yes — the Private Patients' Unit has an international and embassy office for overseas patients. A pre-booked airport transfer with meet-and-greet and a fixed fare is the smoothest way to arrive.
Can I be dropped at the door, given the steep approach?
Yes — the walk from the stations is partly uphill, so a drop-off at the accessible Pond Street entrance saves the climb, with a fixed fare set in advance. Helpful if you have reduced mobility or luggage.
Time Matters
Skip the hill — arrive at the door
Fixed-fare private hire for airport pickups, appointments, admissions and visits to the Royal Free Hospital. Local drivers, flight tracking, no surge — confirmed before you ride.