The Dilly opened in 1908 as The Piccadilly Hotel, a Neo-Baroque landmark by architect Richard Norman Shaw, and traded for decades as Le Méridien Piccadilly before rebranding as The Dilly in 2020. Now under new ownership and a major renovation, the grand hotel offers around 280 rooms and suites, an underground pool and health club, the Terrace restaurant overlooking Piccadilly and Madhu's Indian dining in the historic Oak Room. This guide covers exactly how to reach it.
01 / LOCATIONWhere exactly is The Dilly?
The hotel is at 21 Piccadilly, London W1J 0BH, facing the street between Piccadilly Circus and Regent Street, in the heart of the West End. It sits in the Congestion Charge zone and the ULEZ, on one of London's busiest streets — so for arrivals, a clean drop where the porter can meet you is the sensible approach.
02 / THE SETTINGEdwardian grandeur on Piccadilly
Behind its curved Portland-stone frontage, The Dilly mixes Edwardian features — marble floors, high ceilings — with a contemporary refresh. Dining and leisure include the Terrace restaurant and its outdoor terrace over Piccadilly, cocktails Downstairs at The Dilly, and Madhu's Punjabi cuisine in the Grade II listed Oak Room, plus an underground swimming pool, health club with squash courts and a dance studio. Whichever brings you here, the point for arrival is the same: it's a hotel of real scale, so the journey to its door deserves the same composure.
03 / STATIONSNearest stations and getting around
You could hardly be more central for the West End:
- Piccadilly Circus (Bakerloo and Piccadilly lines, direct from Heathrow) is about a three-minute walk and is closest.
- Green Park (Piccadilly, Jubilee and Victoria lines) is around five minutes.
- Leicester Square and Charing Cross are both a short walk, with buses all along Piccadilly.
You're at the very centre of things. The catch on arrival day is the familiar one: easy travelling light, far harder with luggage, after a flight, through the Piccadilly Circus crowds at the end.
04 / AIRPORTSAirport transfer times to The Dilly
The Dilly draws guests from around the world. The board below gives realistic door-to-door driving times for a pre-booked private hire car. Treat them as a planning guide; West End traffic has its own ideas.
From Heathrow
London City is the closest airport, to the east. From Heathrow in the west, the Piccadilly line runs direct to Piccadilly Circus — convenient, but a long ride with luggage into a crowded station. A direct Heathrow airport transfer by car removes that, with the driver meeting you in arrivals and bringing you straight to Piccadilly.
From the other airports
London City is closest of all; Gatwick connects by the Gatwick Express to Victoria, while Luton and Stansted sit further out. From each, the rail route ends in a Tube ride and a walk; for a group, or anyone with luggage, one car and one fixed price is the gentler option.
An Edwardian landmark — the arrival should feel just as composed.
05 / THE EASY WAYArriving in style — train, Tube or private hire?
There's no single right answer. Coming light from elsewhere in town? The Tube to Piccadilly Circus works well. A pre-booked private hire transfer tends to win when arrival matters most:
- You're arriving with luggage after a flight and would rather be met and driven to the door than fight the Piccadilly Circus crush.
- You're travelling as a group or family and would value a saloon, executive car, MPV or larger vehicle together.
- You want a fixed fare known before you travel — no surge, no meter ticking in West End traffic.
- Your flight time is uncertain — a tracked driver simply adjusts and waits.
Why this helps at The Dilly: the hotel sits on one of London's busiest streets with no car park and the Congestion Charge in force. A local driver knows the cleanest set-down where the porter can meet you, rather than circling Piccadilly Circus.
06 / NEARBYWhat's around The Dilly
The Dilly sits at the heart of the West End:
- Piccadilly Circus & Regent Street — the lights and the shopping on the doorstep.
- Fortnum & Mason and St James's — the famous store and the gentlemen's quarter a short walk east.
- The West End theatres & Leicester Square — theatreland minutes away.
- Mayfair & Bond Street — the designer stores and galleries a short walk west.
07 / FAQFrequently asked questions
Where is The Dilly?
The Dilly is at 21 Piccadilly, London W1J 0BH, between Piccadilly Circus and Regent Street. The nearest Tube is Piccadilly Circus, about a three-minute walk.
What's the nearest station to The Dilly?
Piccadilly Circus (Bakerloo and Piccadilly lines) is about a three-minute walk and is closest, with Green Park around five minutes and Leicester Square and Charing Cross nearby.
How do I get from Heathrow to The Dilly?
Heathrow is around 15 miles away, roughly 45 to 85 minutes by car depending on traffic. The Piccadilly line runs direct to Piccadilly Circus, but it's a long ride with luggage into a busy station; a pre-booked car runs door to door with the fare fixed in advance.
Is there parking or drop-off at The Dilly?
There is no hotel car park, and the hotel is in the Congestion Charge and ULEZ zones on busy Piccadilly. There is a set-down point at the entrance where the porter can meet you; most guests arrive by car or Tube.
Is a pre-booked car worth it for arriving at the hotel?
Yes. Before a show or after a late flight, a pre-booked car with a fixed fare, a driver who knows the Piccadilly set-down and no surge pricing makes arriving calm and easy.
Can I book a fixed-price transfer to The Dilly 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 The Dilly the easy way
Fixed-fare private hire to and from The Dilly, Piccadilly W1J. Local drivers, flight tracking, no surge — confirmed before you ride.