Getting to The Portland Hospital: the location, the stations and the stress-free arrival

Founded in 1983 and part of HCA Healthcare UK, The Portland Hospital is the only private hospital in the UK dedicated entirely to the health of women and children — renowned for maternity and obstetrics, gynaecology, paediatrics and fertility through the Lister Fertility Clinic based here. For expectant parents arriving for a birth, families bringing a child for treatment, and international visitors, the central location is part of the appeal — but it's a busy West End street with limited parking. This guide covers the journey to the door, with a child and luggage in mind.

01 / LOCATIONWhere exactly is The Portland Hospital?

The Portland Hospital's main address is 205-209 Great Portland Street, London W1W 5AH, in the City of Westminster on the Marylebone and Fitzrovia border, close to Regent's Park. A Wellbeing Lounge sits nearby at 215 Great Portland Street, with outpatient services also at 32 Wimpole Street.

02 / SITESThe hospital and its sites

The Portland operates across a few nearby addresses, so confirm which one your appointment is at — particularly important with a child:

• Main hospital — 205-209 Great Portland Street, with maternity, theatres, wards and the main reception.
• Wellbeing Lounge — at 215 Great Portland Street, for antenatal sessions and pregnancy open evenings.
• Outpatient centre — at 32 Wimpole Street, for some consultations.
• Lister Fertility Clinic — fertility and IVF services based at the hospital.

Your appointment letter will state the address — worth checking before you travel, especially if you're attending an antenatal session at the Wellbeing Lounge rather than the main hospital.

03 / STATIONSNearest stations and getting around

Public transport access is excellent:

• Great Portland Street (Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines) is a short walk away.
• Regent's Park (Bakerloo line) and Warren Street (Victoria and Northern lines) are also close.
• Oxford Circus and Euston are within easy reach.

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 The Portland Hospital

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 or Heathrow Express into central London, then an onward Tube — a lot of changes with a pushchair, a child and baby kit. 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.

For a family or an expectant parent, the journey should be the easy part of the day.

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 The Portland Hospital

The area around Great Portland Street is well served for families and visitors:

• Regent's Park — open green space and gardens a short walk north.
• Marylebone High Street — cafés and family-friendly places to eat nearby.
• Oxford Street & the West End — shopping a few minutes south.
• Hotels — Marylebone and Fitzrovia offer plentiful accommodation for visiting families.

08 / FAQFrequently asked questions