The Royal London Hospital
London · Barts Health NHS Trust
At a glance
- Switchboard
- 020 7377 7000
- Address
- Whitechapel Road, London E1 1FR
- A&E
- Adults 18 and over: open 24 hours, every day. Separate children's emergency department.
- Visiting hours
- Times vary by ward · 2 visitors at the bedside
- Parking
- No public car park at the hospital
- Nearest stations
- Whitechapel (Elizabeth line, District, Hammersmith & City, Overground) · 6 min walk
Last checked · Report something wrong · Regulated in England by CQC
If someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk, call 999.
For urgent medical help that isn't life-threatening, use NHS 111 or call 111.
Phone numbers
The switchboard can put you through to any ward or department.
| Service | Number | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Main switchboard | 020 7377 7000 | — |
| PALS (Royal London and Mile End hospitals) | 020 3594 2040 | Monday to Friday, 10am to 4:30pm |
| Stevenson House (family accommodation) | 020 7791 2604 | — |
| Intensive care unit, 4th and 15th floors (text preferred) | 07710 066906 | — |
Visiting hours
| Ward | Days | Times |
|---|---|---|
| All wards | Varies by ward — call the ward before you visit | |
- All wards: Times vary by ward, so check with the ward team. Two visitors can be at the bedside at one time. Intensive care and neonatal units have extra guidelines — speak to the nurse in charge first.
Wards can change their visiting arrangements at short notice. Call the ward before you travel.
Parking
There is no public car park at the hospital. Limited pay-by-phone street parking nearby (Turner Street, Ashfield Street, Varden Street and Cavell Street) costs £3.80 an hour, for up to 4 hours. Drop-off laybys on Stepney Way allow up to 10 minutes. The hospital is just outside the Congestion Charge zone.
Blue Badge holders: A small number of Blue Badge bays are reached via Raven Row.
Parking details checked 24 October 2026.
The Royal London Hospital is on Whitechapel Road in east London and is run by Barts Health NHS Trust. It’s the major trauma centre for north east London and Essex, one of London’s hyper-acute stroke centres, and home to London’s Air Ambulance.
A&E (emergency department)
- The adult emergency department is for people aged 18 and over and is open 24 hours a day, every day. Check in at the reception desk near the main entrance.
- Children are seen in the separate paediatric emergency department.
- Wherever possible, patients in the adult emergency department should have no more than one relative, friend or carer with them. Exceptions are made for people who are critically unwell, have dementia or confusion, or have a learning disability.
Visiting rules
- Visiting times vary by ward, so check with the ward team.
- Two visitors can be at the bedside at one time. Exceptions can be made for patients who are very unwell or receiving end-of-life care — speak to the nurse in charge.
- Parents, carers, siblings and close friends of children are encouraged to visit, and a parent or carer can stay overnight if needed.
- Mealtimes are protected. You can help a patient eat, but ask staff before giving any food or drink.
- In maternity, two birth partners can attend the birth.
Getting there
- Underground and rail: Whitechapel station (Elizabeth line, District, Hammersmith & City and London Overground) is about a 6-minute walk. Liverpool Street is the nearest National Rail station, about 29 minutes’ walk.
- Bus: routes 25 (24 hours), 106, 205 and 254 stop on Whitechapel Road; D3 on New Road; 15, 115 and 135 on Commercial Road.
- Driving: there’s no public car park. See the parking section above for nearby street parking and drop-off.
Food and facilities
- Restaurant: 5th floor of the main building, open 7:30am to 7pm daily. A vending machine and water dispenser are available 24 hours.
- Kiosk: Stepney Way atrium, 8am to 3pm, Monday to Friday.
- Costa Coffee: at the Whitechapel entrance and in the Dental Hospital on Turner Street.
- Cash machine: on the wall of the medical college student union building, opposite outpatients on Stepney Way.
- Free NHS Wi-Fi with no time limit (not suitable for streaming films).
PALS
PALS for The Royal London and Mile End hospitals is in the Patient and Family Contact Centre, 2nd floor, central tower. It’s open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4:30pm.
Frequently asked questions
What is the phone number for The Royal London Hospital?
The switchboard is 020 7377 7000. If you're worried about a patient, call the ward and ask for the nurse in charge, or call the switchboard and ask for the site manager.
Is the A&E at The Royal London Hospital open 24 hours?
Yes. The adult emergency department, for people aged 18 and over, is open 24 hours a day, every day. Children go to the separate paediatric emergency department. If someone's life is at risk, call 999.
What are the visiting hours at The Royal London Hospital?
Visiting times vary by ward, so check with the ward team before you go. Two visitors can be at the bedside at one time.
Is there parking at The Royal London Hospital?
There's no public car park at the hospital. There's limited pay-by-phone street parking nearby at £3.80 an hour for up to 4 hours, and a few Blue Badge bays reached via Raven Row. Whitechapel station is a 6-minute walk.
Is The Royal London a major trauma centre?
Yes. It's the major trauma centre for north east London and Essex, and it's home to London's Air Ambulance.
How do I contact PALS at The Royal London Hospital?
Call PALS on 020 3594 2040 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 4:30pm), or visit the Patient and Family Contact Centre on the 2nd floor of the central tower.
Sources
We checked this page against the sources below on. We re-check every page at least every three months.
- Barts Health NHS Trust — The Royal London Hospital (checked 24 October 2026)
- Barts Health NHS Trust — Visiting a patient (checked 24 October 2026)
- Barts Health NHS Trust — PALS (checked 24 October 2026)
- NHS website — The Royal London Hospital (ODS R1H12) (checked 24 October 2026)