In this guide
London Stadium sits inside Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, and the stadium calls itself a “green stadium”. Getting there comes down to knowing which of Stratford’s seven rail and tube services to use.
💡 The Short Version: Come by train to Stratford — seven services meet there and it’s 15 to 20 minutes’ walk, most of it through Westfield Stratford City. Don’t confuse it with Stratford International, a separate station nearby with no Eurostar. If you’re driving, there is almost nowhere to park: the stadium has only 229 spaces in total, nearly all reserved for season-ticket holders, and West Ham’s own advice is to leave the car at home. Newham’s event-day parking zone covers five residential areas from 8am to 9pm, with a standard £160 penalty (£80 if paid within 14 days) for parking without a permit. Going home, the stadium runs its own hold-and-release crowd management, usually clear within an hour. On Friday and Saturday nights the Central and Jubilee lines run all night, both calling at Stratford.
Getting there by train
| Station | Lines | Walk to the stadium | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stratford | Central, Jubilee, DLR, Elizabeth line, London Overground (Mildmay), Greater Anglia, c2c | 15–20 minutes, through Westfield | Everyone — the default, and the one the stadium’s own site recommends |
| Stratford International | DLR, Southeastern (domestic high speed) | 15–20 minutes | A separate station, easily mistaken for Stratford — no faster and no closer |
| Pudding Mill Lane | DLR only | 10 minutes, south side | Skipping Westfield; one stop from Stratford, no ticket barriers |
| Hackney Wick | London Overground (Mildmay) | 10 minutes, northwest side | The other way to skip Westfield; one stop from Stratford |
Stratford: the default
The Central and Jubilee lines, the DLR, the Elizabeth line, London Overground’s Mildmay line, and National Rail services from Greater Anglia and c2c all meet here; West Ham’s own count is 58 trains an hour. It has 17 platforms, step-free access to all of them, and staff on duty from first train to last.
London Stadium’s site gives the walk as 15 minutes; West Ham’s official access statement says 20. Allow 20, because almost all of it runs through Westfield Stratford City: the signposted route from the station goes through the shopping centre, not around it.
⚠️ Don’t confuse it with Stratford International. It’s a different station on different lines (DLR and Southeastern’s domestic high-speed service to Kent, via St Pancras), with no Eurostar. It’s about the same walk from the stadium as Stratford proper, so turning up there costs you nothing, but it won’t save you time either.
Pudding Mill Lane and Hackney Wick: the shorter walks
Both are one stop from Stratford. Pudding Mill Lane, DLR only, sits to the south of the stadium, about 10 minutes on foot; it has no ticket barriers and no wheelchair to borrow. Hackney Wick, on the Overground’s Mildmay line, is to the northwest, also about 10 minutes away, with the same wheelchair limit. Neither route goes near Westfield.
Buses
Routes 25 (a 24-hour service), 86, 104, 108, 158, 241, 257, 262, 276, 308, 339, 425, 473 and D8 all serve the area around Stratford and Stratford City, with night buses N8 and N86 continuing after the Tube stops. Stratford and Stratford City bus stations both sit close to Stratford station.
By bike
The London Cycle Superhighway runs from Aldgate to Stratford City, and Santander Cycles has eight docking stations across Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the nearest at the Copper Box Arena, the London Aquatics Centre, Monier Road, The Podium and Stratford station itself.
Driving: there’s almost nowhere to put the car
London Stadium has 229 parking spaces in total, and most are tied up in season-ticket allocations. West Ham calls it a “designated green stadium” and advises public transport. The club’s getting-here page names the closest car park as the one at Stratford Westfield, which is Westfield Stratford City’s own car park, not one the stadium runs.
On the street, an event-day parking zone applies. Newham Council’s rules cover five Residential Parking Zones — Stratford Central, Stratford North West, Stratford South West, Stratford South East and West Ham — and are triggered by any West Ham match or other event at London Stadium or Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
| Zones affected | Stratford Central, Stratford North West, Stratford South West, Stratford South East, West Ham |
| When | 8am to 9pm on event days |
| Can a visitor park on the street? | Only in a shared-use or cashless pay-and-display bay, or with a visitor permit issued by a resident of the zone |
| Penalty | Newham’s standard rate: £160, reduced to £80 if paid within 14 days (the council does not publish a higher, event-specific figure) |
Newham’s site lets you check whether a specific address is inside one of the five zones.
ULEZ applies across all of Greater London, Newham included, at £12.50 a day, 24 hours. Stratford station is in fare zone 2–3.
Where to actually park
Gold Top, the accessible car park. On the south Loop Road at Bridge 3, with 55 Blue Badge spaces out of the stadium’s 229 total. Home supporters get access through a season-ticket waiting list; a one-off visitor can’t book it. Six spaces are reserved for visiting supporters, arranged in advance through their own club. It opens three hours before kick-off, closes during the match at the 80th minute, and reopens roughly 20–30 minutes after the final whistle once the safety officer confirms the roads are clear.
Westfield Stratford City’s car park. The stadium’s site names this as the nearest option for everyone else. Check Westfield’s own site for its price and opening hours before you rely on it for an event.
Getting home
Hold-and-release
London Stadium operates a “managed exit/egress crowd management system”: stewards use hold-and-release points at pinch points on the bridges off the stadium island, so not everyone leaves at once. By the stadium’s own account, egress is “generally complete within an hour.” The walk back to Stratford station takes 20–25 minutes on an ordinary evening, and longer in a crowd.
Road closures around the stadium go in from three hours before kick-off, and non-ticket-holders can’t get onto the stadium island on an event day.
The Central and Jubilee lines run all night
On Friday and Saturday nights, both lines run 24 hours through Stratford. The Jubilee line terminates there, so waiting out the crowd for half an hour and then walking onto a train is a realistic option.
Last trains on an ordinary night
Monday to Thursday, the last central London-bound trains on most lines leave around 00:30–01:00; on Sunday they run before midnight. Check TfL’s journey planner or National Rail for your date and line, since engineering work can change either.
Car parks and the accessible shuttle
The Gold Top accessible car park reopens roughly 20–30 minutes after the final whistle. West Ham also runs 18 complimentary accessible shuttle buses on matchdays, connecting Stratford Platform 13 (at the Jubilee line entrance) and Stratford International with a drop-off at the Stadium Store café. It’s a registered service for supporters with accessibility requirements (season-ticket holders, their personal assistants, senior citizens with mobility issues, temporary disabilities, and pregnant supporters), not a general shuttle. It starts two hours before kick-off and keeps running for 90 minutes after the final whistle.
Match days, athletics and a very different kind of event
Football is the frequent case: a roughly two-hour window with the hold-and-release egress described above. Away supporters have their own turnstile allocation and up to 19 wheelchair-accessible spaces in the visitors’ section. The next home fixture is West Ham v West Bromwich Albion on Saturday 31 October 2026, kick-off 15:00.
Athletics happens once a year: the Novuna London Athletics Meet ran on 18 July 2026 and returns on 17 July 2027. It’s a long afternoon-into-evening session, not a 90-minute match.
The Novuna London Athletics Meet.
Concerts are the least frequent case. The next, Fontaines D.C., is on 9 July 2027. For a concert, use the transport advice in this guide as the starting point and check the venue’s site for that event’s doors and curfew times.
Stadium tours run on non-event days, covering the pitch and dressing rooms.
Where to stay
London Stadium’s own site recommends the Adagio Original London Stratford aparthotel, two minutes from Stratford’s DLR platforms and about ten minutes from the stadium, with 10% off using the promo code LS10BB when booked directly through Adagio.
Other options are covered in our Stratford area guide, where to stay in Shoreditch and aparthotels guides: Premier Inn London Stratford and Hyatt Regency London Stratfordad are both inside the Westfield complex. To stay central and travel out, our best areas to stay in London guide covers the Central, Jubilee and Elizabeth line neighbourhoods within one change of Stratford.
The walk through Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
The stadium sits on what West Ham calls “the stadium island”, reached across the park’s waterways by five numbered bridges, plus a road, Marshgate Lane, for Bridge 4. Ten turnstile blocks, lettered A to K (skipping I), ring the island, each signposted by large illuminated totem poles showing the letter and the transport destinations beyond it.
The route from both Stratford and Stratford International is signposted the same way: through Westfield Stratford City, then across the park. Rest areas with arm-rests are spaced roughly every 50 metres, including on the bridges. Once you’re through the search tents there’s no seating outside the stadium, only inside it.
The stadium uses what3words for its precise locations: the security reception, each numbered bridge, the accessible lifts and the ticket office each have a three-word address.
On non-event days, our Stratford area guide covers the wider park, including the ArcelorMittal Orbit and its slide, and the Aquatics Centre next door.
Eating and drinking
Inside the stadium, kiosks on the lower-tier concourse sell hot food (pies, burgers), sandwiches, wraps and salads, hot drinks and soft drinks, with vegetarian options at every kiosk and water fountains around the concourse. The Stadium Store café, run as the West Ham United Coffee Co. on the ground floor of the flagship store next to the stadium, does coffee, sandwiches, wraps, pastries and cakes. The club’s access statement warns that the store’s first floor “becomes extremely busy” on matchdays, so go before or well after the crowd arrives.
Westfield Stratford City, between the station and the park, keeps its normal hours on event days — roughly 10am to 9pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm on Saturday, and midday to 6pm on Sunday — with around 250 shops and restaurants. Stratford town centre, a few minutes east of the station, is a quieter, cheaper alternative; see our Stratford area guide for both.
Drinking on event days
At Association Football matches, alcohol may not be consumed in view of the pitch, and none of it may leave the stadium island once you’ve bought it. That’s West Ham’s rule, stated on the club’s safety and security page.
The bag problem
London Stadium operates a 100% search policy: every supporter and their belongings are checked on the way in. No bag larger than A4 is allowed, per West Ham’s official 2026/27 access statement and the stadium’s safety page.
⚠️ There is no left luggage facility on site at all. Don’t bring a bag you don’t need. If you need to bring something larger for a medical reason, West Ham’s accessibility team (accessibility@westhamunited.co.uk, 0333 030 0174) will advise in advance. Anyone else should leave the bag somewhere before arriving; see our luggage storage guide for the nearest options.
Step-free access
Getting to the ground: all of Stratford’s 17 platforms are step-free with lifts, as are Stratford International’s; Pudding Mill Lane and Hackney Wick both have step-free access but no wheelchairs to borrow. A complimentary accessible shuttle bus — 18 vehicles on a home matchday — runs between Stratford Platform 13, Stratford International and a drop-off at the Stadium Store café, for supporters registered with the club’s accessibility scheme (season-ticket holders and their personal assistants, senior citizens with mobility issues, supporters with a temporary disability, and pregnant supporters), starting two hours before kick-off and running for 90 minutes after the final whistle.
Getting onto the island: level, step-free access across all five bridges, plus a lift between ground and podium level at Bridge 4, reached via Marshgate Lane.
Inside the stadium: 261 wheelchair-accessible viewing spaces across the Bobby Moore (North), Billy Bonds (East), Sir Trevor Brooking (South) and West stands, plus 12 in the Club London hospitality tier, with a personal assistant ticket provided automatically for every wheelchair user. Nine lifts serve the upper tiers. There are three adult Changing Places facilities, gender-neutral accessible toilets with RADAR locks on every level, a Sensory Room (accessed via Turnstile B, pre-booked through the accessibility team) for supporters who find the noise and crowds overwhelming, and two Multi-Faith Rooms. Audio commentary is available for blind and partially sighted supporters in all four stands, and assistance dogs are welcome, with a hygiene area at Bridge 4.
On matchday, 41 Disabled Supporter Assistants (pink tabards) and 27 Supporter Liaison Officers are on duty, and every entry bridge has a dedicated accessible search lane, open until 20 minutes before kick-off.
Accessible parking: the Gold Top car park’s 55 Blue Badge spaces are allocated to home season-ticket holders through a waiting list, with six spaces held for visiting supporters via their own club. Dedicated Blue Badge bays also exist on the street nearby.
Contact: West Ham’s accessibility team is on 0333 030 0174 or accessibility@westhamunited.co.uk.
Small print that catches people out
- Sat-nav: use E20 2ST for London Stadium and the wider Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
- Congestion Charge does not reach this far east.
Continue planning your London trip
- 🏉 Twickenham Stadium Travel Guide — London’s biggest rugby crowd, and the last train out at 00:11
- ⚽ Premier League Tickets in London — West Ham are in the Championship in 2026/27, which makes this a far easier ticket than a top-flight one
- 🚇 How to Use the London Underground
- 💷 London Transport Costs and Fares
- 🚌 How to Use London Buses and Trams
- 🏟️ Wembley Stadium and OVO Arena: a comparable venue guide
- 🛏️ Best Areas to Stay in London
- 🛌 Where to Stay in Shoreditch
- 🎡 Stratford Area Guide
- 💰 Money in London: Cash, Cards and ATMs — including which London venues take no cash at all
Parking and event details are set match by match, so check the operators’ own sites for your date.
Common questions
Which station is best for London Stadium?
Stratford, for almost everyone. Seven rail and tube services meet there — the Central and Jubilee lines, the DLR, the Elizabeth line, London Overground's Mildmay line, Greater Anglia and c2c — and the stadium's own site counts 58 trains an hour through it. It's a 15 to 20 minute walk, most of it through Westfield Stratford City.
What's the difference between Stratford and Stratford International?
Two separate stations, easily confused by the name. Stratford International has no Eurostar and no direct link to the Continent — it's a stop on the DLR and on Southeastern's domestic high-speed line to Kent via St Pancras. It's about the same distance from London Stadium as Stratford proper, and no quicker.
Is there a shorter walk than going through Westfield?
Two. Pudding Mill Lane (DLR only, one stop from Stratford) is about ten minutes' walk to the south side of the stadium, and Hackney Wick (London Overground) is about ten minutes to the northwest. Neither has ticket barriers or a wheelchair to borrow, and both skip Westfield.
Can you park at London Stadium?
Barely. The stadium has only 229 parking spaces in total, and 55 of those are the accessible Gold Top car park, allocated to season-ticket holders on a waiting list — there is no casual matchday parking product for a one-off visitor. West Ham describes London Stadium as a 'designated green stadium' and its own advice is to come by public transport. The closest car park it points drivers to is Westfield's, at Stratford Westfield.
Can you park on the street near London Stadium on an event day?
Only with a permit or in a paid bay. Newham's event-day parking rules cover five residential zones — Stratford Central, Stratford North West, Stratford South West, Stratford South East and West Ham — from 8am to 9pm. The borough's standard penalty for parking without a valid permit is £160, reduced to £80 if paid within 14 days; Newham doesn't publish a higher, event-specific figure.
Is there a Night Tube from Stratford?
Yes. The Central and Jubilee lines both run all night on Fridays and Saturdays, and both call at Stratford — the Jubilee actually terminates there, so you can usually get a seat.
What is the bag policy at London Stadium?
No bag bigger than A4. The stadium runs a 100% search policy on the way in, and there are no left luggage facilities on site at all, so plan not to be carrying one rather than hoping to check it somewhere.
Is London Stadium only used for West Ham matches?
No. It hosts an annual one-day athletics meet each summer (the Novuna London Athletics Meet ran on 18 July 2026 and returns on 17 July 2027), and stadium tours run on non-event days. Fontaines D.C. play on 9 July 2027.
Is there step-free access to London Stadium?
Yes. There are 261 wheelchair-accessible viewing spaces across the four stands, step-free routes and lifts at all the approach stations, an accessible shuttle bus between Stratford, Stratford International and the stadium for registered users, and 41 Disabled Supporter Assistants plus 27 Supporter Liaison Officers on duty on a matchday. West Ham's accessibility team is on 0333 030 0174.
Can you drink alcohol at London Stadium?
Not in view of the pitch during a football match, and none of it may leave the stadium island once you've bought it. That's West Ham's own rule for Association Football matches.
Is Westfield Stratford City open on West Ham match days?
Yes, on its normal hours — roughly 10am to 9pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm on Saturday and midday to 6pm on Sunday.
Where do Blue Badge holders park?
The Gold Top car park on the south Loop Road at Bridge 3 has 55 accessible spaces, but home fans get them through a season-ticket waiting list; six spaces are reserved for visiting supporters, arranged through their own club. There are also dedicated Blue Badge bays on the street. A casual visitor without a season ticket should plan on the accessible shuttle bus instead.
