Stratford

Stratford station is the single most connected transport hub in east London -and arguably the most important station in London outside the central Zone 1 core. Four Underground lines, the DLR, the Elizabeth line, London Overground, National Rail and the International station all converge here. You can reach central London in under 10 minutes on the Elizabeth line. You can be at Canary Wharf in 8 minutes on the Jubilee or DLR. You can get to St Pancras and the Eurostar in 7 minutes. The 2012 Olympics made Stratford internationally famous, but the transport infrastructure that existed here before the Games -and has expanded dramatically since -is what makes this station genuinely significant.

The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, which sits immediately north of the station, is the lasting legacy of 2012. The park hosts the London Stadium (home of West Ham United), the Aquatics Centre, the London Stadium, the ArcelorMittal Orbit tower, and a growing collection of cultural institutions. Westfield Stratford City -connected directly to the station concourse -is one of Europe's largest urban shopping centres with over 300 shops. The area continues to develop rapidly, with major cultural organisations including the BBC, the London Legacy Development Corporation and multiple arts venues establishing themselves in the park district.

Station Overview

Stratford station has roots going back to 1839 as a Great Eastern Railway stop. The current Underground station opened in 1946 on the Central line. Today, Zone 3 Stratford serves the Central, Jubilee, DLR and Elizabeth lines plus the Overground and National Rail. The station complex is large and multi-level -signage is clear but allow extra time during a first visit.

Lines and Connectivity

The Elizabeth line (purple) is the fastest connection from Stratford to central London -Liverpool Street in 8 minutes, Tottenham Court Road in 14 minutes, Bond Street in 17 minutes. In the opposite direction, the Elizabeth line reaches Abbey Wood and Woolwich, serving south-east London with unprecedented speed.

The Jubilee line (silver) serves Canary Wharf (8 minutes south-west), London Bridge (15 minutes), Westminster (20 minutes) and Waterloo (22 minutes). The Jubilee line is the best route to the South Bank from Stratford.

The Central line (red) runs west through Mile End, Bethnal Green and Liverpool Street (8 minutes) to Oxford Circus and beyond. East, the Central line reaches Snaresbrook, South Woodford and the Epping Forest branch.

The DLR (teal) connects south to Canary Wharf (8 minutes), Bank (15 minutes) and Lewisham (20 minutes). North, the DLR serves Stratford International and the International station.

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

The park occupies 560 acres of former industrial land transformed for the 2012 Olympics. Entry to the park is free -walk north from the station along the main walkway past the Westfield shopping centre. The park's permanent highlights include the London Stadium (West Ham United), the Aquatics Centre (open to public swimmers for moderate prices), the ArcelorMittal Orbit sculpture and observation tower, the Velodrome (Lee Valley VeloPark, open to cyclists), and a series of waterway walks and nature reserves. The East Bank cultural district is bringing the V&A, the BBC Symphony Orchestra and University College London to the park area.

Westfield Stratford City

Westfield Stratford City is directly connected to the station concourse -you walk through Westfield to reach the park. With over 300 stores across multiple levels, it is one of the largest urban shopping centres in Europe. The food court and restaurant area on the upper levels are comprehensive. John Lewis, Marks & Spencer and most major UK retail chains are present.

Facilities

Stratford station has excellent facilities including paid toilets, multiple ATMs, free TfL Wi-Fi and a range of food and retail within the station and the immediately connected Westfield centre. The station is staffed throughout operating hours.

Accessibility

Stratford has step-free access on all served lines. The Elizabeth line platforms, DLR, Jubilee line and Central line platforms all have lift access from the main concourse level. The station is one of the most accessible in east London.

Travel Tips

• The Elizabeth line to Liverpool Street takes 8 minutes -the fastest connection between Stratford and the City of London. This has transformed commuting patterns in the area since 2022.
• The ArcelorMittal Orbit tower in the Olympic Park requires a ticket for the viewing platform and slide. The park itself is free. The slide (the world's tallest tunnel slide, designed by Carsten Höller) is one of east London's more unusual experiences.
• West Ham United play at the London Stadium in the park -on match days the area is significantly busier. Stratford station has crowd management in place for major events.
• Westfield Stratford City closes at 21:00 on most weekdays and 22:00 Thursday to Saturday -plan shopping visits accordingly.
• International services to Europe do not stop at Stratford International despite its name -Eurostar departs from St Pancras International (7 minutes away on the Jubilee line).

Nearby Attractions

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park -Free entry. 560 acres of parkland, waterways and sports venues. The ArcelorMittal Orbit (ticketed), the Aquatics Centre (open to public) and the Velodrome are the main sporting venues.

London Stadium -Home of West Ham United. Stadium tours available on non-match days. The stadium was used for athletics in 2012 and has hosted major concerts since.

Westfield Stratford City -Connected to the station concourse. 300+ shops. The East Village residential quarter (former Athletes' Village) is accessible from the park side.

Timings and Best Time to Travel

Stratford Underground operates approximately 05:30 to midnight Monday to Saturday and 07:00 to 23:30 on Sunday. The Central and Jubilee lines have Night Tube on Friday and Saturday nights. The Olympic Park is open daily from dawn to dusk (free access). The station is busiest on Saturday afternoons when West Ham play and Westfield is at peak shopping traffic -both events occur simultaneously on many Saturdays.