Most students from outside the UK arrive in London either by plane or by train. Whether you are coming to London to visit the Royal College of Music, to see friends or family, or to move into your new accommodation, you should plan how to get from the airport or railway station to your destination.

Every journey is different and every person has different needs. The guidance below is provided for quick reference only. We encourage all travellers to spend adequate time planning their travel options and checking fares with relevant ticket providers.

Transport for London (TfL) is responsible for the local transport system. TfL controls the London Underground, which is also known as ‘the Tube’, the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), the London Overground, London Buses and several other transport options. TfL operates a contactless pay-as-you-go scheme, which is cheaper than buying paper tickets on most services, and students on full-time courses lasting more than 14 weeks can apply for an 18+ Student Oystercard. The scheme works with contactless bank cards or mobile payment and Oyster Cards.

TfL provides a helpful Journey Planner and a Fare Finder on their website. Please note that many of London’s airports fall outside of TfL’s fare area. Likewise some special rail services are excluded from TfL’s cheaper fare pricing. In these cases TfL is not in control of ticket costs and you should refer to the information supplied by ticket providers instead. 

Arriving by plane

London is served by six international airports: Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, London City and Southend. All provide excellent transport links into central London. Coaches are usually available with very cheap tickets. Taxis are also available but will be much more expensive. You should consider agreeing a fare with the taxi driver before setting off.

If you choose to travel by coach or taxi please account for traffic congestion – it can take a long time to reach central London by road. Using trains is almost always the most time-efficient and cost-effective method of travelling into London from any of the airports.

Arriving by train via the Channel Tunnel

All passenger services via the Channel Tunnel terminate at London St Pancras International on the edge of central London. Onward journeys can be made by several means.

The London Underground Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria lines provide direct connections to areas across the city. South Kensington station, which is close to the RCM, can be reached in 20 minutes via the Piccadilly line. The journey to South Kensington costs around £5 for a paper ticket, which are available from machines at the station. Prices vary at different times of day. Please check with TfL for the latest fares.

Several bus routes pass St Pancras, providing easy access to all parts of central London. Buses do not accept cash fares. You will need to use a contactless form of payment or have a valid Travelcard. Single bus journeys cost £1.50. Your bank may charge an additional fee if you use a contactless bank card.

Taxis are also available, but will be more expensive.

Arriving by car

If you are travelling by car you will probably arrive in the UK at the Le Shuttle terminal at Folkestone or one of the south coast ports. All are connected to London by major roads and motorways.

If you choose to travel by car please account for traffic congestion – it can take a long time to reach central London by road and parking is limited in many areas.

You may need to pay an additional charge to drive your car in London if it doesn't meet the emissions standards for the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). 

Le Shuttle Terminal, Folkestone

Travel to London via the M20.

Port of Dover

Travel to London via the A2 and the M2 or the A20 and the M20.

Portsmouth International Port

Travel to London via the M27 and the M3 or the A27 and the A3.

Port of Southampton

Travel to London via the A33 and the M3.

Parking near the Royal College of Music

There is metered parking on Prince Consort Road and the surrounding area. It costs £4.22 per hour (£6.33 for Diesel vehicles) for a maximum of four hours and is free after 6.30pm and on Sundays.

There are a limited number of disabled parking spaces and designated motorbike bays available in the surrounding South Kensington area. Please check availability and restrictions before you travel.

There are a limited number of disabled parking bays managed by Westminster Borough Council on Prince Consort Road and in the area around the Royal Albert Hall, which are within 175 metres of the RCM. In addition, there are spaces managed by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea on Exhibition Road, which are within 600 metres of the RCM.

Westminster City Council parking information

Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Borough parking information