Harley Street: The Home to London Vision Clinic (and Medical History)
Walking down Harley Street today, you will find yourself in a long line of renowned medical institutions ordained with London’s famous blue plaques signalling the famous folk who have lived and worked here in the past. In fact, Harley Street is known the world over as a centre for medical excellence, and it is also the home to our state-of-the-art Laser Eye Surgery clinic.
A Brief History of Harley Street
Few areas in the UK (or the world) have as right a history as Harley Street, London. It has remained a significant healthcare hub for hundreds of years as doctors from around the UK found suitable buildings to house both their businesses on the ground floor and their family homes above.
Records show that around twenty doctors were working from Harley Street in 1860; 80 by 1900 and almost 200 by 1914. When the National Health Service was established in 1948 there were around 1,500. Today some 3,000 people are employed in health-related businesses in Harley Street!
Over time, the street continued to develop its medical reputation, eventually attracting some of the most famous names in the medical world. These medical celebrities included Sir Frederick Treves, surgeon to King Edward VII and the first surgeon to perform an appendectomy; Florence Nightingale, who was “Superintendent of the Establishment of Gentlewomen” at Number 1 Harley Street in 1853; and Lionel Logue, the speech therapist of King George VI who was brought to the silver screen in the 2010 film The King’s Speech.
Of course, this dazzling history has helped to make a Harley Street address extremely desirable in the medical world, but there were other reasons behind the clinic’s move way back in 2009 – and it was the area’s central location that sealed the deal.
Finding London Vision Clinic on Harley Street
Just a few minutes from one of London’s largest and most famous green spaces, Regent’s Park and set in the historic Borough of Westminster, London Vision Clinic’s central location makes Laser Eye Surgery as accessible as possible to our patients – whether they are visiting from home or abroad!
Our clinic, located at 138 Harley Street, is convenient whether you are arriving by rail, bus, taxi, or even plane, thanks to its fantastic transport links.
If you are arriving by rail, the closest tube stations are Regent’s Park on the Bakerloo line, Great Portland Street on the Metropolitan, Circle and Hammersmith & City lines and Warren Street on the Victoria line. We are also just a couple of stops from Kings Cross Rail Station and approximately 45 minutes from Heathrow Airport!
If you are driving to the clinic, there are also a number of parking options just a short walk away. These include short-term metered parking in the surrounding streets for your drop-off and pick-up from the clinic, as well as two longer-stay car parks at Queen Anne Mews and Cavendish Square.
For the last fifteen years, London Vision Clinic has been proud to call Harley Street “home” – and we hope that those early physicians who helped to revolutionise medicine in the UK would welcome us with open arms.
If you would like any more information about getting to and from our Harley Street clinic, our friendly clinic coordinators are always happy to help. Get in touch or Book a Consultation today.
