Officially opened by Her Majesty The Queen, Maggie’s Royal Free has been designed by internationally renowned architect Daniel Libeskind of Studio Libeskind.

The centre offers free support to anyone living with cancer, and their family and friends. It’s based in the grounds of the Royal Free Hospital, part of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust (RFL), which employs more than 12,000 staff and serves a population of more than 1.6 million people across 70 sites in north London and Hertfordshire.

One of the largest providers of cancer care in the UK, the RFL receives the most referrals for suspected cancer in London – nearly 50,000 referrals annually. Its specialist expertise in many cancers – such as skin, hepatobiliary, kidney and neuroendocrine tumours – means that, in addition to serving its local population, it also cares for many patients from across the UK. 

An interim Maggie’s centre has been supporting people on site since 2016.

Calming design and support sessions

The centre has been designed to provide breathing space away from the hospital, drawing people in with an approachable and undulating timber form. To make the best use of the centre’s site within the hospital grounds, the footprint of the ground floor is small, and the building then expands as it rises. An elevated deck on the roof level creates a serene and private enclosure, and skylights flood the lower levels with light from the roof deck.

Visitors to the centre will be able to talk to expert staff, from cancer support specialists to psychologists and benefits advisors, or share experiences with other people in similar situations. Other professionals also visit the centre to provide sessions on yoga, relaxation and nutrition, and cancer workshops.

On her visit to open the centre, Her Majesty The Queen spoke to those supported by the charity to hear their experiences of cancer and diagnosis, and how visiting Maggie’s has helped them and their families. One of the people she met was Katie Georgiou, 28, from North London. Katie was diagnosed with Classical Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in April 2022 and regularly visited the interim Maggie’s centre at the Royal Free for benefits advice, art therapy, yoga, Nordic walking, and psychological support.

Katie said: “It was such an honour to meet and speak to Her Majesty The Queen at the beautiful new Maggie’s centre. At Maggie’s, I can come in and express my true self without feeling guilty or hiding anything – I don’t have to wear my wig. Finding Maggie’s is like finding a new friendship that makes you into a new person because it opens new doors inside of you. To now have this amazing centre to come to makes a huge difference and contrast to the clinical surroundings of the hospital.”

Dame Laura Lee, DBE, chief executive of Maggie’s lauded Her Majesty’s commitment to raising awareness of the support offered at Maggie’s, adding: “We hope that this new centre, beautifully designed by Daniel Libeskind, will continue to help our existing and new visitors to the Royal Free and from surrounding areas in London, so that anyone living with cancer can get the support they need.”

Peter Landstrom, group chief executive of the RFL, said: “It was wonderful to welcome Her Majesty the Queen to open this incredible new building. I hope it will provide some comfort to those living with cancer and their loved ones. The Royal Free London and Maggie’s are at the heart of delivering the very best cancer care for patients and this centre will strengthen our relationship into the future.”

Daniel Libeskind, of architects Studio Libeskind, reflected: “The inspired work that Maggie’s does in the healthcare industry is unprecedented. The opportunity to serve patients and provide a thoughtful design is perhaps the highest service of architecture.”