Kings Cross to Denmark Hill, then nice lunch, then back to KX?

[StripeyChina]

I have to do a long trip from Scotland on Sat.
I'm visiting a friend who is in the Maudsley.
I'm coming by sleeper and am disabled and am worried about the physical requirements. I do have another friend who will meet me in town but they won't chum me to the hospital.

Can i get from KX to Denmark Hill easily?
Is there anywhere nice (ish) to go for Lunch after (i know, only the whole of London I guess but under £50 and involving no trekking so easy to get back to KX so off Northern line?)

I don't get out much, as you can prob tell...

Yes, it’s not far and on the same road (though you actually want sT Pancras for Denmark Hill, they’re not the same station though they are next to each other). You’ll want platforms A and B at St Pancras.

Come out of Euston, turn left, walk past the British library, turn left again. St Pancras is on your right and the thameslink platform are down the escalators just inside the doors after the taxi rank.

Get the 68 bus direct from Euston to outside the Maudsley (literally outside). It'll take about 40 mins or so, far easier.

Eating round there, well what do you like? Love Walk café is a café, but a nice one (no alcohol). There's a fab restaurant called Latin House about 50m further on, v nice, all South American food and nice cocktails.

There's a nice fancy pizza joint (Theo's), a good Greek taverna, a hipster-y place with tapas type dishes (Good Neighbour), a nice pub up by Denmark Hill station (The Phoenix), a good Spanish place about 100m from Denmark Hill (Tapete). Loads of choices!

Oh thanks - a goldmine of information!!

yes i might get the bus from Euston then, esp if lifts might be broken at DHill?

Um, many years since I got the bus in London, can i use an Oystercard? (what do I do? show it to the driver and ask for a destination like cash or swipe it when I get on and off? - how embarrassing I don't know, sorry).

In other news, my Lunch friend is getting all sniffy that i don't know exactly when I'll be done and avail at KX / StP (its a Psych ward I'm visiting, and transport is not always precise) so i might be eating solo at Denmark Hill after anyway ;)

Have a look at the TFL transfor London website. Lots of info.

You are a lovely friend.

If you've got a contactless card or (Google or apple pay on your phone) Just tap it as you get on the bus. You don't need to tap out again. It just knows....

On the tube you tap on and off.

Ach. Just called hosp to double check visiting times / if friend was due to have 1:1 / other vistors Sat am and nurse scurried off to 'find friend' (I didnt ask) and came back to phone to say friend 'doesnt feel up to a visit before Easter'

I cant change my tickets so i will go down anyway and drop off some chocs / books (so if they've changed mind i'll be outside for 10 mins and could go in and if not that is okay too) and see other friend for lunch i guess. Best laid plans of mice and men and all that. :(

oh, that's a shame. Unfortunately there's not much to do in the immediate vicinity of Denmark Hill station, especially if buses aren't an option. Basically there's a bloody great hospital and a nice park (Ruskin Park).

The lift is definitely broken at the moment for the platform you'd be coming in on.

I am going to bus across, leave card and chocs.
My Lunch friend is then going to meet me and we'll take it from there.

Thanks to everyone who has advised - I'm a bit nervous about my mobility AND visiting the friend in hospital so it has helped a lot. xxx

Very sorry to hear that.

I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to travel to the hospital after that advice, even if your rail tickets are non refundable.

Although it’s very well meant to hand deliver a gift, you could arrange that remotely, and your friend in hospital might feel bad about you having travelled, being outside etc.

Sorry to hear your friend isn’t up to visitors op but have a safe journey.

I dropped the gift off with a message: 'sorry to hear you are not feeling up to a visit. I was coming anyway for Lunch with an old school pal, so dropped book / chocs in. Given msg: 'visit after Easter' so text me if you'd still like that nearer the time and I'll come if I can (surgery date?). Meanwhile take care and i hope you can get some rest. ATB, Stripey'

THANK YOU all, (esp the person who suggested the number 68 bus).
I'm back home today and incredibly sore but I did it and I was the one leading my Lunch friend confidently around by tube and bus. Huzzah!

Oh, and for completeness -
ended up having late Lunch at the St Pancras Hotel.
Lovely - a real treat - would recommend :)

I’m glad you had a nice day, after all that effort. Well done!

What a lovely helpful thread - mumsnet at its best! So pleased all went well with your trip Stripey. I have to travel to hsoputal opposite Maudsley frequently so it was good to see alternative ways of getting there which I didn't know about. Also didn't know about any of the food places nearby!

Pleased its been helpful for you too, bellakjo

Yes, I felt a right fool asking how to do a short trip across London at my age (50) but everyone has been kind and helpful. Good on MN :)