Can any Londoners help - where to meet at London St Pancras?

[Cruiser123]

Hi all,

my mother, who is 62, lives abroad and is due to come to the UK on Sunday to help me out for a few weeks as I will give birth to my second child soon.

She doesn't want to fly because she had problems with her ear last time she came.

So she is taking the train and will arrive around 5 pm on Sunday.

My husband and me will pick her up from the train station in London (we live in Birmingham, so don't know much about London).

My mother has a mobile phone, but isn't very good with her phone, last time she was here I couldn't reach her.

On top of that her eyesight isn't very good, so I worry that she will get lost at such a huge train station in London (she lives in a village).

Unfortunately, in the UK you can't go directly to the platform of arrival to pick someone up.

Is there any central meeting place at St Pancras where we can meet? Like a focal point, that she can't miss?

Would be grateful for any advice xx

The big statue is on the upper concourse, a bit of a trek from Eurostar arrivals.

It's not remotely a trek! It's just a few paces to the lift.

You won’t be able to park anywhere near the station if you’re collecting her by car.

As others say, if she is arriving on the Eurostar, just wait for her to come through the door marked international arrivals. Like at an airport. It is pretty quick though, I would be there from the time the train is due to come in.
Parking will be tough, yes, allow lots of time. And don't forget to pay the congestion charge for bringing a car into central London! Personally I would probably just take the train from Birmingham to collect her, rather than drive.

Gawd, sorry, you never mentioned driving, just ignore me.

I don't know why so many people are suggesting going up to the upper level - you'll just have to go up and come down again.

Just meet outside a shop. There's a M&S Simply Food shop next to the Eurostar exit, just tell her to turn right when she exits. It's on the corner next to the Eurostar ticket office and entrance, so you'll know where to go for her return trip. M&S is unit 46 on the map:

stpancras.com/getting-around

There is another M&S at the far end of the station but it's not visible from the Eurostar area so she won't get confused.

How are you getting to London?

I don't know why so many people are suggesting going up to the upper level - you'll just have to go up and come down again.

It was initially suggested as a landmark when we didn't know she was coming in by Eurostar. Now it's just suggested as somewhere quieter where she's more likely to be able to sit down, if OP isn't there when she comes out.

Outisde M&S food is really busy and there's nowhere to sit. She's coming in at 5pm so the station will be as busy as it gets by the time she's come through immigration and customs.