Pls help me navigate London for surgery - I’m disabled advice about getting around pls

[RodTheDodge]

Hi travelling from Leicester to Marylebone for eye surgery at Moorfields.
im disabled so struggled with stairs and escalators are impossible for me. Is Marylebone accessible by car or if train/tube are the stations easier to navigate?
really stressed any help much appreciated

Car would be preferred if possible as I will be having anaesthetic and will have an eye shield after surgery so balance will be off and don’t want additional infection risk if at all possible

Which one are you going to? There are a few, Is Marylebone the station you come into? Will you have anyone with you?

Unless you’re on a tight budget I’d get a black cab, which are really disability -friendly.

If you’re not familiar with the tube it will be a big ask to use post-surgery.

Thank you - so Uber or cab from st pancreas station is possible- don’t mind cost just want to get around in safest easiest way sorry I’m being dense just overwhelmed from a little village only been to London a few times

Black cabs are easiest for if you use a wheelchair.

Some tube stations are accessible some are not.

TfL have step free access map, but honestly it can get really complicated. King's Cross is technically step free but you can get lost very easily.

The staff are very very helpful though.

tfl.gov.uk/transport-accessibility/wheelchair-access-and-avoiding-stairs#on-this-page-3

Op, I'd also recommend getting an Uber or better still a Black taxi.

The closest station to Moorfields is Old Street and it does not have step-free access from the tube platform to the exit (there is a ramp once you get through the ticket barriers though).

Alternatively you can get off at Moorgate station but I don't think there is a lift there either and it is a good 15 min walk to Moorfields. Both stations are fairly busy and there is a huge amount of work going on around Old street station at the moment which makes navigating the busy roads to get to the hospital a bit hazardous.

In either case, I wouldn't advise trying to catch the tube or any form of public transport from Marylebone if you struggle with stairs and escalators.

Hi OP are you going to the private Moorfields Eye Centre near regents park or the main Moorfields hospital near Old Street Station?

if you are coming from Leicester, I imagine your train will be coming into Euston or King's Cross?

whichever hospital you are going to you can easily get an uber from the station directly to the hospital. alternatively you can use the bus. don't reccommend taking the tube if you struggle with escalators/stairs. neither marleybourne nor old street tube stations are great for those who have difficulty with stairs from my experience.

if you are having local, will your sight be impaired? in which case you will need someone to accompany you back home. if you have a GA, you definitely need someone with you to take you back and stay with you for first 24 hours.

Thank you all superstars feel much happier knowing it’s easily done and accessible by black cab - really appreciate the help thank you ☺️

Oh I completely forgot there is a Moorfields near Regents Park. Ignore my reference to Old Street and Moorgate if that is the one you are going to!

You can book assistance at the train station and they will take you to a priority queue for a black cab. St. Pancras is not far from Marylebone. Book assistance for your return also and they will pick you up from the cab rank and take you to your train.

Change of information consultation is at Marylebone but surgery will be at old street - they said it’s about the same distance is that correct? Many thanks

Definitely a cab but if arriving at rush hour it's a busy route so make sure you have time to spare. A black cab can use the bus lanes so I would use that over an Uber service.

If using the Regents park site it's a very short hop, again I'd take a cab.

Can you bring anyone with you to accompany you especially on the way home? It might be worth putting a word out locally if funds allow that you would cover someone's train ticket for the day if they could see you safely into a cab and back home?

yes but in opposite directions. also traffic worse getting from St Pancras to marleybourne.

I would reccommend uber rather than black cab unless you have issues getting in and out of normal cars. you can choose uber exec if you wish for more comfort. I actually find it more difficult getting in and out of black cabs as they are higher

That’s what I came on to say. The cabbies will look after you x

It’s possible to walk to Moorfields from St Pancras if you can manage it. If not just take a black cab

So Kings Cross/St Pancras Station to Moorfields on City Road? It's just over 2 miles in a cab so 15-20 mins in London traffic. But allow for some time to get into a cab at the station. Book assistance as suggested.

There's no direct tube route that's step free. Best you could do is tube from KingsX to Moorgate and it's about 10-15 mins able bodied walk from there to the hospital.

Have you checked that you can't get transport assistance if you are being referred to a London hospital ? Disabled and pre/post eye surgery is quite an ask to be pootling around London by yourself. Will you be kept in overnight after surgery? I was sent home same day from mine as a child.

If we drove down would we get around that part of London in a car?
unfortunately I’m having to self fund eye surgery as the wait on nhs is 2 years with the anaesthetic I need 🙈 another lovely surprise from my disability condition unfortunately so costing nearly £10k 😢

definitely don't reccommend driving down. parking is impossible and beyond expensive. not to mention driving in central London is not for the faint hearted.

Yes you could drive in but London traffic is stressful if you are not used to city driving and very congested so it can take a lot of time to travel a short distance. It is all well sign posted though and provided your driver is the sort that won't be stressed out of their mind if someone blows a horn at them or they have to go around a roundabout twice. Take your time and wave and smile to anyone being an arse.
If you needed to be at the hospital by 8am on a nil by mouth basis I'd find a hotel and come down the day before. Traffic will be pretty solid by 6am in London

Things to consider after a quick bit of research:
If you have a blue badge parking will be easier. There is very little parking in the area. There are some designated bays outside the hospital according to their website but it sounds like it is time limited.
You will be liable for the congestion charge and the ULEZ emissions charge if your car is old. Not sure if there are any blue badge concessions for either?
Most people would suggest a park and ride solution but given you have mobility issues that does not sound sensible to me. So either drive to the door and send someone off to find parking or park somewhere have have a cab pick you up. Westfield shopping centre in Stratford is popular for people trying to avoid Zone 1 traffic and costs. It's safe and secure but be sure to clear the car of any possessions anywhere you park in London.
Old St station is not step free. It's quite old and deep and has a lot of steps/escalators in parts albeit it's a while since I've been through it. Used to be a couple of short flights [20 steps ish] from the platform onto a central area, escalators out.
There are three hotels within shouting distance of the hospital - Montcalm East [4 star], Premier Inn both almost across the road. and a Hilton a couple of streets away.

I'm a patient at Moorfields eye hospital and I get the 205 bus from outside Kings Cross station (which is next to St Pancras). I get the 205 from bus stop E going in the direction of Bow Church.

Here are screenshots from Citymapper.

Hi thank you all for the advice really appreciate it.
one last sense check - if we were to drive down as close as we can easily park in London then Uber in the rest where would be a sensible option - looked at Brent Cross if we parked there then Ubered in it would be £32 each Uber- any better alternatives to Brent Cross or is that our best bet?
many thanks for your help :)

You can park closer. If you go onto the justpark website, there are other parking options available.
https://www.justpark.com/search?arriving=2024-05-15T09%3A00&leaving=2024-05-15T13%3A00&q=Moorfields+Eye+Hospital&coords=51.527192%2C-0.089868&filters=reservable

Just be careful to pay the congestion charge if you go into the congestion zone. I'm assuming you're having cataract surgery with a general as you can't lie flat?