Cheap places to stay in London for hospital appointments

[Sunlight82]

My 5 year old son is under a specialist for his eyes at GOSH and will need to be seen every other day for a few weeks over the summer. It will cost a fortune in time/money to keep travelling back and forth to the midlands so we are looking at staying for the 2/3 weeks. I’ve looked at travelodge etc. But it’s still beyond our budget sadly. I’ve even looked into house/pet sitting there but can’t find anything that fits in with our dates.

Has anyone got any ideas of cheaper accommodation in reasonable parts of London? We have asked the hospital but because he is a day patient we don’t qualify for anything.

Hi OP. I would suggest going on airbnb and looking in zone 2 or even 3 areas. As long as you've got good transport links it won't matter being a bit further out. Might be nicer to have your own little flat if you're there for a couple of weeks. Don't go for anything that doesn't have lots of good reviews. I hope your DS treatment goes well.

Airbnb will be your best bet and it will save you money on food as well because you can cook/ make packed lunches

Airbnb or I’ve stayed in the Youth Hostel next to Liberty’s of London private room etc and it was very cheap.

What is your realistic budget?

As orange said, zone 2 or 3 would be fine, you don’t need to be round the corner from the hospital. Just get the location of GOSH up on google maps and look at the areas around - possibly Hampstead/ Chalk Farm may be worth looking as you can get the northern line or any number of buses down.

Even going out as far a Zone 4 5 or 6, the daily travel costs are capped at £11 per day.

Does GOSH have charitable funds?

I'd look on the Northern Line (unless appointments are at 9 ish!) or on overland line into Old Street for Air B&B. With a 5yo I wouldn't necessarily look out into Docklands/Excel territory (my usual London go to) but DLR into Bank might work too.

Contact the sick children's Trust, they are a charity which provides accommodation for parents and families, which is situated just around the corner from GOSH, and again liase with the hospital, there is accommodation directly across from the main entrance which is available for families of children needing treatment.

Advice from GOSH website is as follows:
More information
If you have any questions or would like further details on the accommodation we offer, you can contact the Family Accommodation department on 020 7813 8151 or email [email protected] with your query.

Patient Accommodation on 0207 829 7977 or email [email protected]

Hope this helps.

Have you tried Ronald McDonald House? I have friends who have stayed there while their child was having radiotherapy (day patient) and they recommended it very highly.
www.rmhc.org.uk/our-houses/

GOSH have a patient accommodation block that can take daycase patients

www.gosh.nhs.uk/your-hospital-visit/patient-and-family-accommodation

some of the student halls in London can have suitable rooms in the summer and are in walking distance to GOSH
halls.london.ac.uk/the-gardens

Came to suggest asking the hospital directly OP, via the front you're being seen in or via PALS (the hospitals patient advice and liaison service) many wards and departments have accommodation available for parents/carers/chaperones for these scenarios. You need to book them in advance in my experience.

If not, stay in the likes of Croydon or Surrey, any zone 3 or 4. The journey in isn't long and accommodation will be less costly. Still obviously a lot over the 3 weeks. I sympathise; I go weekly or fortnightly to a London hospital and I'm not exaggerating when I say it's financially crippled me some months. Petrol and parking from 3ish hours away make it several hundreds of pounds a month financial commitment sometimes and I tend not to stay overnight if I can help it! Still, far cheaper than private healthcare I guess.

I hope you find a solution

LSE also let rooms in halls during holidays and some are very central

It's on the picadilly line so have a look at both extremity of the line where it would be cheaper than Central London. I'm in zone 3 and it takes me 20 min to get to Russell Square and then another 7 min to walk to Gosh.
I'm surprised that they don't have accommodations for their patients. Maybe check with them first

I agree, try universities. Also given that transport is so good in London perhaps travelodges or premier inns further out? Heathrow premier inns can be a real bargain but I appreciate that's probably an hour on the tube. They might do you a deal for a longer stay too. Good luck.

I also came on to say LSE but Weedsnseeds1 beat me to it!
I have stayed there and the accommodation is fine, we stayed in one not far from Tottenham Court Road and close to Warren Street tube. An amazing breakfast was included and free wifi/lounge area and a shared kitchen. The only thing is I am not sure whether children are allowed to stay there so you would need to check that. Hope you find something OP

Airbnb like others have suggested

If you are in receipt of qualifying benefits you may be able to get help with travel costs. Or is it something the family fund could assist with? I’d also speak to fish again as they do have day case accommodation. www.gosh.nhs.uk/your-hospital-visit/patient-and-family-accommodation

Ask the hospital. Thy have accom and I’d be surprised if it isn’t available To families in your situation.

Thank you for all your replies. I’d say that £500 a week is about all we could stretch to and even then we would need to eat a lot of beans that month GOSH can’t help us with accommodation sadly as we are being seen every other day so are expected to travel home in between.

I’ve never used air B&B so have had a quick look. It’s a minefield as I really don’t know how far out is too far out. Will look at the universities now.

Have a look at Premier Inn Hub - they have very reasonably priced rooms (although they are small so it's ok if you are just using it as a place to sleep and shower)

You will totally get something on airbnb for 500/week, esp if you look in zones 3+ on the right tube lines

In the holidays this is available if any use!

Thank you! Have got the tube map up and am looking at hotels further out where we can catch the tube in. How does pricing on the tube work? Is it going to end up costing us more on tube fares than we save if we go too far out?

These are all very central but at the top end of your budget: london.ac.uk/staycentral/affordable-accommodation

Very affordable: a-home-from-home.co.uk/rooms-prices/ £22.50 per night. Hammersmith and City to King's Cross and then walk to GOSH or change to the Piccadilly Line for one stop.

This organisation has private and twin rooms but I can't see whether children are allowed: lhalondon.com/about/. Eg twin ensuite for around £280 per week or £60 per night lhalondon.com/properties/friendship-house/ near Elephant and Castle tube

Closest YHA to GOSH www.yha.org.uk/hostel/yha-london-st-pancras?startDate=&endDate=&males=0&females=0&malesChild=0&femalesChild=0&under26=0&malesChildAges=&femalesChildAges= £80 per night for a private room

Even out where I live in croydon its quick to get in as there a direct train to St Pancras. You can walk to GOSH from st Pancras (my dd was under GOSH as a baby)