It's now 3 weeks since I gave birth at UCH, so I thought I'd give an update on the UCH experience.... Particularly as most of the other posts I found on mumsnet about UCH were quite old and many tended to be rather negative.
There are 6 rooms (I think) in the birth centre and most have a birthing pool. If you want to use the birthing pool, they recommend that you say so when you phone to say you're coming in but the birth centre doesn't tend to that busy - most women prefer to go straight to the labour for an epidural - so even if all the pools are being used when you get there, you probably won't have to wait long for one to become available.
All the rooms have ensuite bathrooms with a sink, loo & wet room-esque shower. They all have beds with large bean bags and birth balls are available, you just have to ask.
The rooms are supposed to have stereos, though there wasn't one in the first room I had but one was provided (with iPod attachment) when I asked.
The level of care was fantastic - as it is throughout the whole of EGA... I experienced antenatal, birth centre, labour ward, post labour, transitional care & special care baby care - pretty much everything & they were all great.
Unfortunately you are limited as to the amount of time you can have in the birth centre but I assume that this standard with all birth centres. I didn't progress beyond 2 cms after a full day, & they offered me the option of going home or going to the post labour ward waiting room - a sitting room. Unsurprisingly we went home. The next day I returned and was 4 cms but didnt progress beyond this after 12 hours, so I was sent to the labour ward to be induced. Not ideal but I felt well looked after by the midwives.
Incidentally, I ended up having my waters broken, the being induced by drip, an epidural, an episiotomy & forceps, again not ideal and pretty unpleasant but the care was fantastic. My baby was not very well when she was born and again the care for her has been wonderful.