Kings Denmark Hill - how to get there ??

[amythompson62]

Probably a dumb question - but given there is no longer any car parking at Kings , how does everyone get there ? ??

We are a 15-20 min bus ride away but I’m not sure I’m really going to be feeling like waiting at the bus stop in labour …. Ubers are also patchy round here especially when they’re looking at such a short journey so they often don’t take the job

Local taxi - but then there’s still the waiting for it to arrive.

Midwife at my first appointment make me feel like a bit of an idiot for asking . Shame they don’t have a “labour parking zone” like Lewisham does which seemed a good idea !

Cheers !

Where will you be travelling from? Denmark Hill Station is a 2 min walk from the hospital.

Drive there and use the short drop
off parking which is past the main building (not Golden Jubilee). Or do what I did - be dropped off and go up to ward by myself while DH went to park on a side street by the park. Keep an eye on the time and use a parking app to feed the meter remotely.

We are only 2 stops from DH but a 29 min walk at our end . Bus is better as it stops at the end of our road - but am I really going to want to do that ??

Is that the blue badge parking at the top of Caldecott Road ??

All hospital info states there is no parking at all now - when did you see this ? I’m aware they’ve changed things relatively recently ….

Side street parking is a great shout if they have remote top up !!! The roads around Ruskin park ?

If it's for labour, a taxi? If it's for an appointment- a bus and whatever other transport you need.

I used to get the overground. But I guess it depends where you live.

Sorry OP but if you're in London I'm not convinced your comment about an Uber is accurate.

appointments via bus no issue - that’s what I have been doing

Uber is useless in London and has been for a long time.

Yeah get a taxi. It's unlikely to be necessary to get there super quick and if it is, call an ambulance or get DH to drive you and meet you back there without the car.

No it hasn't been.

If I’m in London ? Right - ok then. Must be imagining prior experiences 😂😂😂

In general I’d disagree - but when you’re trying to go 10 mins down the road in a relatively suburban area then yes - have struggled as I guess they don’t see it being worth their time and they want to hold out for a better fare . I get it!

What rubbish.
I've had plenty of ubers cancel bookings on me, especially late at night. One in particular forgot to decline the booking and for 5 minutes at midnight I watched him travel further and further away on the opposite direction.
I'm zone 4 SE London.

Also in London and I too must have imagined being cancelled multiple times every time I’ve used Uber for about the last two years.

Sure. There are no reliable Ubers in London.

Park near Ruskin park or get a taxi. A mini cab if Ubers are so unreliable although everyone I know who has given birth at kings have all gone via taxi.

My friend had this same issue, I was put on standby to drive her and her husband there and drop them outside. Took a bit of organising but worked as we all live locally.

I live in London (near-ish Kings and use Uber twice a day (Monday to Friday). It's excellent. Very reliable. I have also used bolt but they are usually more expensive.
I think you will be fine with an Uber @amythompson62 .

Unlikely to get an ambulance at all, let alone quicker than a taxi.

If it's normal, active labour with no complications then the LAS will not send unless birth imminent.
That being said, a lot of women will say birth is imminent and you rock up with all your kit and out they waddle with zero sense of urgency and contracting at 2:10 at the most.

The thing about getting to the hospital in labour (if it's your first time)) is that it's not (usually) like in the movies, there's often no tearing hurry at all. You may well have have been in labour at home for a few hours waiting for things to progress before being called in, and then when you do go in you'll just be doing some more waiting actually at the hospital. So you probably will have time to try a number of different options, Uber, Bolt, local minicab. Then if those fail DH can drive you in and either look for parking around the hospital or if you're that close drive home and take the bus back without being in any risk of missing anything. Or other options include seeing if anyone near the hospital rents their driveway or private parking space on justpark, obviously you won't know when exactly you'll need it so hard to reserve in advance but right now there's 3 or 4 options available within a few mins walk of the hospital so that would work. Or if you have friends, neighbours or acquaintances locally have you asked if they'd give you a lift (put them on your insurance as a temporary driver if they've not got their own car?).

I'd have a few options at the ready.

You can park on some of the residential streets towards Loughborough Junction for up to four hours.

Grove Park is only restricted M-F 11am - 1pm and there's a walking cut through by the George Canning Pub. That's a good option if the timing works out.

But I wouldn't want DH to be worrying about moving the car or having to feed a meter, so ideally some form of public transport.

@kirinm I live around the area and I can confirm that uber refuses to come down there. Haven't had this in any other parts of London but Uber is terrible here and I have once waited 45 mnts, with 4 cancellations and given up.

@amythompson62 what I do now is book a minicab. I know it may not be available at short notice but there are multiple companies you could call in the area

There's a private/pay-for car park right next to the hospital, on the left of Denmark Hill after Ruskin Park and before the A&E. It's at the junction with Grove Lane, just after the traffic lights. I can't remember the charges but they weren't any more than NCP-level, and we always got a space there when I was in and out of Kings.

I would try a local cab firm, try out in advance and make sure they will take you in labour.

Or park on Champion Hill and walk down ...not ideal.

The parking situation there is ridiculous.

@Pinkdelight3

I second this and normally park there. Though it's only open at certain times I think - but have never failed to get a space. If not yes - get dropped off and whoever drops you off can park on one of the side roads near Ruskin park.

What are your neighbours like OP? I don’t live near you but I would have no problems driving my neighbours to the hospital. It wouldn’t phase me getting up in the night either… don’t discount friends / neighbours who might be very happy to help.