Hi Hi
This is a long response, sorry!
I've been to Homerton once and am booked in again for June. I've had positive experiences there, they have great consultants if you need one, and a fantastic SCBU, again you don't want to need one but if you do, it's there. Whipps has, ancedotally, a worse rep than King George. My only experience of Whipps was with an ectopic pregnancy- wouldn't go back, but not sure it's mainly because I had such an unhappy experience there it's coloured my views overmuch. Some friends say it's fine - you should check, though, that they are doing more than one scan if that's important to you. One of the reasons I avoided it the first time is that in 2004 they were only doing one scan, an anomaly at 17 wks. At Homerton (and I THINK) King George's they do the 11-13 and one at around 20 wks or so. King George is now offering midwives to assist at home births, if that's of interest. Whipps has en suite bathrooms in the private rooms...Homerton does not...not sure King George. A great consultant at Whipps is Sarah Hussain, who treated me for the Ectopic (albeit privately) but she also practices out of Whipps. I would have considered going there if I could have gauranteed her to be there the night I was going in, but not pos. For what it's worth, my independent midwife prefers Homerton overall, says it's the best.
I reckon you'd find UCH a bit far no? Friends in Islington have had their babies there - the care is fine, but overall not sure it is worth the trek it would be from our area. My friend got shoved in a bed in this big communal room with practically no privacy. It was horrible and wouldn't have been worth the trip. I guess they have a new birthing center though - not sure when it opens.
When I had DD in 2004, the A13 was closed - took two hours to get to Homerton. A one off, I know, but something to consider if you are really thinking of travelling that far.
Is Barkantine that new place on the Isle of Dogs?