I know this is an old thread but thought I'd add my more recent (2012) experiences in case they can help anyone. I found info on the NHS website and the hospitals' websites was not actually accurate.
I had my booking appointment at the Royal Free, they had been a bit slow with the administration side meaning I didn't get any letters through about appointments. My midwife was really friendly when I eventually met her and as I live in the catchment area she would come round to my flat at a time that suited us. This was really handy, she also was available to call or text should I have a question. She explained if she wasn't available I'd see one other person, having the personal touch was nice. The main issue with Royal Free was the time it was taking to get appointments with the specialists, as I was high risk. I also saw Royal Free don't let partners stay for the first 24 hours, whereas St. Mary's said on their website they do.
I transferred my care to St. Mary's as recommended by various people and saw a specialist, plus had a scan before I had even heard back from Royal Free. At St. Mary's I never saw the same midwife or Obstetrician, and always had to go in to the hospital on a Wednesday, which was often quite inconvenient. You could arrive early for an appointment and wait for over an hour, or they would have double booked. The main frustrating thing would be NONE of the numbers they give you on your notes actually 'work', they ring for hours, or are continually engaged, so if you want to make/change an appointment or get advice it is impossible to do this without turning up on a Wednesday and hoping to see someone!
Having said that all the Obs and midwives I saw were lovely and very thorough. I felt really reassured by the level of care, they were definitely on the ball. Having had a tour of the labour and postnatal ward I am transferring back to the Royal Free as St. Mary's is very old and cramped with no en-suites and for me, just doesn't feel comfortable to give birth in.
PROS AND CONS IN SHORT (In my opinion)
ROYAL FREE AND LABOUR/BIRTH CENTRE
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They initially took a long time to get in touch and arrange appointments.
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The hospital is modern and spacious with new large rooms for labour. The birthing rooms in labour and birth centre are all en-suite with a bath (apart from the birth pool room which has a shower).
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The birth centre is adjoined to the labour ward so should you decide you want an epidural, or should something go wrong, it is not hard to transfer.
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They offer car parking whilst you're in labour, 12 hours for free.
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They offer tours as standard on a Sunday at 2pm.
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One main midwife who will visit you at home (dependent on where you live)
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It is very wheelchair friendly.
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It seems secure and clean. CCTV in labour ward area.
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You share a room postnatally with up to 6 other mothers and babies. Each room has a toilet and shower attached for the 6 of you to share.
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Partners are not allowed to stay after visiting hours and cannot stay overnight with you after you give birth on the postnatal ward unless there is an exceptional circumstance.
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Partners stay to help you settle a couple of hours after you have given birth then go home to sleep and come back in the morning.
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Royal Free said if you were deemed high risk you wouldn't be in the side with the birth pool. You would be on labour ward side with a standard en-suite bath. Whereas St Mary's has a labour ward birth pool.
ST. MARY'S AND LABOUR WARD
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Good obstetricians and midwives. High level of care with tests and scans.
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Many labour rooms are not en-suite, apart from the one with a birthing pool which is very small and has a curtain around a toilet. The toilets are across the hallway. It feels less private.
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The labour rooms are small, the biggest (reserved for twins) is much smaller than Royal Free's smallest room.
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St. Mary's have a couple of single postnatal rooms, they are not en-suite though and are very small. The other postnatal rooms are two bed bays. They tend to keep the single rooms for people with problems. The toilets are down the hall.
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St. Mary's have a neonatal intensive care unit. I believe Royal Free have a special care unit, which can handle slightly less serious complications. The neonatal is a floor above.
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They don't offer tours of their labour ward as standard, I had to arrange this especially (which they agreed to on the basis of my individual problems)
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They don't have any car parking facilities so you would need to get dropped off or fill the parking meter when going into labour. This can be very expensive in that area!
I can't comment on St. Mary's birth centre as this wasn't adjoined so I didn't look around there. if you were low risk and didn't want an epidural you would normally labour in the birth centre.