Travelling to London for hospital appointment - hotel recommendations

[supergel]

My DS has been given a long awaited appointment at St Thomas and Guys hospital regarding a health issue he’s had since birth.

It’s a morning appointment so I plan to travel the day before and stay in a hotel as we live 4 hours away. I’m planning on driving as I’m apprehensive of travelling by train given the recent attack on the Doncaster to Kings Cross line.

The hotels close to the hospital are really expensive. Does anyone have any suggestions on where to book in London that is reasonably priced and in a reasonable distance to travel by tube to the hospital.

Guys and Tommy’s is right by Waterloo station so I’d look at places on lines into Waterloo. How long a journey could you manage? I’d look at stations south of Waterloo as it’s generally cheaper south of the river - maybe elephant & castle or if you could manage further then right down to the end of the Northern line.

Have you also considered Airbnb?

The issue with south of the river is you’ll have to drive around London to get there. I also think you are more likely to be attacked on the tube than on an LNER train. I’d book somewhere on the Bakerloo, jubilee or northern line, north of London.

Travelodge Kew bridge? Train into Waterloo
https://www.travelodge.co.uk/hotels/48/London-Kew-Bridge-hotel

Which direction are you coming from? If you are coming from the South West, lots of stations along the M3/A303/M4 corridor come into Waterloo with the others coming in Paddington which is then a straightforward tube ride down to Waterloo do it depends how far into London you want to drive. If you’re coming from the north, then would you consider driving as far as the top of the northern or Bakerloo line & travelling in from there?

There's a premier inn in belsize park, nice area, northern line. Not sure about parking

Have you looked at the Premier Inn County Hall? It's right next to St Thomas's. If not there is a Travelodge in Balham which is right next to the tube on the Northern Line.

The attack on that train was such a rare occurrence so please don’t let that out you off taking the train!

Where are you travelling from? Wimbledon / Colliers Wood have hotels with parking and quick access to Waterloo on the overground and northern line respectively.

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone, we’re coming from the north. I’ve looked at premier inns near to Waterloo but they’re £260 for one night.

im going to have a look at some of the suggestions for the Northern line and see if I can get something a bit more in budget. It’s so close to Christmas so I don’t really want to be spending so much but equally don’t want him to miss this appointment.

This is the note on parking on the Balham Travelodge website.

Parking
5 disabled spaces only are available for parking at the hotel.
All other parking is available nearby on Oakmead Road and Boundaries Road. Parking charges apply Monday-Saturday between 09:30 and 17:30:
1 hour - £2.30
2 hours - £4.60
3 hours - £6.90
4 hours - £9.20
Max stay 4 hours. No parking restrictions apply between 17:30 and 09:30.

https://www.travelodge.co.uk/hotels/421/London-Central-Waterloo-hotel?checkIn=21/12/2025&checkOut=22/12/2025&rooms[0][adults]=1&rooms[0][children]=0

Travelodge Waterloo Central - I don't know what dates so I tested out the beginning of Christmas week.

It's had a refurb and here are the parking costs:

Parking is available nearby at the APCOA Car Park, Station Approach Road, London SE1 8SW
Parking charges apply Monday-Sunday:
Up to 1 hour - £9.20
Up to 2 hours - £11.20
Up to 4 hours - £17.00
Up to 6 hours - £20.50
Up to 12 hours - £26.00
Up to 24 hours - £30.00
Night rate (6pm - 6am) - £12.00
Weekend - £15.50

Parking is available nearby at Waterloo Carpark, 39 York Road, London SE1 7NQ
Parking charges apply:
Up to 1 hour - £5.00
1 - 2 hours - £7.00
2 - 4 hours - £10.00
4 - 8 hours - £15.00
8 - 12 hours - £20.00
12 - 24 hours -£25.00
Weekly - £115.00

I would take the train into London though otherwise you are dealing with parking and congestion charges. The train attack was a total one-off, not remotely common. You will be fine.

The Premier Inn in Edgware is reasonably accessible from M1 J4, has a car park & is 10 mins walk from Edgware tube station.

Edgware PI has limited parking, first come. First serve. I would honestly take the train. Pack a picnic. Some games, make it a bit of a fun day out. I would book a seat on the train if possible. Forward facing with a table if you can if it's 4 hours.

The cheapest I could find in central London was a premier inn just by Blackfriars bridge which has chargeable parking nearby.
It was £214 a night for the two dates I randomly put in. It's right by Borough Market though if you have any free time. Lots of nice casual places to eat, graze, snack etc.
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g186338-d23246844-Reviews-Premier_Inn_London_Southwark_southwark_Station_Hotel-London_England.html

It's worth asking if your NHS trust will cover some of your travel and accommodation, ask at your GP surgery.

24 hour parking at Westfield shopping centre is very reasonable.

Honestly, just get the train. Driving will be a nightmare and hotels aren’t cheap as you’re finding out. Early start, train down and back same day. Simples.

I'd speak to the hospital accomodation team! This is all from the St Thomas wesbite:

Support for your appointment
Your service should give you information about what to expect at your appointment at Guy's. We can also offer additional support for your appointment if you need it.

Travel costs and transport service
You might be able to claim back travel costs, and we offer some patients free travel with our patient transport service.

Accommodation
The accommodation department manages a range of accommodation for you and your visitors.

Gassiot House Lodge at St Thomas' provide rooms which can be booked on a nightly basis by:
• pre/post appointment patients
• relatives, carers and visitors
The rooms are designed to provide a non-clinical, safe and relaxing environment close to our hospital buildings.
Rooms are available to be booked on a nightly basis. They cost £75 per night for a single room and £90 per night for a twin room.
Contacting the accommodation team

• Phone: tel:02071880276 020 7188 0276
• Email: [email protected]

We're open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Address: St Thomas' team, Gassiot House accommodation office, ground floor, Gassiot House, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7EH

I don't know about parking but I'm sure they could advise also. Out of interest, if your son a child as some children's charities might help with travel/accomodation costs also.

https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/st-thomas-hospital

Which hospital is the appointment in, guys or st Thomas, how old is your ds, they may have hospital accommodation, what date are you looking at, there's 2 travelodge in Waterloo.

Which hospital- St Thomas' or Guys? I provided the info above for St Thomas' but here is the info for Guys accommodation and their contact info.

www.guysandstthomasevents.co.uk/vpp/accommodation/counting-house/

Thank you so much for this. I didn’t think about hospital accommodation. I’m going to give them a call tomorrow to see if they have any availability.

It’s at St Thomas site. DS is 10

You could stay at the Travelodge near Finchley Central on the Northern line or near Brent Cross which isn't far off the motorway and is also on the Northern line. I assuming tubes are ok and it's just trains that are out

Look at Premier Inns.

Have you driven in London before? It's quite a different experience to anywhere else. Just flagging as if you're nervous of trains because of the attack, you could get quite nervous on the roads here too.

https://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/the-cosy-cottage-old-soles-bridge-lane.en-gb.html?aid=303948&label=rickmansworth-umshIRtUAY9mqFgYwa4TmASM525562403023%3Apl%3Ata%3Ap12%3Ap2%3Aac%3Aap%3Aneg%3Afi%3Atiaud-2382347442888%3Akwd-5158234101%3Alp1006706%3Ali%3Adem%3Adm%3Appccp%3DUmFuZG9tSVYkc2RlIyh9Yf5EcukO1MOGLSSAuId8ToA&sid=d40ae1cbbe3ce989853d410e32a4157c&age=0&all_sr_blocks=1097837601_405316321_2_0_0&checkin=2025-12-09&checkout=2025-12-10&dest_id=-2606263&dest_type=city&dist=0&group_adults=1&group_children=1&hapos=2&highlighted_blocks=1097837601_405316321_2_0_0&hpos=2&matching_block_id=1097837601_405316321_2_0_0&no_rooms=1&req_adults=1&req_age=0&req_children=1&room1=A%2C0&sb_price_type=total&sr_order=popularity&sr_pri_blocks=1097837601_405316321_2_0_0__9500&srepoch=1764100143&srpvid=525f8b2eca120988&type=total&ucfs=1&

Chorley Wood, cab to Rickmansworth and Waterloo is less than an hour on the tube. The tube is safe.

Central London by car, if you aren't used to it will be a nightmare. Navigating the congestion charge and there will not be parking at the hotel (or v unlikely) and parking will add an additional £25 to £30.