Directions, map and parking

Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) is in the centre of London, close to the West End and City of London. Where possible, we advise families to use public transport to the hospital. We are close to several mainline and underground stations and local bus routes.

Public transport

Euston, King’s Cross and St Pancras are the nearest mainline stations, all about 15 minutes walk from the hospital. If you are coming to one of the other mainline stations, you can continue your journey to GOSH by tube or bus.

The two nearest underground stations to GOSH are Russell Square (on the Piccadilly line) and Holborn (on the Central and Piccadilly lines). Neither station has disabled access, as they have steps leading to the platforms.

The nearest underground stations with disabled access are King’s Cross (on the Piccadilly, Northern, Victoria, Circle, Metropolitan and Hammersmith and City lines) and Euston (on the Northern and Victoria lines).

Various buses come within 15 minutes walk of the hospital including route numbers 7, 8, 17, 19, 25, 38, 45, 46, 55, 59, 68, 91, 168, 188, 242, 243 and 521.

For more information about travelling to GOSH on public transport, go to National Rail Enquiries on www.nationalrail.co.uk or Transport for London on www.tfl.gov.uk.

We also produce a more detailed travel advice guide, which you can get from the Pals office or on our website.

If you receive certain benefits, you can claim travel expenses for public transport for admission, discharge and outpatient appointments for the patient and one adult. You will need to show recent proof of receiving benefits and your tickets at the Transport Office when you claim, which must be within three months of your child’s appointment or admission.

If you want to know more about fare reimbursement, please contact the Transport Office on 020 7829 8618.

Coming by car

If you do have to come to GOSH by car, please remember that parking is very limited and generally on a ‘pay and display’ basis at a meter or in a car park. Details of local car parks are on our interactive map.

In some circumstances, you can get a parking permit for a few hours by showing your appointment or admission letter at the main reception desk of the hospital. The parking permit will only allow you to park on a single yellow line in Guilford Street. Parking elsewhere, even if you have your permit on display, will lead to a parking ticket as traffic wardens patrol the area regularly.

If you have a disabled badge, parking is still quite hard to come by, but you can park in the immediate area of the hospital in resident parking bays, parking meter bays and ‘pay and display’ zones without a time limit. You can also park on a single yellow line but only for three hours. Remember to make sure your disabled badge is clearly displayed on the dashboard of your car.

If you come to GOSH by car, you will have to pay a charge to drive within the central London Congestion Charging zone from 7am to 6pm on weekdays (excluding bank and public holidays). There are a number of exemptions and discounts for certain vehicles or vehicle users, for instance disabled badge holders who have registered with Transport for London.

You should pay the Congestion Charge or register for a discount before you travel by visiting the Transport for London website or ringing 0845 900 1234. You can also use the freephone near the main reception desk. You can pay the Congestion Charge in person at selected shops and petrol stations within the zone. Use the Shop Locator on the Transport for London website to find your nearest shop.

The hospital can reimburse your congestion charge if your child is eligible. We are only allowed to reimburse you if your child has a weakened immune system, needs regular assessment or treatment or repeated operations and has been clinically assessed as too ill, too weak or too disabled to use public transport.

If you are eligible for reimbursement, please bring your receipt and car registration along with details of when you travelled, to the main reception desk. Please note that we need a printed receipt for reimbursement to ensure that the hospital is in turn reimbursed by Transport for London.

Hospital transport

Transport to and from GOSH in an ambulance or ambulance car is only available for children who have a medical reason for it. This will be assessed by clinical staff before hospital transport is provided.

Please ask your family doctor (GP) to arrange transport to GOSH if your child requires it to attend an outpatient appointment. If your child is coming for an inpatient stay, our staff will organise this. We cannot accept bookings from anyone else.

Accessibility for families and visitors

We are committed to providing a hospital that is accessible to the widest possible audience. Take a look at our accessibility website for information on how to access all of our services and how to plan your route.