Cancer support centres in London: what each one offers

A cancer support centre is a place where anyone affected by cancer can get information, emotional and practical support, and often classes, outside a clinic appointment. In London the main types are Maggie's centres, hospital Macmillan centres and independent cancer charities.

Macmillan describes its information and support centres as "free to use", ranging "from centres based in hospitals and libraries through to dedicated cancer support centres" [7]. Maggie's says its centres "offer the best possible support free to anyone with cancer and their families" [1]. The Mulberry Centre in Isleworth calls itself "an award-winning, independent cancer support charity" and offers "all of our support free of charge" [14].

A support centre is not the same as a hospital rehabilitation or prehabilitation team. For NHS rehab and prehab routes, Cancer Alliances and leisure-centre cancer exercise classes, read our guide to cancer rehab in London.

All four London Maggie's centres offer free drop-in support from cancer support specialists, plus exercise classes, prehab sessions and nutrition workshops. The centres are at St Bartholomew's Hospital, the Royal Free Hospital, Charing Cross Hospital and The Royal Marsden in Sutton [1].

Each London centre page says: "Our exercise classes include yoga, Tai Chi and walking groups" [2][3][4][5]. Maggie's Royal Free also runs Qigong, described as "gentle exercise and stretches that combine breath with movement" [3]. Before treatment, Maggie's prehab sessions "help you become more physically active and emotionally resilient before treatment" [2][3][4][5]. For eating well, Maggie's runs "regular nutrition workshops", which it describes as "a chance to meet and talk to other people with cancer" [2][3][4][5].

You can walk in to talk to a cancer support specialist: "You don't need an appointment, just come in" [1]. Classes and workshops work differently. Each centre asks you to register your interest using a form on its page, and staff then contact you about whether the session suits you [3][4].

Macmillan support across London includes information centres and help with money and benefits [6]. The hospital services checked below also offer emotional support [8][10], and several of them are drop-in services you can walk into [9][10][11][12]. Some also run classes, workshops or complementary therapies [8][9][10][12], and the mix varies from hospital to hospital [8]-[12].

Examples, checked on each service's own page:

• University College Hospital (Camden). The UCLH Macmillan Support and Information Service "is for anyone affected by cancer or a blood condition" and offers complementary therapies, classes, talks and events, emotional support, support groups and welfare and benefits advice [8]. It also lists diet and nutrition advice and wellbeing activities [8].
• Hillingdon Hospital (Uxbridge). The Macmillan centre has "a Cancer Rehab programme which includes how to stay fit and active after a diagnosis of cancer", plus diet and nutrition information [12].
• Kingston Hospital. The service offers "a series of wellbeing workshops on topics such as mindfulness, relaxation, art therapy and facing the world", and "You don't need an appointment" [9].
• Croydon University Hospital. The centre offers "complementary therapies, art classes and massage", and you can "just walk in" on weekdays [10].
• King's College Hospital (Denmark Hill). The drop-in centre in the Cicely Saunders Institute supports "anyone accessing cancer care at King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust" and their family and friends, including help finding support groups [11].

At Guy's Hospital, Dimbleby Cancer Care runs a daily drop-in at the Cancer Centre at Guy's and a drop-in on selected days at Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup, alongside complementary therapies, psychological therapies and welfare advice [13]. Dimbleby Cancer Care does not run exercise classes itself; its page points people to the hospital's cancer rehabilitation service and to Maggie's exercise classes [13].

Every part of London has at least one Maggie's centre or hospital Macmillan centre nearby. The list below groups the centres named on the Maggie's and Macmillan London pages by area [1][6]; check each centre's page for its current services.

The Mulberry Centre (west London). The Mulberry Centre, "now publicly known as Mulberry Cancer Support", is at West Middlesex University Hospital in Isleworth [14][17]. Its free wellbeing classes include yoga, Tai Chi and guided meditation, held in the centre or garden and also delivered remotely; the class teacher checks each person is suitable first [15]. It also runs a cancer nutrition workshop [16]. The Mulberry Centre asks people to get in touch before visiting [17].

Yes, for group sessions and general advice. Maggie's centres run yoga, Tai Chi, walking groups and nutrition workshops [2], and some hospital centres run classes or diet and nutrition advice [8][12]. A support centre does not usually give you an individual exercise programme.

If you need a plan built around your treatment or side effects, ask your cancer team about referral. Macmillan notes that "Some GPs, cancer treatment centres and support groups have exercise referral schemes" [21].

For eating well, a nutrition workshop is general guidance. If you are losing weight without trying or struggling to eat, ask your cancer team about a dietitian. Our guide to nutrition during cancer treatment explains what to eat and when to ask for help, and our guide to cancer exercise programmes explains what a structured programme involves.

Usually not. Maggie's centres and most hospital Macmillan centres accept people who walk in, though some classes need you to register first and a few services have their own criteria.

Maggie's centres say "You don't need an appointment, just come in" [1]. The Hillingdon Macmillan centre takes people by "Drop-in, self-referral and/or referral by health care professional" [12]. Some services are aimed at their own hospital's patients: the King's centre supports people having cancer care at King's [11], and Dimbleby Cancer Care says its "4 teams have different referral criteria" [13]. Maggie's says its support is "free to anyone with cancer and their families", and "You don't need to live near a Maggie's to get cancer support" [1].

Use Cancer Care Map or Macmillan's local search, both of which let you search by postcode. Cancer Wellbeing London lists health and wellbeing events across the capital, maintained by the London Cancer Alliances.

• Cancer Care Map "is a simple, online resource that helps you find cancer support services in your local area" and is "run by The Richard Dimbleby Cancer Fund charity" [18]. You can search "By postcode, town or city" [18].
• Macmillan in your area covers "support groups, exercise classes, information centres, financial and benefits advice", with the caveat that "Coverage varies by area" [19].
• Cancer Wellbeing London is maintained by the Cancer Alliances in London and helps people find health and wellbeing events in the capital [20].

Choose a centre you can reach easily that runs the kind of support you want now. A centre at your treating hospital is often the most convenient, but you are not limited to it.

Questions to ask:

• Can I get there on treatment days, or does it offer online sessions? The Mulberry Centre, for example, delivers some classes remotely [15].
• Does it run what I need: someone to talk to, benefits advice, gentle exercise or eating-well workshops?
• Is it open to me, or only to its own hospital's patients [11][13]?
• Do I need to register before a class [3][15]?
• Can family members and carers come? Maggie's and Kingston both include them [1][9].

Start with your hospital cancer team, who can tell you about NHS prehab, rehab and exercise referral in your area. Our London cancer rehab guide sets out those routes, and cancer rehabilitation in the UK explains the wider picture.

Macmillan describes a clinical exercise physiologist (CEP) as "a healthcare professional who is an expert in screening, assessing and advising what physical activity is best for you", and names them among the professionals exercise referral schemes can connect you with [21].

Request a match with a verified clinical exercise physiologist through The Health Nav.

After treatment, our guide to exercise after cancer treatment covers building activity back up slowly, including when fatigue is a problem.