London marathon plus baby

[EssexMamisoa]

I’ve never watched the marathon but keen to do so this year as I have a close friend watching. I also have a six month old (who won’t take the sling so he will need to be in pram). I’ve checked the route and found some stations with step free access that would work with the pram.

My question is whether it’s feasible or of the crowds for the marathon will be too much? I’ve never been so no idea what to expect. DS EBF so can’t leave at home with DH, although DH could come to help me with pram. We would only be there for an hour while friend jogs past (I have an indicative time from them).

If it’s too much happy to be told so!

To add - we live close to London so actual travel there fine and I am used to going into London with the pram (just not on race days)

Piggy backing on your thread in the hopes you get an answer.

I've read south east is quieter (after the initial start).

I'm going to have 2 toddlers and feeling nervous about taking them.

Where do you ant to stand? The quieter spots may be ok...Canary Wharf area

Are they likely to be a slow runner?

I know you said he doesn't like slings but will he go in a framed backpack type carrier instead? That might be a better option and he'd have a really good view!

I’ve been as both a runner AND a spectator. Most of the pavements are PACKED and people snake through gaps. You’d be better to go to one spot and stake a claim than try and move about the route.
The atmosphere is incredible.

It’s absolute mayhem all along the route. Queues are horrendous as are waits at tube stations. No way would I take anyone under 19 tbh.

I doubt a 6 month old baby will appreciate watching 100s of random strangers running 🤣

I have spectated with a pram plus a toddler in past - not easy but doable if you pick your stations carefully

A sling would make your life a lot easier!

We watched a few years ago and the Tesco at around mile 6 not far from tower bridge was ok plenty of space to move around. But everywhere else was mayhem

Someone has already suggested Canary Wharf which is a good shout. It's much quieter there plus step free and lots of places for refreshments and a little sit down if needed.

Tower bridge isn't mile 6, it's halfway point....13 miles

If they are slower then all the main attraction mile markers become less congested as time goes on

This is what I'm counting on, and he has a late start time.

DD ran the London marathon a few years ago.We made our way to Canary Wharf area to see her then moved on to the Mall where we saw her cross the finish line on the big screen.

I've watched a few times and docklands is much easier I would say if you've got a pram.

I watched my hubby from embankment last year, it was quite close to the finish and then once I saw him wandered round to Trafalgar square to meet him once he was finished. Crowds weren't too bad at all but he did his in 2hours 40 so maybe that helped? I had a baby in a pram and he was mesmerised by all the clapping etc

It’s MAYHEM with the exception of maybe the first three miles (there are three starts which merge at three miles, from there on in, chaos!)
It’s an amazing day but would be hell with a pram imo.

All my babies have loved watching people do pretty much any people things at 6m tbh. I would think that's fairly typical?

Hence the backpack suggestion - I don't think it's that outlandish to say babies like a decent view of what's happening! Prams just offer a view of people's knees. Backpacks put them on or above eye level - far more interesting 🙂

Thanks for replies everyone.

It was Canary Wharf that I was considering going to!

But actually I‘ve been thinking over the last few days and i think it’ll be too much and not fair on my baby (still so small and high needs!). The Mayhem comments above have cemented this for me! 🙂

( I’m also pretty exhausted being a FTM and could do without the additional stress of marathon day to be honest, although unfortunately will mean I won’t see my friend race past. )

I ran it last year and my 11 month old came to watch with my mum. He likes the carrier though so he was quite happy in that while waiting on me passing so he got a good view over the barrier then went in the pram in between times. As a runner the busiest bits for crowds are around 10k and on tower bridge. The embankment is pretty steadily busy all the way along. I’d say either aim for somewhere in the first 8k if you want a properly quiet spot or go to Canary Wharf and just give yourself enough time to walk to a bit where it’s not really busy, there are some quieter parts in there. I’m spectating this time with my 1 year old (and bump) so I’m not sure how il get on going between different spots but I’m going to attempt to see somewhere just before 10k then move to Canary Wharf and there’s a bit where the route passes twice on opposite sides so hoping I can get in there somewhere! Definitely worth going to see. The atmosphere on tower bridge is incredible but I can imagine it’s near impossible to find a spot and would be quite loud for a little one. See you Sunday 🤣

You could still go! Try Canada Water - walk down to Lower Road past the shopping centre towards the McDonald's, we used to live off a side street there and it was always fairly quiet as a spectator. Think it's the 8 mile mark.

That way you've got all the amenities of Surrey quays shopping centre and step free too

@Neighneigh just came on to say the same thing. If you can get to Canada Water it is a 10 minute walk to the Redriff Road and there will only be a handful of people there. I lived there for 8 years and was always at the front handing out jelly babies. About mile 7 or 8 I think.

Junction with Onega Gate is spot on. Plus a couple of local pubs for a loo stop 😀

I think it's do-able.

You need to avoid the really busy bits, and this year keep well away from the finish area (as Extinction Rebellion have events).

I'd aim for the bit of the course between Tower Bridge and the Isle of Dogs - runners go both ways along there so you double the chances of seeing your friend - and it's one of the bits of the course with less dense crowds. People are usually quite jolly and helpful so I don't think a pushchair would be a problem.

Otherwise Rotherhithe (bit of a PITA to get to, but there's overground to Rotherhithe or DLR (which will be busy if your friend has an early start time, but ebbs as the morning wears on) Canada Water, then walk to the green spaces by Salters Road. People picnic there and cheer on the runners! Busy, but not impossibly so.

Hey, I know this thread is from last year but may help anyone thinking about taking little ones next year. I’ve just come back from London with 2 yo, plus 3 niblings-15 months to 3 years. It would be manageable if you have the adults to help. We were out numbered, 3 adults to 4 kids. We watched from the Isle of Dogs, great spot but hard to get to. We were by a cafe, the kids had a place to run (it was a dead end). It was hard work, but I guess that depends on your child. Mine is a runner, doesn’t stop moving, but also needs his pram, so getting around isn’t easy.
Next year, I would leave the children at home. It’s hard to look out for your runners and keep them entertained, the crowds are too big and it’s not really an enjoyable day for them.