Four year old on train

[Ppejfhfhrhhfhf]

I’ve booked for my four year old nephew and me to travel from the North on the train to London, a visit to Hamley’s and the aquarium, then on to Hampshire to visit Peppa Pig World the next day.

He’s a very good little boy but I’m worried he’ll get bored on the train. I don’t have kids and I’ve never taken him away before, so I wondered if anyone had any tips for travelling with a child?

Yes - originally I was going to take him straight to Southampton but there is a change from King’s Cross to Waterloo so I thought I might as well take him to Hamleys while we’re there and have lunch rather than whipping him from train to tube to train.

Ive got a backpack style suitcase from a train holiday through Europe last year so that’ll be ideal. Thank you.

Hope you have fun.

If you do this, for the sanity of everyone else on the train, please make sure you also take headphones.

The same applies to any adult watching a device on a journey- why would you assume that OP needs to be told this?

😁 I’ve really appreciated the advice on this thread but I have had a bit of a wry smile at the people who have assumed I’ve neither travelled on a train nor ever been to London. Both of which I do frequently. It’s the four year old in tow that’s the novelty.

In a way, that’s quite a funny illustration of how far Mumsnet has come. In the past it would have been assumed that a question was related to childcare/parenting but now we get people on here asking for advice about so many things, some of which you would never believe people can have reached adulthood without knowing/doing!

I agree about no screens.

He'll be super excited looking out of the window, people watching, chatting to you etc 🤷🏻‍♀️

I used to do this 6 times a year with my children. They took a small rucksack with games and toys in. You also need lots of paper and pencils. Most of all you need food - loads of snacks and drinks.

Sounds like fun! Don't worry too much about the trains...he will most probably love it. Maybe take some travel games...dobble is a good one...there's a version for young children I think. It's very simple and they love it. Also sticker books!

I actually think screens are really useful on trains and some people get really preachy about it. It's not a big deal and for some kids a long journey is just too much and they need to decompress a bit. It's fine.

What is up with the sanctimonious no screens brigade?? Yes I agree don’t rely on a screen the whole time and don’t lead with it, but certainly have it in reserve, what’s the harm? I frequently travel from Sussex to Yorkshire and back on the train with my daughters who are a similar age to your nephew, why would I want to make my life more difficult by refusing to use a screen at all? Obviously use headphones but other than that I really don’t get the issue.

Walking to PP from the pub will probably be fine, but I think you’ll definitely need to get a taxi back. He (and you) will probably be exhausted after a full day walking round the park, even just standing in the queues can zap energy.