To take a buggy on the underground

[worriedmum100]

Sorry for the slightly dull question but posting here for traffic.

We are planning to take 4 year old DS1 to the Science Museum on an Inset day in a couple of weeks. We will also need to take 8 week old DS2. Given the long day I don't think a sling is doable as both DP and I have back issues.

I've done some research which is a bit contradictory. Some says South Ken tube station is ok for a buggy even though there are no escalators or lifts as the stairs are only a short flight while others say avoid at all costs.

We will be coming into Euston and need to meet parents in law near Embankment before heading to the museum so we will need to use the Northern Line initially which is fine as there are escalators at Euston but it's getting from there to the museum. I wondered if it may be easier to get a bus from somewhere near Embankment ?

Does anyone have experience of using a buggy at South Ken or any tips for the Science museum generally?

Thank you!

A sling that includes the weight being distributed through your waist & hips is best, e.g. wrap sling, patapum

I get the tube all the time with a pram and I honestly think you'll be ok and no need to worry about slings and folding unless you want to. And I personally find buses in central London more stressful and they can get packed, quite often there is already a buggy onboard so you have to wait for the next one and they can take ages. Basically just leave loads of time to get there so you don't feel pressured to squeeze on tubes etc. and south Ken station is busy but just hold back till there is a gap If there are enough of you to spare so two can carry buggy up then it'll be easy. When I use my Maclaren i just carry it up myself but someone usually offers to help. Do you definitely need to meet at embankment? Much quicker to go direct from Euston!

South Ken stairs are short and then you just walk to the museum bus the tunnel. It might be packed but that should not make that much of a difference. I would take it

Easy with a buggy I am a nanny and work near by never once had a problem always people willing to help and that is traveling on my own.the tunnel does have steps at either end .We used to use the few at the he entrance then nip into the tunnel entrance at the Victoria and Albert museum.you can get a c 1 bus directly from Victoria. Try it out the tfl Web site and use the journey planner

Meant to add we walk through the v and a to get to the other museums

Do you all have to pay for your tube journeys? If so you might find it cost comparable to join uber on your phone and get taxis. If someone recommends you to join you'll get ten quid off your first journey anyway. You can get estimates for how much fares cost so worth looking at.

it would be around £17 in an Addison Lee cab, Kabee came up with £13. I would meet the inlaws there.

I've never found tube travel difficult with a buggy, stairs you just pick the whole lot up, baby buggy and all in the very unlikely event No one offers to help ( they almost always do) and just push it into escalators and hang on hard

You could look into the 14 bus route which starts at Euston and goes directly to South Ken?

Children under 11 are free on the tube so a cab is not going to be cheaper for the four of you. Depends how you feel about the lack of car seats (some firms can provide them but it might be a hassle to arrange).

This content.tfl.gov.uk/step-free-tube-guide-map.pdf is what I use for step-free (or minimal step) routes.

Recently went to NHM with toddler and pram.. went with a friend who also had a pram and assured me it was fine.

It was fine but more down to the kindness of strangers who helped.

When I am out with DP he deals with baby in pram he'll carry pram and I deal with toddler

Wow - thanks for all the responses Loads of helpful suggestions. Will consider all the various options. Thanks again.

I have managed with a double buggy. It will be fine on an inset day. Take the buggy, carry it between you on the stairs-easy. The biggest issue will be the lifts in the museum-get in whether it goes up or down as they get full. There is a buggy park in the basement of the museum

The Baby Bjorn is your problem - those carriers are awful, they aren't called crotch danglers for no reason. Bad for your back and extremely bad for your baby.

Sell it and get a proper wrap or a soft structured carrier with a newborn insert is needed, eg Tula, etc.

But get rid of that awful Baby Bjorn now.

I used to go everywhere by bus when DS was in the buggy. His buggy did weigh as much as a mini cooper though.

I've gone to South Kensington from Euston numerous times, but only by bus(nr 10, I believe), as I found out that there's no lifts in Euston to go underground and the escalator is too high to look safe enough for a pushchair. After I checked the underground map I realised that I need to learn how to use buses, as most stations have no lifts.
I was very surprised, as with my first I was using underground a lot in Helsinki and Stockholm, and they had lifts at every station. And such a huge city as London doesn't.

I've never folded a buggy down at South Ken and been to the science museum plenty of times with a big heavy buggy it's a piece of cake

Do you absolutely have to meet people at Embankment? Or could they meet you somewhere else?

If it was me, I would get the Victoria line to Green Park, then a 14 bus to South Ken. Much quicker than getting a bus from Embankment, and Green Park has good access, as far as I recall.
(Not actually sure Euston is that great though - I suppose you could walk to Kings Cross if necessary though.)

What toots said. Your PILs should get themselves to the museum; madness to get off and on again. I would go to South Ken and carry the buggy up if your back is ok with that. We manage regularly with all our children including a 3 yo, baby and a pram (not stroller). Buses are worse, you could wait forever in central London for a buggy spot to come up.
There is a bit to see at the science museum for a very young one but are you aware that the launchpad (top floor interactive exhibits) is now closed?

No no no! Don't get the bus - it will takes ages and if there's already one or two buggies on you can't get on the bus and will be stranded. Far more stressful. I did South Ken in the summer on my own on the tube with a 3 year old and a 3 month old in a carrycot I couldn't carry. I completely relied on the kindness of strangers. Either ask for help or just start bouncing the Pram downstairs and someone will help.

Totally do able. There are 2 of you. Baby in buggy. On the steps, One of you hold the buggy handles. The other grab the foot rest of the buggy in one hand and hand of 4 year old in the other. There is always someone to help anyway. Just don't be shy about asking. I've done it loads by myself, most recently pregnant with my 5 year old and 2 year old and the buggy.

I would just take the sling (caboo) and swap it between you and your partner through the day. i took my two to London by myself at 14 months and 4 (we did the natural history museum instead of the science museum) and was really glad of the sling - I could hardly watch prams precariously balanced on huge escalators or lumped up and down busy stairs, it looked so dangerous. You have much more flexibility on where you can go, where you can eat etc, and you'll be able to keep the baby close when they might be freaked out by the noise, lights etc, and will have hands free for hanging onto ds. My 4yo absolutely loved the tube, buses and trains (more than the museum!) - hope you have a great time.

It will be fine. There will be two of you. When mine were small I'd take my toddler and baby on the tube by myself. I'd take a lightweight foldup buggy with a strap plus a sling....so when I'd get to stairs or an escalator...I'd put baby in sling, pop buggy on my shoulder using strap (like a handbag iyswim!) Then I'd have both hands free to hold toddlers hand.

You will be fine! Honestly, there's no need for all this bus nonsense. I live in London so travel by tube all the time and yes, it's a bit of a faff, but totally doable. No need for sling if you don't want to buy a new one. Just carry pram between you up stairs, as you would anywhere. Then if you are nervous on escalator, you carry baby and DP can hold pram.
It sounds like PIL will be there too so they can keep an eye on DS. But honestly, you'd be fine by yourself if necessary!
South Ken is a horrendous station as v busy, but that's the case even without a pram.

Avoid buses. Very very slow and you may even need to fold pram which would be an extra faff.

I've taken umbrella buggies on the tube with no problem but wouldn't take a pram type push chair. Meet the inlaws at the museum.