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!

Just take your pram on the tube.
As long as it is not rush hour.
It will be fine.
Someone will offer to help you carry it up the steps.

We live in London and have been taking DD all over the tube network since she was 3 weeks old. Have never thought to plan our journey according to steps- it's easy enough to to just carry the buggy. Honestly it will be fine. Have fun.

Buggy is fine as long as you travel outside rush hour. I used to do it all the time.

Do you have to meet the ILs. Can't you meet up at the museum.

Thanks for all the tips. For reasons too complicated to go into we need to meet my in laws first but I agree it would be easier to meet them there.

Coconutpie if you read my earlier posts you will see I have a caboo and a baby bijorn. Either of them knacker my back if worn for too long. But thanks for pointing out that I'm damaging my baby

I wasn't aware that the interactive bits of the science museum were closed. .. that's a bit of a blow.... maybe we'll go to the Tower of London instead.... I'm sure I can get DS interested in Beefeaters

I used to go on the tube with a buggy, it was fine. Have done it with toddler and a baby too. I've always had an umbrella fold one tho, wouldn't want to be heaving a pram about by myself.

If you're not set on the science museum then www.museumoflondon.org.uk/london-wall/ would be great.

Or the National Maritime Museum has a fab children's section. Greenwich would be easy on the boat from Embankment.
www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/ahoy-childrens-gallery

DEFINITELY do not go to the Tower with a pram! It's expensive against the science museum being free, and full of narrow stone staircases....

Lots to see and do at the museum without Launchpad.

Which bit is closed? There are normally three interactive areas a four year old can do. Is Launchpad the top floor?

Oh and if you stick to the Science Museum having thought about it I'd get the 9 bus from the Strand outside charing cross station to the top of Exhibition Rd. It's not a long walk down. Plus that route is served by the new Route master

Yes don't go to the tower if you don't want to use a sling! It's all narrow stone spiral staircases

Thanks glorious that's helpful. I've been in the tfl route planner and it seems to tell me that there is no direct bus but that sounds like it might work.

Thanks everyone . I promise I'm taking it all in!

There are buggy parks at the Tower though. You can use a buggy for travel etc

It's years and years since I visited any of the London "sights" and I haven't been to the Tower since I was a child so this is so helpful! Mumsnet is fab

Yeah it's probably just trying to stop you walking at all But I promise it will work! If you look at the stops here you can see Charing Cross Station and Exhibition Rd. The bus stop is just before the road so you walk down and take the first left then keep going for 10ish mins and it's on your right.

tfl.gov.uk/bus/route/9/

The stops are all announced by name so you can't go wrong.

I did science museum a few years ago (actually 8 years ago as dd2 was 8 this week!)

We had 5 year old, 2.5 year old in buggy and newborn in sling.

The buggy was an umbrella buggy which folded flat, and in which the baby/child could lie down flat. I think round the science museum we put new baby in buggy to give us a sling break.

It was fine, and it was VERY crowded. We folded the buggy on the tube.

tbh having been to London a few times with small children and buggies, I think the only was is to have a buggy you can fold on the tube.

BUT I have also been around with my friend whose daughter uses a sort of wheelchair buggy which doesn't fold and we pretty much get round everywhere. She can get out and walk though, if we need to carry it up a short flight of stairs.

Oh and the wheelchair buggy was fine unfolded on the tube even in rush hour, and there were always people offering to help carry (it just looks like a buggy, so would be similar for you I think)

Sling for whilst on underground and carry empty buggy. This is what I do on underground.

Okay. I've done it plenty. You concentrate on holding onto older child and other passengers will almost definitely help your
husband with pram. If they don't offer, just ask
Science museum will be fine. It's handy having a pram to carry coats and bags anyway. tons to do there. Make sure you visit play area in the basement and there are other interactive areas suitable throughout. We love it there :)

Taxis are safest. Have seen prams with kids inside get slammed into walls on London tubes and buses, so definitely wouldn't recommend anything else for family/friends etc.

Don't expect museum to be quiet as they could well be packed with school trips.

I was also going to recommend the number 9 - the Science Museum is about half way up Exhibition Road anyway. You can get it from outside Charing Cross Station which is just around the corner from Embankment. It's a nice bus route to see London too - it goes via Picadilly circus and Hyde Park corner, it branches off at Knightsbridge before Harrods but you'll be able to see it and you can get off at the Albert Hall (rather than the stop before - it's only a tiny bit further from the museums) and also see the Albert monument across the road in the park.

We used to go to the museums a lot with the buggy. If you just don't travel between 7-9.30am it's pretty quiet.

Ours was a maclaren, I just used to lift it up the short stairs at South Ken, it's not that many.

Also don't take the tunnel at South Ken. Go up the stairs and walk in the daylight. The tunnel is a) slightly longer and b) the route every one takes so busy as hell and c) dingy.

I had Maclaren buggy (not pram) and just carried it down stairs (avec enfant!).
Sometimes people helped me and I have often helped others.
Be strong and determined and don't let a buggy stop you living life.
I would definitely go for the shortest route personally but I guess everyone's comfort levels are different.