AIBU to take a big pushchair to London?

[Jaxxon]

Posting for traffic- thinking about taking 15month DD to London on the train (2 1/2 hours ish) for the first time to see friends but we live rurally and so have an uppababy vista which is great but not small. Would it be completely impractical to take her in this? I'd prefer to take ours as I know how it works, she likes it, roomy basket and she's up high, but I'd be on my own to navigate tube/buses.
Would I be better to try and borrow an umbrella stroller? Or am I just worrying over nothing?

I'd go for the umbrella stroller if you can, especially when it comes to stairs / escalators. People will normally offer to give you a hand but you'd be better off with something you can manage on your own.

Loads of Vistas round here (am in SE London). You'd likely be fine on trains but will you need to get any buses? Still possible then just trickier...

I managed with a double buggy (icandy pear) in London, I live in Kent and took it on the train, bus and tube. It wasn't easy, but I managed most weekends. It depends on certain factors, like what time of day, day of the week etc.

Will you need to take buses and tubes once you're there? Could you, at a pinch carry it up a flight of stairs by yourself? People will usually help, but they're usually helping with a much less substantial pushchair! I would borrow.

That didn't make sense, I live in Kent so took it on the train to London (SE) and then on buses and tubes (although only stations I knew had disabled access) nearly every weekend.

If you are going to see friends then you will be able to plan your route before you go. You can look on the TFL website to see which stations are street level or have lifts. I found that as I approached the stairs people will just grab the bottom of the pushchair and start carrying it. Sometimes without even eye contact never mind any talking.

Once you are with your friends they will be able to help you.

I use a Bugaboo Donkey in double mode (aka The Beast!) everyday in London and have no problems at all!

I wouldn't take it (and I too had an Uppababy) especially if you are on your own. Last time I went on my own I took a McClaren light fold up pushchair and a back pack. Easy to fold down and hook over one arm, bag on bag, baby in other arm. Job done. When DD was light enough a sling (Ergobaby) was best thing ever for this sort of thing.

Be aware the fewer people will be prepared to help you with a big buggy. I have a bad back and there's no way I'm helping anyone with a whopper of a buggy. But I would with a Bee or smaller.

I'd scrap any idea of a pushchair and take a sling.

It definitely depends on when you're travelling - don't travel in rush hr, choose a quieter time and you should be fine.

I think you'll be fine. I see people with large pushchairs all the time in London.

As PP said, someone will always help you with stairs, getting on and off trains etc. You probably won't even need to ask.

At 15 months the little one is likely to weigh 25lbs plus! Wouldn't be possible for me to get my 13 month DS in a sling never mind physically manage to carry him strapped to me for all that time! Not a option

I lived in London till DS was 2 and had an uppababy vista! I love it and never had any problems on buses, tubes etc! I liked it was high up too so didn't feel I was pushing him at exhaust pipe level. I actually found stairs easier with the uppababy as the wheels were bigger, the maclaren I always accidentally put the brake on pulling it upstairs backwards because of the piddly wheels.

I am pretty strong and tall though and was fine with steps on my own if necessary so not sure if that affected my experience of it.

You'll be fine. With buses if you can catch the driver's eye as it arrives and motion to the back door they will usually let you on there so you can wheel it directly into the wheelchair space if it's available, park up then pop forward to pay.

We have the same pram and live in London. It's perfectly fine.

I have taken my Vista to London lots of times. I love that you can carry all your stuff in the basket.

I would suggest a back carrier for a 15month old dc. But being used to a large and spacious pram that may be too much of a change! I travelled round using a sling/ back carrier/ buggy depending on where I was going what I was doing. Bus travel def easier wearing a baby, but tubes it depended if we were travelling at peak times and if the tube lines were deep or sub surface... Tfl site very useful to plan journey and work out if big buggy is feasible.

Thanks all- keen to have the pushchair for naps as we'll be out all day and although we have a sling we don't use it often and I certainly couldn't cope with her weight on me all day! Reassuring to know others do it with the same pushchair and I will be able to plan my journey. I am tall and strong so I could bump it up steps on my own if need be... thanks for the help!

I personally wouldn't take any kind of pushchair. It would be far easier just to carry a 15month old on/off trains and tubes & escalators/stairs.

I never take a pushchair into London, only a sling. Not worth the hassle, you won't get on most busses (as already 2 pushchairs on board), the tube is a pain, you have to wait forever for elevators, and get stuck in crowds. Massively stress inducing for me!

I always took an umbrella stroller and carried the baby in a sling on public transport, only using the stroller when walking about.

I travel around SE london most days with the same buggy but with an additional toddler on a buggy board and a 4yr old as well (I am a nanny). Never have problems and people are a lot more willing to help than you might think. Give yourself a bit of extra time where you can so you aren't stressed if you have to let a bus go past you due to no room and you'll be fine.

IHopeYouStepOnALegoPiece you are my new heroine. We call ours The Tank

I managed london with the bloody giant Donkey too. It's fine apart from some of the smaller busses that only have a front door.