My mum taking kids to London at Christmas

[Krustyandthekids]

My lovely mum (70-ish) wants to take my DSs (11&6) to London to see the lights one early evening next week.

Although I think it will be really lovely, AIBU to be a bit worried that it will be massively busy and the risk of one of the boys getting separated is quite high (as is pickpocketing etc). The DSs are pretty good though but I worry the sheer volume of people will be a bit too much for them!

While I trust my Mum implicitly I'm worried she's taking a little too much on!

Thoughts and suggestions please.

The Mayfair lights Are well worth getting off the bus for and having a little wander around - it's also far less busy around those streets. I think they're peacock feathers this year.

I don't think it's dangerous - but it might be horribly rammed and not much fun for your mum. Covent garden is a better idea.

Arg has a great route - Carnaby is really good this year, planning on taking the kids in to see

The Lights are particularly good this year. Taking the bus, no need to pay for the open top one, the 23 is good for Oxford street regent street and the strand. Then walk through to Covent Garden and see the tree and reindeer etc, though that will be busy.

Risk of getting separated = a manageable risk.

Risk of getting pickpocketed = a tiny risk. I lived in London for over 30 years and neber got pickpocketed once.

London doesn't actually feel that busy this year so I think they will be fine. Not sure what other locals think? Just usual safety precautions when in a big city with kids. The lights are as beautiful as always and I second Carnaby Street...always a bit alternative.

I'm curious as to how your mum will cope with it, is she used to London herself? I'm 62 and regularly trek to London and scoot all over it on my own, but I was born there and know how it all works, and I can find it overwhelming at times and I wouldn't go just pre-Christmas, let alone in charge of two children!
I would suggest having a very well planned itinerary, right down to knowing where to stop for a reviving cuppa (lots of useful Prets in the area), so that if they or she are feeling it's all a bit much they can easily go and sit down and re-boot themselves. Also might well be worth getting Oysters or pre-paying by some other system to make getting on and off tubes and buses smoother - I use an Oyster but I think if you're booking train tickets you can get a zone pass all in so that you've got it, someone else might know this? The more it's all planned in advance the less likely they'll be shocked by it all and panic. That's how I handle it, anyway. Yes to everyones advice re kids knowing what to do if separation occurs. It could be really fab, if it all goes smoothly the excitement will be something else!

I think the issue is not how used to London your children are - but how good your mum is at navigating these situations. I would definitely plan it out in advance - not because I think there is anything to be scared of (I have lived in London all my life, over 50 years, and never been pickpocketed), but because it's easy to get dithery and overwhelmed in crowds.

What station will she be arriving at? If it's Waterloo, then I suggest sticking to the South Bank. The river, lights, a carousel, Christmas market, always loads going on - and contained in a manageable area, just 5 minutes away from the station. I know South Bank is not 'the lights' proper, but IMO it's much more fun for kids than traipsing up and down a major shopping street.

I’m taking 3yo DS to the museums today. They’ll be crazy busy but once you get your head around that it’s fine!

And yes, they need a plan for what to do when they get separated. Mobile number on arms, rehearse with kids who they would talk to, when they arrive pick a place to meet at, or just the message, "Stay where you are and I will retrace my steps to you. If I'm not there in 10 mins go to nearest shop/policeman and ask them to ring me". that kind of thing.

It will be totally fine. It you're worried about them getting separated get a biro and write granny's phone number on their arms in case of emergency.

London just isn't very scary! I have never been pickpocketed (25 years here) and never lost a child. You just need to teach them what to do, phone number on a piece of paper/arm etc. and a plan if they did get lost... but then that is something you should do for going anywhere.

I also write this as someone who was brought up in the countryside and was pretty naive when I came to London!

Came on here to say what lackingimagination6 has just posted.

Mobile number written on arm, tell them to ask for help if they get separated. This is what I used to do with my DC if we went to a crowded place - but they never needed to make the call.

I used to live in London, but I moved out a bit to buy a house, I went in yesterday and it was fine. Busy, but not impossibly so.

If your Mum isn’t very familiar with London she needs ‘a plan’. Although central London isn’t actually very big, you can walk for miles without seeing much if you don’t know where you need to go or how to get from one place to another.

As others have said, Oxford St, Regent St, Bond St are all very pretty. I think the kids will like Oxford Street lights this year. Selfridges windows were ok, mostly a bit adult & arty, but a couple of cute ones. Personally I loved John Lewis as it’s all about the Monster in their advert AND there’s a Monster House on the 4th floor and the Garden Terrace on the 6th floor with beautiful views of London (and cocktails if you want them! But you can just go up to look around). Liberty is a nice looking building, but not particularly Christmassy & I don’t get Carnaby Street this year - they’ve gone all out with a carnival theme. Very odd & not at all Christmassy.

The Tree in Trafalgar Square is worth taking the kids to see & there are Carol singers there from 4-8 every night this week. SCHEDULE HERE

The Southbank (along the Thames under the London Eye) is good (they need to go into the Rekorderlig Cider Bar’ area, it’s basly advertised as it just looks like a bar but it isn’t.

Covent Garden is usually nice for kids too, but I didn’t make it that far yesterday.

...and of course the view as you walk over Westminster Bridge is lovely.

If the weather is crap the busses are a good way to see the lights. Just tell her to say the 11yo is 10, then it’s free. (It’s free for 11yo’s as well but you need to get a photo Oyster card & it’s a hassle for a day). She will need a contactless debut card though as you can’t pay cash.

It will be fine.
I’ve dine that with my dcs two years ago and it was ok.
The 11yo should really know to stay close by. The 6yo can give their hand to your mum all the time.

If they do the bus tour and plan to stay at the top, it’s open and can get quite cold. Better to be well wrapped up!!

Are children actually interested in Christmas lights? My children, who are around the same ages as the OPs, wouldn't be fussed. Their grandparents want to take them to show them the lights because they say "they'll love it!" But I know my children and they really wouldn't. They'd find it dull if that was what they were dragged round London for.

Add to that grandparents who really aren't that hot on safety- who will run across a road rather than wait for pedestrian lights, who get distracted by looking at things and forget to watch the children... Nope, I don't trust them to look after the children.

Seriously, all this angst over a trip to London to look at the lights. It’s really fine, she just needs to hold their hands. And people stressing that a 62 year old might not be able to manage 2 children in the city. Honestly, it’s totally fine and if the kids aren’t that fussed on the lights it’s not like there aren’t a million other places to pop into

She's 70-ish, not 62. That was me in my comment.

Your DM could catch the route 23 at Marble Arch going to Aldwych. Sit upstairs with the DC an see the Oxford St, Bond St, Regent St, Strand and Trafalgar Square lights, could then walk to Covent Garden.
OR
Catch 139 outside Selfridges and stay on until Waterloo and take in Southbank Winter Market. Much cheaper than the tour bus.

Any chance of dressing them in matching clothes? That way if one gets separated and she needs to ask for help, she isn't trying to remember two different outfits.

Or if she has a camera phone, take a picture of them on the day incase it's needed.

I'd recommend the south bank over Oxford Street etc. There are two fantastic child oriented shows on at the Southbank as well which they could get tickets for (Slava's snowshoe and another aimed at little kids) which maybe gives a bit more structure than just looking at stuff.
www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/festivals-series/winter-festival

People who live in London do have children and manage to cope. You'd probably hear it on the news of children were regularly disappearing when on trip with Grandma....

Sharpie pen a phone number on the small one's arm. Reminder that if they think they are lost they should stand still. Hold hands with smallest one when getting on and off the tube.

Pickpockets aren't interested in small children. Why on earth would they be when there are adults with a lot more money and fancy tech than a 6 year old is going to have?

Have tea in the big stores, Debenhams is good and if you go to the women's changing room on the 4th floor there is a massive window with seats just outside it and you can see the Oxford street lights and the Regent street lights at the same time!
I always say to my kids, it is your responsibility to stay with me (obviously not really but it focuses their mind) also firmly hold BOTHthe 6 and the 11 year old's hands.
It's a great experience. Rush hour is really busy particularly at Oxford Circus, can you go earlier? It gets dark about 4 at this time of year?

My mum is 70. She would have absolutely no problem with doing this. How on earth is going to London “too much” for someone who is 70?

Are your boys incapable of making sure they stick close? Or is it that you just don’t trust your mum to keep her grandchildren safe?

she needs to ask for help, she isn't trying to remember two different outfits.

Oh come on! Really??

How bloody incapable do people think 70 year old grandmothers are??😡