Buggy in London

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We're off to London for a long weekend with our 4 and a half year old DS. At home, we try not take the buggy anymore as we think he's too big for it but I'm not sure I can cope with 4 days of having to carry him on our shoulders to get round. Would you take one for a trip like this?

I took d's for his 4th birthday. My fitbit said we walked 19 miles in 2 days and I barely carried him at all. He was so excited about doing the different things he virtually ran around. He did ask to go to bed at 5.30pm though.

A buggy for a 4 and a half year old?! Aslong as your not planning on getting on buses or fold when you do as otherwise I think that's really selfish. My son hasn't been in a buggy since he turned 3 and I have never seen reception age kids being pushed to school in a buggy.

Wow! 19 miles!! He'd definitely not cope with that.

Thisiskitty - having read a few threads on Disneyland Paris, it doesn't seem unusual to take buggies there due to all the walking so not sure why London would be any different.

*ThisLittleKitty

Why does a 4 and a half year old need to be carried/ pushed? Since there is no disability. Just fold before getting on public transport.

I'm taking my nearly 4 and nearly 2yo and will probably take the maclaren xt for the 2yo. Not quite 4you will walk or sit on shoulders. Plenty of rest stops and toilet stops will be required.

You really think lugging a buggy everywhere is preferable to having to carry him occasionally? I assume he walks at least some of the time?

I'm not sure it can be reasonable/unreasonable but I'm not sure how it'll make your life easier!

If you want to use a buggy, you can use one in London. As a parent in London, I'm not sure what else I can say

Of course he walks but not 19 miles a day to get around a capital city. Just wondered if it would make life easier if we wanted to see a variety of attractions in different areas and so we don't end up with an over tired child every day.

I very much doubt you'll be doing anywhere near 19 miles. That would be over six hours of walking for an average-speed adult. You can find a full days' activities in a square mile in London.

We went to London just before Christmas for 4 days. DS is 4.5. He was absolutely fine. Loads of walking. Late nights etc. Don't think my 4 year old would go in a buggy even if he was exhausted!!

Use City mapper app to show you the bus routes and just hop on and off. Walking 19 miles? Not even remotely. Not if you tried. There is too much to see and do in short distances

Take him on the bus/tube. Stop regularly for snacks/sit downs.

I first took my little one when she was almost 3. No buggy. Can’t think of anything worse than a buggy in London. I used a bag with straps on it for her the first couple of times in London. She is still only 3 and a half and I wouldn’t dream of taking buggy for her.

I agree with those who say you don’t need the buggy. You’ll be on and off tubes and buses. There are very few lifts in the tube stations so it’ll be a faff on an escalator. Just let him walk. Have a rest every now and then.

Four and a half? That's way too old. You would be getting some strange looks if you do that.

I would suggest keeping your itinerary child friendly. So places that are fun with lots of food, rest and play breaks.

Dont worry they will be fine, and the more your child walks the more they will get used to walking.

the 19 miles was over two days. There is public transport in London, and it's actually quite good, so no need for long treks. Either use contactless payment or get an Oyster card, no need to take a buggy at all.

I took a stroller for my 4 year old when we went to Hyde park.

It was a very long day for her so I wanted to give her to option of sitting down if she's needed to as I can't carry her.

She ended up using it quite a bit as we stayed there a lot later than we thought we were going to.

I was also very impressed by Londoners helping me with the buggy up and down the underground steps. They automatically came and helped without a second thought. Was really nice to see. Obviously Dd was kicked out of the buggy for that bit

I am of the same mind as you OP. The Disneyland comparison is instantly what I thought of.

You know your DC and what they are likely to be capable of. My DD1 would probably have gone in a buggy til she was at college given the choice, but at 4 would also have walked placidly and stayed close. DD2 I'd struggle to get in a buggy by preference, but she is far more adventurous and likely to wander away especially if tired. So I might have to think of something be it an umbrella fold buggy or a carrier.

Either way have fun!

No way would I take the buggy for a 4.5-yr old. It's a densely-packed city with excellent public transport. Not really comparable to Disneyland, where you spend most of your time on your feet in queues.

As long as you have a nice, narrow buggy (that will easily fit down bus aisles) then there's no reason why you shouldn't.

i wouldn't choose to do this - no longer needing a pushchair was a huge relief, because it is an embuggerance and another large thing to move around all the time.

But you know your DC (and your own) capabilities best.

We went with a 3 year old in December. Only carried him at the end of the second day when he was freezing and crying because of the snow (which we hadn't foreseen when booking !). Other than that he was fine. You just plan your weekend carefully to see close sights together and use the tube without too many changes.

What’s wrong with using a buggy for a 4 year old Op take an umbrella type buggy just in case you or your ds need a break.

There really isn’t any legal age limit on when a child can use a buggy. Personally I really wouldn’t want to spoil a busy day out with a young child with them moaning on about being tired or wanting to have a nap or snack sitting down.
Plus buggies are really great places to hang bags on, store my shopping or extra layers and drinks and snacks etc- all the heavy stuff you’ll need to otherwise carry on a day out. London tubes and buses accommodate buggies very easily especially outside of peak commuting times but even then it can be done if you can queue. And as PP have said, where there are steps on tubes and at stations, IME londoners are always really quick to help or make space on the tube if you are on your own with a buggy which is a lovely side of London travel.

So I would say definitely do it! Literally no person is going to notice, mind or age-ID your child over using your child’s own buggy for its actual purpose. I wouldn’t give that a second thought.
Have a lovely time in London!

As a Londoner (via Scotland!) please don’t take a buggy!! London has fantastic public transport which will be far more difficult to use with a buggy. Many tube stations are not step free with escalators that are ridiculously high and not suitable for buggies and buses are often busy already with many other buggies. You find it much easier to get about without it. You can get the bus pretty much anywhere here if he is tired, have fun!!