To travel on underground with fear of escalators and lifts?

[LuckyLouTimesTwo]

We are taking our 8 year old son to London this week. He has autism and is scared of lifts and escalators. We need to get from Park Royal to Westminster (or as nearby as possible). Is this possible on the underground, just using stairs? Without encountering any lifts or escalators?

St James's Park (next stop along) is stairs only. Hope that helps. Not sure about Park Royal.

I think you’d be better to go by bus. Use the Citymapper app for route planning.

@balalake thank you for your help

I can't use escalators so use the tfl website and select the option that says I can use stairs not escalators and can generally navigate the tube ok when I go to London but I do prefer the bus. Sometimes it can be quicker!

Do you think he'll be ok with the tube doors, if he's scared of lifts? I was scared of lifts as a kid and tube doors used to make me very nervous.

You can use a step only option on TfL website. I’ve used it when I’ve taken the dog on the tube as she’s too heavy to carry on escalators which is advised. It may mean a lot of stairs though.

Park Royal has stairs but I don’t think Westminster does - it’s also a really deep station so would be a lot of stairs for an 8yo even if it did. I agree with the suggestion to take the bus or walk from St James’s Park.

tfl.gov.uk/transport-accessibility/learn-to-use-public-transport

TfL has a travel mentoring team. If you ring them you can discuss your sons needs and they can advise you on accessibility.

Its not a direct tube journey, lots of stairs, escalators and how would he be on the tube if he doesnt like lifts. What about a bus, the 95 from PR then change at Shepherds Bush shopping centre to pick up a snack, get a bit of air, use the loo, then the 148 to Westminster. The bus is comfortable and theres more to look at out the window.

You could do the tube from Park Royal, a change at Ealing Common (same platform, just get off and wait) and then get off at St James's Park. It isn't a fast tube journey - both are quite slow trains - but DS may also struggle with the noise (very loud and squeaky) or find it uncomfortable to see the train moving around (the District line trains are open so you can see it moving around like a snake).

London buses can be a long and tedious journey.
I was scared of escalators and lifts as a child but when I was about 12 my friend dragged me to a lift at our local multi storey carpark to 'make me like them' !! It worked. I'm not sure when I stopped being afraid of escalators. Could you do some practicing at your local shopping centre or somewhere?
Maybe get the I Spy on The Underground book to keep him focused on something.
Take ear defenders. Tube gets noisy.

Go on the TfL website and/or ring them - they are fantastic. I once got cold feet about transferring across London with a bike - when I rang them they were able to tell me how many steps there were at each station, and also gave me other tips.
You might need to ring as obviously "step-free" or "no escalators" wouldn't rule out lifts, but I bet they'll be able to tell you the best options.

Thank you everyone. I contacted TFL and they were fantastic. Feeling a bit more relaxed now