Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How long is too long to travel in a day with kids

48 replies

User28884995 · 03/02/2026 19:38

We have been invited go a very good long terms friends babies christening soon, it would be a three hour journey each way (on 3 trains) so 6 hours travel on the day, we would be able to be there for around 3 hours. I have a 1.5 and 5 year old and I just don’t know if it’s an ok idea to travel this distance in a day, we can’t go up the day before and would have to come back the same day so staying over to break the journey up isn’t an option. It is a close friend who we haven’t been able to see for some time due to the distance. Any opinions on what may be best to do? Is it unreasonable to travel this much on trains for lo’s in a day?

OP posts:
watchingthishtread · 03/02/2026 19:39

Honestly, it sounds like a nightmare.

OnlyMabelInTheBuilding · 03/02/2026 19:40

I wouldn’t even want to do this as an adult

Build5bear · 03/02/2026 19:42

Wouldn’t driving cut the journey time down significantly (even if you have to hire a car). No way on earth I would be attempting 3 trains and all six hours in one day with my two toddlers. Sounds like hell for everyone.

TheNinkyNonkyIsATardis · 03/02/2026 19:51

I mean, it's legal.

But it's also mental.

TeenToTwenties · 03/02/2026 19:52

Could you go on your own?

yellowgecko · 03/02/2026 19:53

If you’re desperate to go, go by yourself and leave kids with someone else

SquigglePigs · 03/02/2026 19:53

It's a difficult one.

I've done a similar length day trip for a Christening when DD was 5 but we drove so we deliberately left at bedtime so she could sleep in the car on the way back.

It feels a lot with kids that age on public transport personally, but only you know your kids.

cadburyegg · 03/02/2026 19:54

Ugh, sounds awful. I wouldn’t do that as an adult

Diamondsareagirlsbestfrien · 03/02/2026 19:55

It’s obviously do able but not my idea of a nice day out. It would be the 1 year old that would probably struggle the most, or at least for me my son would of been a pain at that age

Geranium1984 · 03/02/2026 19:56

It's a lot, especially for the 1 year old. I think just the one way would be the limit for both of them.
I would leave the kids at home and just one parent go and represent the family.

Idontspeakgermansorry · 03/02/2026 19:56

To stay for only 3 hours? No way in hell would I do that. It would have to be a week's holiday to justify that travel with two young children.

Can you go on your own?

NuffSaidSam · 03/02/2026 19:56

It would maybe be worth it if the things in the middle was really fun, but to go to a christening?! No, you can't make your kids sit on trains for six hours so they can sit in a church for another hour!

Diamondsareagirlsbestfrien · 03/02/2026 19:57

go by yourself and partner has the kids if you have one xx

Abd80 · 03/02/2026 19:58

I’d go with the kids and book a nice hotel, and travel back the next day or the day after. Make a trip of it.
i would only do this for a very special friend or relatives christening

Babyenroute · 03/02/2026 19:59

Having just been on a 13 hour flight with two toddlers the journey time is fine, just depends whether you want to. I would have said no if it's three hours of driving each way but lots of kids love a train and the journey is broken up. If I wanted to go I would try and make the journey part of the adventure and bring packed lunches, stickers and things

KellyJonesLeatherTrousers · 03/02/2026 20:02

Really doesn’t sound like an enjoyable day for anybody. You probably wouldn’t get time with your friend either. Go another time when you can stay over and spend some quality time.

Pineapplewaves · 03/02/2026 20:08

After three hours on a train won’t you be hot, sweaty and in need of a shower and a change of clothes rather than ready to go to a church and to a gathering afterwards?

Your five year old will probably be fine coping with the train journey on the way there but I would imagine your 1.5 year old will be bored and irritable.

After a three hour journey and three hours playing with other kids at a christening, your 5 year old will be ready for a sleep on the train but how can they sleep when you are going to wake them up twice to change trains?

Does your 5 year old have to get up for school the next day?

I would travel up the day before, stay overnight, go to the Christening then head home. Why is that not an option? It’s madness to do all of that in a day.

Or could you go by yourself and leave DC at home with your partner or a relative?

SENsupportplease · 03/02/2026 20:11

Oh I came along thinking yes this is fine 😂 but have read everyone else’s replies!

I’d be taking screens with downloaded movies, games, activities, train picnics, blankets, possibly upgrading to premium.

Is it two adults or just you?

What is the reason you can’t go up the night before, even if it was super late?

canuckup · 03/02/2026 20:14

Sounds absolutely horrendous

snoopyfanaccountant · 03/02/2026 20:17

If it wasn't for the two changes, 3 hours on a train wouldn't have bothered me when mine were small. The train allows them to move around so they aren't restricted as they would be in a car seat or a plane seat. I drove from Glasgow to the French Alps over 2 days with a 3 year old and an 8 month old and small new toys/books (Mr Men/Little Miss books and buggy books were ideal) and rice cakes as snacks kept them occupied.
I'm assuming that this journey will be on a Sunday; have you checked out that there are no engineering works? That would make the journey longer or potentially impossible.

sorryIdidntmeanto · 03/02/2026 20:20

It wouldn't bother me. I love trains. I regularly did long journeys when mine were tiny. It is fine as you can move about, do games and activities, chat to people. I don't know why you would be sweaty?
But then, I always just went for it without overthinking, and we did and saw loads of things because of that.

thehonscupboard · 03/02/2026 20:23

I think a lot depends on timings of things. We’ve managed travel days like this by eg. having a halfway point on the journey there to stop, maybe have some food and stretch our legs. Pop into whatever local attraction you can find in the vicinity of the station that’s 1hr30 into the journey. Journey back have done tea on the train, then changed kids into pyjamas and put them to ‘bed.’ So would put the 5 year old in youngest’d buggy, and younger one in sling, or one of those hammock things off the back of buggy.

WorkCleanRepeat · 03/02/2026 20:36

That would be an absolute no from me. Some people's kids might be fine with it but mine would have been a nightmare Somebody would definitely have been sick all over everyone on the way there.

IceIceSlippyIce · 03/02/2026 20:36

Id leave the kids at home with either one parent, or a grandparent if available and willing.
No way I'd risk the kids needing to behave in public for 9 straight hours.

pinkspeakers · 03/02/2026 20:45

I wouldn't. I'd be unlikely even to do it myself - I'd stay over for a night.
Doesn't sound fair to anyone.
Is this a close friend or yours rather than DH's? If so I'd leave the kids behind with him and go by myself and enjoy the outing.