lunch in London with 5 month old in big pram..

[kandymouse]

Hi. I would be taking train up from Sevenoaks to London tomorrow with my 5 months old dd. First time ever to do this alone and a bit scared. Afraid that the pram will be too big to fit in the train and how do you get out with pram with those ticket machines.. I'm meeting quite important person in London for early brunch or coffee and cake (somewhere I don't know where would be okay with such big pram) and I would like it to be nice place where I can take my 5 months old and pram and also breastfeed (she just won't take any bottle)....
Is this too much expectations or being a pathetic whingy scary poo. I would like me and DD to have great time in London without DH having to help us. That would be great for my self esteem.

Anyway if anyone could help me out with hints and pointers, I would be very grateful!

You'll be fine - just smile at passing commuter-types and they will help you with the pram. I haven't been since it's been redeveloped, but I'd go for coffee in the Festival Hall on the South Bank - very roomy so lots of space for the pram. I've breastfed there with no problems! You'll come into Charing Cross from Sevenoaks won't you, so you could just head across the footbridge and then down in the lift at the end.

which station are you travelling into?

you won't need to negotiate ticket barriers because there's always at gate at the side. ime railway staff have been really helpful, but if you can't spot anyone in a dayglo orange vest a damsel-in-distress look at the nearest man usually works.

you're not being pathetic, it is daunting the first time, but once you've done it you will wonder what you were worrying about.

I love mumsnet. Thanks for the support. I will let u know where I would have to go in a bit.

oh and another thing - if it all gets too much, black-cab drivers are really baby friendly as well.

Cannon St now finally has a lift to take you down that flight of 12 steps and the City coffee bars are pretty empty mid-to-late morning so you'd have room
I often see baby visitors taking an early lunch in our local Costa

Hi. I just found out. It will be around trafalgar square. Any recommendations as to where I could take them for brunch...coffee..cake? They are coming from Germany and I don't want it to be too noisy and dirty. Somewhere still posh/or very tasty place ?? Is that possible with 5 months old and pram and breastfeeding?

Kandy - perfect place at Trafalgar Square is the National Gallery. Used to meet my ante natal group in the cafe there once a week when our lo's were newborn up to about six or seven months. Loads of space for big buggies/prams, we all used to bf in there, and it's nice (quite posh!). Oh, and I have travelled all over London and the UK on mainline trains, tubes and buses with a bugaboo with no problems. Mostly people are very helpful with lifting up and down stairs etc. Or you could do what i did sometimes which is take the sling and put your lo in that to get on and off trains or up and down escalators - means that it is easier to handle an empty buggy. Have fun!

thank you very much for National gallery idea, that's fantastic. Do they do brunch? It will be friday morning/lunch. Any other suggestions will be very welcome.

The Wolseley do a lovely brunch. This is on Piccadilly, and is a 15 minute buggy walk from Trafalgar Sq. If you book a table, mention that you need plenty of room for the buggy. There are a couple of steps in, but there's a doorman to help you.

Hi Kandymouse - the National do all sorts of things all day in the cafe, there is also a very smart restaurant open all day, here's the link to the info on their website www.nationalgallery.org.uk/plan/information/food.htm. The National Cafe is where I used to meet my ante natal group, the restaurant is very nice too but a bit more formal, whereas the cafe is quite smart and cosmopolitan, very big and airy, lots of buzz, lots of atmosphere.

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I wouldn't recommend the Wolsey with a big pram. its hard enough to get between the tables on your own! IME I have yet to go to any restaurant in london and feel uncomfortable about breastfeeding. it may be just me, but i really don't think anyone cares. you could try any of the big hotels - lots of room and usually baby changing facilities in the loos.
could you put the baby in a sling and carry him? It'd much easier to get and you might not feel so self conscious.
HTH

lenny girl - the Wolsley's not too posh, and is practical a creche on weekend mornings . I always mention that we've got DD in her buggy when I book (which you do often have to do, I'm afraid) and we get a table with plenty of room to wheel about in.

where did you go and how was it?

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