Help me, Londoners!

[Ponka]

I don't really know London at all. I go and see a friend near the end of the M1 and it's easy but next weekend we have a civil partnership wedding and we are taking DS1 (2 1/4) and DS2 (4 months). I'm starting to wonder if it's really possible.

We have to check into a hotel in Acton late morning before going on to a meal near High Street Kensington at 12:30. Then we go on to a party that starts at 4 near Kew then back to the hotel when DS1 flops (whenever that is). God help me, I'm terrified of driving around London (although I might be able to borrow someone's sat nav.

For those of you who know London, how would you do it (and don't say you wouldn't!) should we try to drive it and park or get expensive taxis from the hotel to the venues and back? I've never got a taxi before with the kids because they don't have car seats, do they?

Are these places hard to drive to? Am I mad to attempt it with two tiny ones? This is going to be a huge military operation. I'm starting planning it this weekend!

Please help a country bumpkin northener out!

I don't know much about driving in London, as I don't. But re: taxis, you can either try to get a Sharon minicab (has built-in carseats for older ones), or you can try to get a new black cab, again, which has built-in car seats which will work for your DS1. You'll need to take your stage 0 carseat for your DS2.

Satnav is definately a good idea for London, if you're driving. It might well be easier to drive it all yourself, as then you won't have to lug all your stuff about in bags, along with two kids. Is there just you going, or do you have a DP/DH coming with?

Ponka, tbh I would get the tube - parking is a total nightmare in London, especially around High Street Ken and Kew!

Is hotel near one of the tube stations? (there are several stations called Acton - West, East, etc). If so, it's quite an easy and short journey to Kensington, longer out to Kew though still quite easy.

If you can give us road names etc, I'm sure we can work it out for you!

I'm always a bit wary about giving too much info as to where we will be on the net but we have been given the nearest tube stations already:

Hotel: I think it's just called Acton town?
Venue 1: High St. Kensington
Venue 2: Gunnersbury

I can probably work out where all these are, no problem but wouldn't you say it'd be more stressful carting 2 tiny ones and all their stuff for the day on the tube in day and once in the evening than other options? DH will be with me but it still sounds like hard work. If you think it would be, I might go for it. I have no clue really and do trust your advice!

Oooh. Sorry Notquite Cockney. I didn't realise some cabs had car seats. That sounds like a good idea.

I'm just trying to find out all the options at the moment really. I'll have to see how much stuff we end up taking. enough to fill a whole taxi !

Getting to those destinations on the tube is pretty easy but as you say, it depends how much stuff you will taking with you that will dictate whether to go by taxi or tube. Taxis could be expensive.

Presumably you will be taking

a buggy/pram
nappies/wipes/sacks for both
change of clothes for both

What about milk/food? Anything else?

That should all fit into a small backpack which dh can carry.

use tfl.gov.uk to check public transport links between places

I'd drive personally, and yes I'd get hold of a sat nav if you wish .. it would take the stress out of it

why are you staying in acton?

I drive in London all the time .. I'm not originally a Londoner

I would say that its probably easier to drive here than you think .. just be confident and keep an eye on the cars in front / to the side because we change lanes with less 'gaps' than elsewhere and there's an unwritten guide that you watch out for people coming in front of you .. more confident you are the smoother you'll find it

agree that the tube option is by far the best, you cannot park around Kew and HIgh St Ken , plus you'll get the £8 congestion charge unless it's a weekend. All the stations you mention are on the district and circle lines as far as my memory serves.I have a 5 yr old and a 16 month old and I would definitely do it by tube.

FWIW, Gunnersbury is just a short walk from Acton Town- 10 minutes tops, I would have said, so that bit should be fine. I agree, I would get a tube- there are several lines that go through Acton Town, and for High St Kensington you just have to change once (if memory serves- it's a while since I lived there!). Good luck!

O.K. Cheers everyone. I'll see what happens and what others going are doing.

Twiglett, we are staying in acton because the guys having the ceremony live there and we are going to theirs for dinner the day after. MIL and FIL and several Auntie/ Uncle/ Cousin in laws are also staying there so that should make things even easier for us.

I live locally, and would still be happier using tube than driving to Kensington (would never find anywhere to park). It's not too bad driving round acton town/gunnersbury area though.

Could you check into hotel then drive car down to Gunnersbury station, take the tube to Kensington for the lunch, then tube it back to Gunnersbury for party (both stations on district line but i think you would have to change trains at earl's court as district line splits into different branches)...then you can drive back to hotel in Acton when ds is tired...thus avoiding a tube/taxi journey with tired 2 year old but not spending a fortune on taxis.

I'm not sure what parking is like by gunnersbury station but I can ask around for you.

Personally I wouldn't walk with kids/buggy from Acton Town to Gunnersbury station as although they are not that far apart, you either walk down Gunnersbury Avenue which takes you onto the Chiswich roundabout (A4) (there are probably pedestrian crossing but I've never noticed any, and the traffic fumes are hell), or you would walk down Bollo lane - but this has no pavement for a long way and is very industrial.
No probs with driving either route though.

I'm liking your plan a lot, Bluebear. Thank you. I still want to see what the parents in law will be up to when I can talk to them but that sounds quite easy to me.

Might be worth finding out if the party venue near Gunnersbury station has a car park (so you can dump the car there at the start of the day and not have to worry about finding street parking (mostly controlled parking zones or stop and shop zones around here). I can't think of a big car park near the station (only a big supermarket one in nearby chiswick, but I think they get nasty if you stay more than 4 hours).
Good luck

Hi I would say the driving would not be such a problem but the parking in Kensington would be and probably up to late afternoon you would need to feed the meter and then they usually limit the hours you can stay, there is an NCP Car park next to Barkers Dept store that I used to use that way you know your not panicking about the meter and traffic wardens ,although the trains with two young children is not fun with pushchairs etc. I think you should enquire about cab fares maybe the Hotel could give you a local cab firms number and you could check with them as all in all when you have paid for petrol and parking costs you may find it less hassle and less stress maybe you could pre-book it with them for the cab from Acton to Kensington which I can't imagine would be more than £10.00.

I agree, if it's affordable I'd do the Kensington High Street leg by cab. It'll save a lot of stress on the day.

Thanks everyone for your advice. We had a great weekend and the boys were brilliant. DH wanted to stick with his parents, who were taking the tube so we didn't drive to Gunnersbury. We tried to do the first bit to High St. Kensington by tube and made it but it was busy and stressful so we did everything else by taxi and it wasn't as much money as I thought it would be.