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To take a beach trolley around London with kids in it?

187 replies

thesurreymum · 24/03/2023 21:56

Planning a day out at the science museum on my own with DC in half term. They are 5 and 4 and we do not have a pushchair. Every time we go to London they get so tired walking around/tubes etc. can I take my beach buggy and when they've had enough I can push them around in it? It folds down and is on wheels so I can carry it when going on tubes etc. not sure if a it looks really silly and will be more faff than it's worth. Wwyd?

To take a beach trolley around London with kids in it?
OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Lovelyveg80 · 25/03/2023 07:02

thesurreymum · 25/03/2023 06:41

Wow I was not expecting so many replies! I particularly love the comment where someone thinks I must be a very inconsiderate person and raising my children to be the same 😂. As I do not live in London and therefore don't visit frequently it is easy to forget how busy it can get. I do remember on my last trip though I saw someone pulling a child around in one and that's why I thought it may be an okay idea.

All feedback taken on board and to be an annoying and inconsiderate trip hazard I will be taking it with me to take my fat kids around in it. Jokes

But you have been to busy towns and cities before?

Notreadytomakenice · 25/03/2023 07:05

lauraisa · 25/03/2023 02:29

Why are people rolling their eyes? Why so snobby & judgemental all the time?

Maybe because most of us that live and work in London have places to get to and huge tell lies like these are impractical, slow, hard to see (as they are so low down) and quite frankly just a pain in the derrière.

Stepuptowardsinfinity · 25/03/2023 07:06

Why can't children get tired a bit? 4 and 5 year olds should be able to walk fine and it might get them a bit fitter. If everyone is shattered, sit down for a bit, drink some water, have a snack. The preciousness on MN sometimes about their little darlings getting tired legs is really irritating.

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Notreadytomakenice · 25/03/2023 07:07

Ha, ‘tell lies’ = Trollies

Lovelyveg80 · 25/03/2023 07:08

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Lcb123 · 25/03/2023 07:08

definitely not!! Get a cheap buggy / walk less and get buses. 4/5 should be able to do a short day at a museum really without being so tired they can’t walk

Comii9 · 25/03/2023 07:10

@Lovelyveg80 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 oh the shame. People are too quick to believe everything they read on here.

Antiquiteas · 25/03/2023 07:12

That would be a total nightmare. Walking around would be bad enough but impossible on the Tube.

Flamingolip · 25/03/2023 07:14

I live in London, have a 4 yo and have taken her and her 6 yo cousin out together on my own in central a few times. You just have to adjust how much you do/your own expectations.
They absolutely LOVE going on a double decker bus at the top, at the front.

The beach buggy would be ridiculous OP, I’ve never seen that, it’s not a good idea.

Theelephantinthecastle · 25/03/2023 07:16

Stepuptowardsinfinity · 25/03/2023 07:06

Why can't children get tired a bit? 4 and 5 year olds should be able to walk fine and it might get them a bit fitter. If everyone is shattered, sit down for a bit, drink some water, have a snack. The preciousness on MN sometimes about their little darlings getting tired legs is really irritating.

Err because a really tired 4 year old can sometimes just refuse to walk and then your only option is to carry them which isn't possible for everyone.

Like fine if you're carrying them to the car from an attraction but not if you need to take them on the tube/train

We live in London and for days out like this will take the buggy. At 4, they weren't in it much but it's handy for longer days out

FusionChefGeoff · 25/03/2023 07:20

Google maps has a function for directions using buses only - that would cut down LOADS on the walking then just make sure you have regular seated snack breaks and a nice long lunch sit down.

SD1978 · 25/03/2023 07:21

These things are fecking annoying to everyone else. They are basically a min tank that demands everyone gets out your way.in the USA they may have the space to accomodate them- here they (appear) to be the bastion of self entitled parents who don't give a feck that they inconvenience, run over, and invade other peoples space!

Mulhollandmagoo · 25/03/2023 07:21

I wouldn't, as others say it's a massive trio hazard, and someone could fall onto your kids. Could you go, and just take plenty of breaks? If you haven't been in ages you might be surprised at how much they can actually do

Bigpinktrain · 25/03/2023 07:30

I live in London and regularly take my 8 & 4 Yr old into central. It’s tiring, tourists really get in the way as they stop in the middle of the path checking Google maps, also lots of bumpy uneven paths, I would strongly suggest not taking something so cumbersome. You will get back ache and chances of the kids getting a handbag swung in the face is high (to be fair that also happens in buggy’s)
Quick short visits is the only way to deal with central.

Tessisme · 25/03/2023 07:31

I don't live in London, but can't imagine that beach trolley working at all. You would be endlessly stopping and starting, hauling it up and down kerbs etc, getting in people's way. As for the comments about just accepting that children get tired, I don't think it's always tiredness that causes children to slow down and complain. Sometimes it's just plain old boredom. It never ceased to amaze me how much energy my two had for trampoline parks, play parks, soft play etc. We could spend the whole day doing one activity after another and there were no complaints. Anything that involved booooring walking was a different story. They never complained if they had their friends with them though, as they didn't notice the time passing!

cocksstrideintheevening · 25/03/2023 07:40

I would. I don't know why we don't use them here. They're everywhere in America and no more hassle than a buggy.

timesogin · 25/03/2023 07:45

I live in london. No way. What a pain it would be for everyone.
Kids in london at that age use scooters a lot.
Also - download the Citymapper app and use it to get buses for short hops to cut down the walking a bit.
If you train into London then get the bus to the science museum there really won't be that much walking

FlounderingFruitcake · 25/03/2023 07:46

It will be a monumental pain and will look ridiculous. You’re not going to the beach in Florida, this is central london with uneven pavements, curbs, stairs, tubes, crowds etc. Just do less! Factor in break stops for the kids, the science museum has decent cafes, take the bus rather than walking so they can get a seat and have a rest (see some sights out the window too).

slowquickstep · 25/03/2023 07:50

At 4 and 5 your children should be more than able to walk all day, if they are healthy. If they can't why can't they ?

begoneday · 25/03/2023 07:53

I don’t think it’ll be any more of a nuisance to anyone than any of the other weird and wonderful things Londoners see each day. It’s not a big deal honestly. Just be aware it’ll take you longer to navigate the pavements.

Simplelobsterhat · 25/03/2023 07:56

It doesn't sound practical for all the reasons listed OP, but I don't understand the amount of judgment about kids getting tired walking on here! I've noticed it before. It's like there are some mumsnetters that don't understand there is grey area between being a baby who can't walk at all and a fully grown adult with long legs who can walk many miles! And think this makes them morally superior.

I think 4/5 were awkward ages with our kids for days with lots of walking. 'Too old' to use a buggy, too big to carry, but still tiny legs and not quite mature enough to just 'push through' tiredness and control their emotions. I often think they are still slightly prone to regressing to toddler at that age when tired / upset / overexcited etc. We've just come back from a couple of days in London with my 7 year old and it was noticeably easier than when we took his sister at 5 in terms of stamina / mood!

A day out at a big museum and using public transport to get there does involve more walking than a typical day for most people, and 4 and 5 year olds have much smaller legs, so of course they get tired! We did London museums recently and we all agreed that kind of slow shuffling around on our feet all day, on hard floors, was somehow more tiring on our feet than just going for a brisk walk in the countryside. And no it's not the end of the world if they get tired, but it's supposed to be a fun day out not an endurance test so you are not being unreasonable for wanting to mitigate that a bit!

I remember we took the pushchair to Legoland when DD was 4, the last time we ever used it for her I think, because we only had one expensive day there so we wanted to get round it all quickly and give her a rest when needed to cut down on queue complaining! I don't remember any odd looks. She did plenty of walking on other days.

With two though, I think you might just have to do as others have said.. build in sitting down regularly for snacks / shows and find the lowest walking routes there.

WitheredandOld · 25/03/2023 07:57

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Ahhh so in your mind it’s a race to the bottom. Got it. My point remains you have gone back into someone’s posts in a stalker-like manner. And who cares if she was overweight? She may know full well the dangers of childhood obesity.

Imagine judging someone because they have been overweight and suggesting they can’t have an opinion on the matter.

That’s like saying a recovered alcoholic can’t be critical of excessive drinking when they know more than anyone what the dangers are. And what about currently overweight adults - are they allowed to be concerned about childhood obesity?

You don’t have the moral high ground here.

begoneday · 25/03/2023 07:59

Notreadytomakenice · 25/03/2023 07:05

Maybe because most of us that live and work in London have places to get to and huge tell lies like these are impractical, slow, hard to see (as they are so low down) and quite frankly just a pain in the derrière.

OP also has somewhere to get to, why does your destination trump hers? Should she moan like a toddler about people staring at their phones while walking , or people in a wheelchair taking up room on the pavement? So bloody entitled 😂

begoneday · 25/03/2023 08:00

You don’t get to dictate who uses the streets and how they do it , just because you live in London.

endoftheworldniteclub · 25/03/2023 08:05

You'll be in everyone's way.