Managing the tube in London with a buggy - any tips?

[Shimmer]

We live in central London. My DS is 15 months now and so far i've avoided taking him on the tube unless i've got help. But I'm finding more and more I really want to get out and about on our own, and the buses are SOOO slow and don't always go exactly where I want to go.

I was thinking of getting a new really lightweight buggy that I could fold down easily and carry with 1 hand, so I could have DS in one hand and manage the buggy with the other. Was just looking at a review for the McClaren Volvo, which looks a possibility....

Any tips on London tube travel and managing with a buggy appreciated!

I lived in central London when DS1 was small and managed fine. Most stations (especially the newer ones) have lifts. Otherwise i just take the buggy on the escalator. As long as you're careful it's fine. DS1 and I went everywhere by tube anmd bus and at the time we had quite a heavy travel system.

We have a McLaren Volo now. It has a carryignstrap so you can fold it up and sling it over your shoulder to keep yours hands free. And it's pretty light.

Keep him in the buggy and ask for help on the stairs. A passing man is nearly always willing to help, or woman. Hold on tight to it on escalators! It isn't that bad as long as you avoid rush hour. www.tfl.gov.uk will let you plan your journey around only tube stations with lifts but as I say someone will always help on the stairs.

I used to carry ds1 in his lightweight buggy up and down stairs at stations. It was very manageable. I did this until he was nearly two and I was about 15 weeks pg, and would do it again now if I didn't always have ds2 (in sling) with me. Folding was always too much of a faff. Will add ds1 is on the small and light side, and you do need a really light buggy (I had a Chicco Caddy until some twonk knocked the wheel off by slamming our heavy turn-of-the-century apartment building main door into it, and now have a Maclaren Quest).

I live in central london too, Way too much faffing around to fold the buggy and carry everything. I just keep dd in the buggy and I've got a big mamas and papas, somebody always offer to help carry on the stairs. would be a nightmare in rush hour so only go during quiet times.

Its actually not as hard as you think, really. We have a citisport. ds2 stays in it when tired and always on escalators, and we never have a problem (he's 2). If he's walking, I can shoulderstrap it.
The only problems are that ds1 cant get on an escalator himself so we have to find someone to hold his hand, as I donr trust myself to do that and hold the buggy with ds2 in. And its a bit more hassle with lots of shopping bags nhanging off the buggy, so I tend totake the rucksack if I know I'll be buying things!!

I lived in central London till last year and always took DS in pram on the tube.
Way too much faff to fold up pram imo.
I have big pram (P&T) with air filled wheels, so where no escalators/lifts I bumped it down/up the stairs and was fine. About half the time someone usually offered to help as well.
Tube is much easier than bus! Good luck

I have a Volo which quite handy and easy to fold not to mention light, never really had problems in the tube or buses.
even changing platforms is ok and usually someone helps anyway.

if not busy I don't even fold on the tube.
the thing to do is enlist the toddlers sense of ownership for the buggy to ensure co operation.

the only draw back is that it does not recline, bit uncomfortable for naps

I found that, even if I had a buggy, a sling was invaluable too. It's much easier getting around the tube if you can carry your LO, rather than doing everything at toddler pace.

If your buggy folds into a 'stick' and you can hold it with one hand, you should be fine. Use a backpack for carrying stuff.

I always found lots of people to help, btw - despite the reputation that Londoners have. And you never have to go through the ticket machines.

people will always help - that's what I've found. The rush hours bring out the worst in them though but in between, they really are humans after all. And actually rather nice ones too.

Like berolina I generally just pick up the buggy and child, much quicker than folding
I use a Maclaren Quest

Also have no shame in asking the first person to make eye contact for help

Once walking mine would have reins on for the tube, just in case I need to fold the buggy then I can a firm grip on them too - depends on your child though

I used to allow a little extra time for my journey and if able, go to the nearest station with a lift. If you look at te TFL website I believe they have a map which shows diabled access, meaning there are no stairs/escalators or there is a lift. And I'm not surprised you want to do a bit more!

I agree it's too much hassle to fold up the buggy, especially if you have stuff in the shopping basket. Very few stations have no lift or escalator. I used to bump DS1's buggy up and down stairs and managed fine. People usually help too although sometimes they'll watch you struggle without offering to help

Dont rely on other people helping you or the fcat that there might not be any stairs in the station. I found that most stations had some stairs after the escalators or to change platforms etc. Being confident you can get up and down them with the buggy will make all the difference when you do come across them!

I remember when DS1 was tiny and I asked an underground employee for help to carry the pram up the stairs.. he just said 'no' and turned the other way.. I was gobsmacked!
Most people are a lot more helpful though so dont worry!!

We went to London for sightseeing last October with a 4 year old and a 2 year old with buggy ( a chicco caddy - it has a shoulder strap). Sometimes we folded it and he walked down escalator, sometimes not. Loads of people were really helpful, and it was not a problem using the tube, although very squashy at rush hour so best to avoid if poss then.

I agree that it is easier than you anticipate- there are many lifts now and people usually help- I would still avoid Bank though!

oh greenday i so wish that was my experience! i once got a lift upstairs in a bookshop only to find it wouldnt go back down and no staff to be seen, so 7 months pregnant i was struggling down the stairs with a toddler who wouldnt sit in in the buggy as she needed her nappy changing and a young guy behind me says 'excuse me' i thought he wanted to help, turns out i wasnt allowing him enough room to pass with buggy oneside and toddler the other!

Anyway back to public transport, i second the reins thing, even if you dont want to use the the rest of the time they are great for ensuring you have a good grip if you do need to fold buggy. At your dd's age i didnt fold buggy but do now as my dd likes to sit on train seats, i have a techno xt but would recommend one of the slimmer maclarens with a carry strap and pack all shopping into one or two strong bags as you do it rather than have tons of carrier bags to unload.

I have a Volo and a Techno XT and only take the Volo on train journeys.

I travel on the tube all the time with a buggy. IME people always help with stairs (except for some reason women under about 35 - who knows why?).

Would agree with mrsruffallo though about avoiding Bank if you can as you have to go on a winding staircase to change from Northern to Central lines which could be a bit of a nightmare. Think the tfl website has some info on access at each station which might help.

Good to see you, Iorek

Ah, Lyra Silvertongue, my little daemon. We have fought many battles, you and I.

And now I too am thinking of getting a Volo. Naturally with my great bear strength I can carry anything, but just how light is it?

Stick to the circle line, it's mostly short staircases. As the oldest line it's much shallower than the deeper newer lines (like Northern) which have very long escalators, more hassle to get to and from.

{grin]
Light enough to carry easily with one hand or over one shoulder with the strap.

I use a Volo on the tube. However, only really travel on district line which isn't that far below ground.

Volo is very light to carry. Only thing to remember is that child + Volo is not too hard, but child + Volo + loads of shopping doesn't work too well if you are trying to carry all of them.

Alternative option is a backpack - which is what we use whenever we go into London. Make sure you get one that you can reasonably easily get on & off, and you're away - no folding up & down, no problem getting up & down stairs...