londoners - travel advice please

[TheBrideOfBlatherstein]

Need some advice please Londoners.

I've won a fantastic prize but it involves getting me, 3.5 year old DS and 10 month old DD from London Euston to Fulham Palace Road in Hammersmith by 11am on a Monday morning.

I've never attempted crossing London with children before. I took DS once when he was quite little, but we stayed near Euston and went later in the day so we missed all the commuters.

Ideally, I'd love to take the P&T double buggy in order to keep DS constrained and safe as we're being videoed when we get there so I don't want to arrive looking hot and flustered - but it's not the easiest thing to carry when folded (especially as it has to be in 2 bits) so I'm thinking that might not be the best idea.

The other option is a sling/backpack for DD and the lightweight holiday buggy for DS but along with a rucksac full of changing things and food, I'm going to end up feeling like a pack horse. Not good for the non flustered look.

The underground journey is only 1 change but I'm guessing might be hot and cramped at just gone 10 - or is rush hour over by then?

Would I be better off just getting a taxi? It's expensive but possibly worth the cost...

So you definitely want the Hammersmith end of the Fulham Palace Road?

I'd be tempted to consider walking from Euston to either Euston Square or Kings Cross and getting the circle line

There is supposed to be a lift at Kings Cross and at Hammersmith

I'd aim to travel as light as possible
I'd take a single buggy and put reins on the older child

If it was me, I'd be taking a taxi!
I bloody hate the underground at the best of times, nevermind in peak times with LOs!
I'll do anything to avoid it!

In fact, I'm so rubbish at travelling in London, I'd be tempted to avoid the flustered look by booking a hotel nearby overnight! God I'm rubbish

What are you being filmed for?

Things to think about:

• how close your destination address is to the tube stop you'll end up at: is it actually close?

• where would the change be?

• rush hour on tube not relevant as you'll be going in the opposite direction to the commuters. However what time do you get in on the train? That will affect the taxis available (rush hour = longer queues)

• tube generally far quicker than surface, so if you decide on taxi leave much more time

In your place I would do taxi, leaving at least 45 min for the journey.

I'd walk to Euston Square (there are no lifts at either Kings X or Euston Square down to the tube station but at least Euston S is a quiet station and not that many steps to the station).

Hammersmith is level with the street I think?

Also, going by taxi will keep DS entertained as he can look out of the window!

I meant to say that I have found taxis very stressful if you're in a hurry. I have been stuck in horrific traffic, just watching the meter tick by and not getting any nearer my destination but I know I'm quite unusual in that attitude!

10am it will have calmed down a lot - I do it all the time and its not that bad. Honest.I would take a single maclaren buggy though - that you can carry yourself if you have to and not the P&T though.

I find the taxis worse as the baby always kicks off in them and she doesnt on the tube/bus -what does the journey advisor on tfl say?

Yep, definitely Hammersmith end of Fulham Palace Road. We're going to the HarperColiins Offices to meet Oliver Jeffers

Train from home to London Euston takes around 45mins to an hour so plan is to leave around 9am to get into London at 10 giving us an hour to get there.

Taxi thing online says taxi should take half an hour leaving time for traffic but will cost £27 each way! Worth it?

The P&T would be mega handy as DD will need a sleep or two while we're out and the Maclaren doesn't go flat. But then I've got space on the train to London to worry about too..

I would say definitely not take a cab. The tube journey is v easy from Euston Square and will take about 20 mins so you have time for a coffee and a chill out before you meet Mr J (lucky you!).

The HC offices are only about 5 mins walk from the tube station

Thanks LadyBiscuit.

Euston Square is only a short walk from Euston isn't it?

With the Maclaren and a harness on DS yes? Do pushchairs have to be put down on the underground?

Ooh, and do I need a ticket for the children on the underground?

It's about 5 mins walk and someone is very likely to help you with the pushchair - I've never had to do it on my own (and I travel by tube a lot :) )

Nope, you don't need tickets for the children on the tube.

Turn left out of Euston and it's a 5 minute walk to Kings Cross.

THere are lifts now at Kings Cross (slow and not immediately obvious, but they work) to the H+C line, and then it's level access at Hammersmith H+C.

Or lift to Piccadilly Line at KX, to Hammersmith Picc+District station (across the road from the H+C one) where there's a lift.

Up to date step-free tube map for reference:
www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/step-free-tube-guide-map.pdf

KX to Hammersmith is about 25 minutes. No need to fold pushchairs.

From the D+C line come out of the station into the shopping mall, turn left if you aren't in front of Tesco, then you want Exit 2 to Fulham Palace Road - it's the one with shops on, in case you're confused when the ramp comes out on the corner under the A4 flyover, and HarperCollins is about 100 yards down just after the police building.

Thanks notcitrus, that's really helpful.

I do the classic non-londoner thing of coming out of the tube station and being immediately lost so at least now I can look like I know where I'm going :)

Kings Cross must be just past the Euston Flyer pub then? My and DH got engaged in there

yes Blather, past the pub along Euston Road (the 4-lane big road), past the British Library, and Kings Cross St Pancras are two separate rail stations (St P is the huge gothic one, KX the modern ugly one) with a combined tube station underneath.

but it would be quicker to pick up the hammersmith and city / circle (check the destination) line from Euston Square than King's Cross if you train gets into Euston - it is much closer to Euston Square than K's cross (about 150 yards) and is in the right direction. There are stairs but would be easy with light-weight pushchair, same at Hammersmith. You go out of the station at Euston and head for the very large/busy road in front of the bus station, turn right when you get to it.