Taking 7 month old to London

[otterbaby]

Next week we have to take our 7 month old down to London (government appointment that has to take place in person with her present).

It's 3.5 hours on the train and then a 20 minute tube trip to our hotel.

Does anyone have any tips for taking a baby on the train/tube? It'll be around her bedtime that we'll be on the train so I'm hoping I can just hold her while she sleeps as I don't know if I'll be able to fold open the buggy anywhere.

I'm feeling quite nervous about it all so any tips at all would be great.

I live near Pimlico. Kings X to Pimlico is a straightforward journey, there is no step free access at Pimlico but there is at Victoria (which is about a 20 min walk from Pimlico). You'll be absolutely fine bringing your buggy.
There's also a big Sainsbury's which stocks nappies baby food etc if you need it.

Would recommend a sling for the train as recommended by pp. you can take it in turns walking up and down if needed.

@viques I don't need sympathy, I asked for advice as we haven't travelled with our baby that far before and I've only been to London a handful of times.

I'm very grateful for all of the helpful tips I received from other posters, thanks everyone!

LNER arrives into kings cross.

St pancras to pimlico is super easy with a buggy. As others have said the Victoria line has fold up seats where you can park your buggy, no problem. Lifts everywhere or you can just carry the buggy down the stairs if you're in a rush.

Ah yes.... it's Kings Cross. The taxi rank is outside and easy to access if you decide to go for a cab if not the tube journey will be fairly easy. There will be lifts at Kings Cross which will make it easier.
Baby will either sleep through the whole thing or be quite excited by all the new sights and sounds.

Yep LNER arrives into King's Cross. Very simple, get lift down to the Victoria line platform, hop on the tube Southbound for a few stops, get off at Pimlico. The Victoria line is a very quick, modern line with plenty of space for pushchairs, no 'mind the gap' nonsense, and as others have said it should be pretty quiet at that time. You will find it a doddle, I promise!

@otterbaby just a word of caution about slings - I love my sling but when I got the tube last (ages ago due to Covid), it was super busy and everyone was squashing on. There was no space and I felt really vulnerable as I don't think people could really see tag I was even carrying a baby.

Whilst a pushchair is bulky and annoying re step free access, your baby will have that little bit more protection. Plus, you may be able to walk the route depending on where you are staying.

I tend to walk in London as long as it isn't too far.

Good luck

Ps I don't know what the tube is like atm

The OP has said she's arriving at 8pm! The tube - even in pre-Covid days - would be much quieter then.

Tubes can be incredibly noisy. Get some ear defenders for the baby. Trains are beginning to fill up again but I doubt they'd be at that time in the evening.

I've never had to fold down a buggy on the tube - I've avoided rush hour as even holding a baby in my arms in the pre Covid rush hour would have made me incredibly uncomfortable. But you should be fine now.

Also - if you can borrow a lightweight stroller rather than (I assume!) your large bugaboo / icandy type pram system you'll find it easier to carry up the stairs

Sorry OP, I've just read your update. I'm an ex-Londoner and even I used to get nervous and flustered about doing the underground part of the trip when we went back to visit. When I carried DD in a sling, people always offered a seat if it was busy. And I always felt safer carrying DD in a sling if we were going down the escalators, rather than carrying her in my arms.

I live in London and have always had mine on the tube in their pram also a Bugaboo bee. No car seat is required in the back of a black taxi I just wheeled them on to the taxi in their pram. As long as you're not travelling in peak rush hour (pre cocos) it's absolutely fine.

Thanks @marplemead it's just a bit daunting! Because of Covid I haven't had the opportunity to go many places with her (outside of our town) so this is a huge journey for us.

I'm definitely going to bring my sling and going to reconsider the tube too, a cab might be easier at that time of the night. She's going to be so out of routine so the quicker we get to the hotel the better!