London with kids - avoid tube

[User908752157]

Planning to use train to visit London. Would like to avoid the tube during three day break. Where to stay to do this? How do I do this - city siteseeing bus?

Where is good for primary aged children in the evening as do not really want to be stuck in a hotel (not detrimental if good location during the day). Could we get to theatre for a family evening show and stay in hotel nearby/still avoid tube?

London has lots of public buses that go everywhere. Just look at the TfL route planner when you know where you want to go.

However it can take ages due to traffic!

look at locations along the Elizabeth line- it does go underground, but very easy access.

What is it about the tube that you want to avoid? Much of it has easy wheelchair/pushchair access now - but not all

Is it fear of being underground/in enclosed spaces? Or is it worry about maps, paying - what is it that concerns you about the tube?

If it is crowdedness, again, using the Elizabeth line largely avoids the issue -seats nearly always available

Take a bus or walk. You don't need a special bus.

Use the Citymapper app and look at bus only options for your journeys. It’ll always be possible, but may take twice as long by bus.

sight seeing buses don’t go anywhere useful, though you can go on them to have fun.

tube is a pain w a buggy but I’ve done it often w a buggy and 3 kids - people help you.

Why do you want to avoid them? They're very efficient

Why avoid the tubes? My Dc adored them! Just avoid peak hour and you'll be fine.

Download the Citymapper app. It’s fab and much more intuitive than the TFL route planner I find.
It has an option to select bus only travel for example.

May I ask why you want to avoid the tube? I know the views leave something to be desired, but otherwise I’d always choose the tube/trains over most other forms of transport in London. It’s generally faster, cleaner and safer, and fine to use with children who might find it quite exciting as an experience. Not all of the network is under the ground either (though tbf anything central pretty much is).

Also what kinds of things do you want to do? Which shows are you interested in? Staying central like Covent Garden or on the south bank w

First time in London we stayed near bloomsbury and walked places was easy to get around, also got taxis to shows in the evening. I was really wary of the tube. Last visit I braved it and did the tube like a pro although people .Will barge in to get on you just need to go for it.

Sorry - pressed send too fast. Covent Garden and the south bank are very central and you could walk to plenty of places but of course London is huge.

Are you insane?? The tube is an excellent way of showing your kids the real world. How do you think Einstein got around London?? How do you think Arsenal players get to their games? The tubes!! Get your head into gear and sort yourself out!

Don't go on tourist bus, it's very expensive, just go on regular buses.
If you stay in Waterloo or South Bank there's loads of stuff there in the evenings. Or Euston or Kings Cross there is Granary Square area which is great for kids. There are water fountains to play in and a little nature reserve and a canal. You can walk along canal to Regent's Park and see the zoo from the canal.

Elizabeth line/ Southbank/ close to many sights parks etc and always something going on

I think we were £50 each for a tourist bus and you just sit in traffic like everyone else,probably just as well jumping on and off service bus.

Yes Bloomsbury is great. Museums, lovely squares, Coram Fields for little children and near West End and Covent Garden.

But yeah it's good to overcome the fear of the tube. It's fine!

Yeah it's a complete rip-off.

We discovered granary square on our recent visit it's lovely for a wander round.

Can I ask why? The tube is great. But there’s always the bus, normal ones not tourist ones, so you can get literally anywhere. It’ll just take longer.

In the evening go to a show, eat dinner, the usual stuff. Southbank and covent garden have a nice atmosphere.

The tube is fine, honestly. Maybe just pick a short bit to ride for the experience 🙂

Agree with all the other posters re taking the tube - I'd do that rather.

But, if you really don't want to, central London is pretty small really. So theatres are mostly around soho/Covent Garden so staying somewhere near there (could bus/walk easily from Euston/Kings Cross/Holborn/South Bank/Oxford street/Marlebone) would work.

South Bank is fun for kids in late afternoon/evening with lots of things to look at and things like the carousel goes quite late I seem to recall in the summer. There are also plenty of restaurants that are kid friendly.

Mine always like going to Leicester Square although personally I prefer to avoid that! . They like Piccadilly Circus but more becuase the shops and arcade are very kid friendly (depending on ages).

Get CityMapper it will show you regular buses, don't get the sightseeing ones totally rip off. And agree with others, Elizabeth Line is very spacious and modern so you could look for accommodation at one of the Elizabeth line stops, it would be easy to travel back from the West End (probably Tottenham Court Road station) after an evening show.

My kids really like a trip to China Town for dinner - followed by Leicester Square to see the Lego and M&M shops. South Bank area always pretty lively too, and there’s a good playground near the London Eye.

Tube is fine especially Elizabeth Line - as PP said just avoid travel before 9.30 am/after 4.30pm to miss the rush.

If you are dead set against it then Citymapper will give you the option to choose routes without using the tube.

Bear in mind hotels in the West End will be more expensive where the theatres are, all depends on your budget really and what you need from a hotel!

You can also travel via mainline in some parts of London e.g St Pancras to Blackfriars etc.