Central London with 5 babies!

[FrauFrau]

A group of us are planning to meet up in central London in a month or two's time - we're trying to find somewhere baby friendly as each of us has a baby under 6 months old... I've thought about meeting at John Lewis on Oxford St, as there are good changing facilities and the restaurant is fine for babies, but am blanching at the idea of taking a buggy. Anyone done anything similar / have any bright ideas? Many thanks!

take a sling

You could take a sling or a lightweight buggy. London isn't half as bad as people imagine. Obviously avoid rush hour. Someone will always help you with the steps on the underground.

In a month or two the weather might be nicer so you could meet up at Hyde Park. There is a lovely cafe in The Serpentine and they have good baby changing facilities. here

Much more relaxing than Oxford Street IMO!

I would use a sling - have you ever used one before?

you can get the bus from most mainline train stations to Ox Circus - buses much more easy to manage with a buggy than the tube.

If the weather's poor, The Barbican Centre is quite accessible and there's a huge area for the babies to crawl, and you to chat. Lots of people with kids hang out there. Good changing facilities. Cafe VERY expensive though. There's a nice children's library there for a change of scene, a lakeside area to show babies the ducks/fish. You could even take it in turns to mind the babies and catch a film or some live music.!

Definitely use slings if you can possibly manage.

Thanks all - I hadn't thought of the Barbican, which could be good if it's rainy. I've been a big sling wearer since DD was born, but now she weighs over a stone it's harder work, particularly for a long period. Also find it useful to have somewhere to put DD down when eating... But I will probably stick with the sling anyway!

Or a museum or art gallery cafe like the Tate. Or the South Bank - the Royal Festival Hall cafe or restaurants along the South Bank like Giraffe - then you can walk along the River.

I would take a buggy as it is useful when both you and the baby get tired! And is somewhere to put all your bags etc. On the tube I used to sometimes take a sling so that I could go up and down the escalators safely while holding the buggy.