crossing london via tube help

[frazzled74]

I am traveling alone with dd5 and ds 2 plus a buggy and luggage. I need to either go from victoria to euston or london bridge to euston. does anybody know which of these routes is most pushchair friendly.? does either have lifts or escalators. r does anybody have any idea of how much a taxi would cost ? thanks

I once (and only once!) took ds then 5 and disabled ds 7 on the tube and it was like the seventh circle of hell - get a taxi, it doesn't matter how much it costs it will save your sanity.

Victoria to Euston you would need the Victoria line, London Bridge you need the Northern Line, either way there's no changes.

London Bridge and Euston both have little wheelchair symbols on the Underground map whereas Victoria doesn't, I think it means you can get to the trains without needing to go up steps, so I would choose London bridge.

If yu look here you can look at the 'step-free Tube Guide'

um, no, sorry. Have never, and probably would never attempt to take DS into London and definately not on the tube. Which is mega unhelpful I know.

What about a bus? It'll be a lot lot slower (travelling time that is - transferrence time on the tube might make up a lot of minutes) , but there should be space for the buggy and luggage. The number 73 goes direct from Victoria to Euston and is a bendy bus so should be room for you.

Ahh - I was just about to link to that step free guide

Victoria will be no good - at least one flight of steps with no escalator option.

London Bridge is a modern station and supposedly very accessible - lots of escalators and lifts

Euston looks OK too according to that guide - best journey is probably London Bridge to Euston on the Northern line. I would not recommend the Northern line at rush hour though

Good luck

London Bridge and Euston both have good lift access. They also have signs on the platform to show where to get on if you have a pushchair as they have extra space in the carriages (fewer seats). It is perfectly doable. I would however avoid rush hour.
I'm guessing that a taxi would cost about £15 - £20. You could ask the driver to give a rough estimate before you get in. If you have a smallish pushchair you can wheel it right into the back of a black cab, so no need to fold.

I have done Victoria to Euston with a buggy and luggage and a 2 year old (but not a 5 year old as well) quite often. In fact, I've done it pregnant. It's a bit of a hassle but not a nightmare, and people will help.

It's very quick. If your 5 year old is quite responsible and will stick by you and even help with the luggage maybe, i think it's totally do-able.

There's just the steps down from Victoria train station to the tube, then it's an escalator, very quick (4 stops?) on the tube, and then escalator and probably one set of steps at the other end.

Quicker from Victoria than from London Bridge, and taxi has it's own potential pitfalls, such as traffic and getting from taxi rank up to the station (big set of steps).

Go on, you'll be fine.

Victoria to Euston involves lots of escalators - 3 at Euston.

There are also buses but I'd agree with mumblechum that you should get a cab, as the 73 bus from Victoria to Euston is vile - it's a bendy bus and there are more buggy spaces, and it starts from Victoria which might help as you should be one of the first on, but it still sounds like a bit of a nightmare. Think you'll need a black cab because regulations re car seats are a bit of a headache. Does anyone here use central London black cabs who could ask them?

Also, where are you travelling to London from?

Luggage - backpack, not wheely case if you have a buggy.

And make sure you have Oyster/travel card already on you; don't queue to buy at Victoria.

You do not need car seats in back cabs (or any taxi for that matter). It is in the highway code.

Sounds like you are coming in from Gatwick then. Depends in what time of day you will be coming through, if it is during the rush hour the Northern Line (London Bridge) will be dangerously overcrowded, the Victoria Line will merely be overcrowded.

If it was me I would take the Thameslink train to London Bridge. It is not much slower than the Gatwick Express and cheaper. Having saved some money I would now get a black cab from the rank outside the station, London Bridge is a quicker journey to Euston than Victoria (therefore cheaper) and it is easier to get from train to cab rank with those kids and luggage at London Bridge.

Yes, you're prob right about multiple escalators at Euston, but it's only stairs that are really difficult i think, not escalators.

Re; black cabs: I think that's what Elkie Dee was saying, a black cab, not a minicab, because you don't need car seats. The two year old can stay in the buggy and there's a booster seat if the 5 year old needs it.

Avoid Victoria tube like the plague! The 73 to Euston would take about 45 min except in rush hour it would take forever.

At London Bridge, to get to the Northern Line lift you need to walk out of the main station to Borough High St and back in the tube there - it is signed but careful not to follow the main Tube signs.
It's direct to Euston in 10 min on the Northern Line.

Euston has 2 escalators but no steps - if you take it slowly and ask people to help it should be OK if not fun.
No direct bus from LB to Euston, sadly.

What I do for this jounrey is get Thameslink (First Capital Connect) all the way up to swanky new St Pancras terminal.

Lifts all the way up to street level. Then its a 10 minute walk to Euston - couple of side roads to cross (with crossings) but flat and wide pavements. Sounds a lot, specially with a buggy and luggage but you'd walk for that long getting on tube anyway. Or, go out of side entrance (follow signs for Kings Cross) and pick up a taxi - cheaper from there than Victoria or LB.

Or is it weekend? Blimmin things don't run right through then, do they.

call addison lee 0207 380 6000. they have built in car seATS and the drivers do help you, they will give you a quote when you ring.
i wouldnt touch the tube befor 9.30am or from 3.30 onwards.

great thanks for all these tips, will go via london bridge and euston. I have taken them on tubes lots before and managed ok, was just a bit worried about steps and luggage.am sure it will be fine

I was thinking about this last night and wholeheartedly agree with whoever suggested staying on the Thameslink / First Crapital Connect train to St Pancras, then walking to Euston - far, far easier - you have two escalators or a lift to get to street level at St Pancras - bear right when you come out of the station and there is a taxi rank just outside if you want a lift to Euston. If not, it really is an easy, flat ten minute walk.

Having said that, please check for engineering works if travelling on that route during the evenings or at weekends - it seems that most weekends, those trains don't actually call at London Bridge.

Thameslink trains do not run through most weekends they stop at London Bridge.