Is travelling with 3 very young children on london underground possible or am I totally mad! any tips?

Question

Is travelling with 3 very young children on london underground possible or am I totally mad! any tips?

Answer 1

how young is "very young", and how many adults will there be ... if they're all under 5 then you're going to need 2 adults ... if they're something like 3, 6, 9 years then you're OK as long as you have (reasonably) sensible kids that don't kick off, and do as they're told (well, most of the time anyway)

no, you're not at all mad, I used to do it with my three when they were young

take your time, don't try to rush, it's not a race ... DON'T travel at rush hour (your kids will get squashed and walked over) ... make sure you stay calm and collected and hopefully the kids will follow your lead ... make sure you're not loaded down with bags in your hand, you could give each child who's big enough a backpack or you could take a small trolley suitcase or shopping trolley which leaves you more able to carry the youngest one if necessary ... take some refreshments, especially if its a longish journey, but avoid very sweet or very salty things, I used to find satsumas, clementines or grapes better than drinks (too many drinks and they need the toilet, and toilets are hard to find on the tube system) ... if the train is very full wait for the next one, there's always another one coming not too long after ... if the children have to stand on the train make sure they've got something to hold onto even if you have to ask other adults to let them through, don't let them hold onto you or else you'll all end up falling over ... if you need to take a buggy make sure it's something reasonably light-weight and easily foldable because you might have to carry it up steps ... if your youngest is too young to walk and is in the buggy, and you come to steps, stand there and smile nicely and ask someone to help you (young 20-something men are usually the best bet) and make sure you face the buggy backwards when going up steps otherwise the poor little one could get tipped out ... if you've got a buggy, when you get to the ticket barriers look for the wide gate (there nearly always is one) which the staff can open to let you through ... when you're waiting for the train to come, stand at the back next to the wall, especially if your children haven't been on the tube before, as the effect of the train rushing in often scares younger children and some of them react by jumping or running around

happy travelling !!

Answer 2

It can be done but... you would be made to try it at rush hour (8-10am, and 4-7pm).  Trains are really really crowded during those times so it wouldn'd be a very nice experience for any of you.

Answer 3

- As mentioned above, plan your journey in advance so you're prepared for where you need to get on and off. Bring a tube map.

- If at all possible, avoid rush hour - before 9am and 5pm-7pm.

- It is VERY hot on the tube at the moment. Bring plenty of water and maybe even a battery powered fan - there's nothing worse than hot, stressed out kids.

- Stand on the right on the escalator and make sure your kids do the same. (It's an obvious one, but it will stop you getting squashed by commuters in a rush).

- If you need a pram, make sure it's a light one that can be folded up if necessary. Avoid stations with lots of stairs etc. (The TFL website will be able to help with this).

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/