Babies... in London... *decided*

[leckershell]

I'm sure it's been asked before but I'm not feeling my best today so instead of searching I'm just gonna write my own post.

It's my mums 50th this April and instead of having a party she said she'd rather go shopping, or have a day with me and Ryan somewhere.

I foolishly suggested ooh why don't we go to London. It's really cheap on the train and only an hour and half each way.

So I have a few options. I could take Ryan with us and deal with the train journey (walking up and down the aisle etc) and then have him being in and out of the buggy all day (he doesnt sit still for long ). But my worry then is, we'd be getting into Euston.. So undergrounding to somewhere more shoppy like Oxford Circus. What's the situation with using a buggy on the underground... is it a really bad idea?? We'll be going midweek. Also, shops and food places, are they very accommodating for buggies/highchairs etc?

Or I could put him in nursery, and risk the trains getting screwy and not getting back on time. The nursery are pretty good but I'd feel a bit bad that I'm off on a jolly to London and being so far away from him. The problem being that Nat is going to be in India for 2 weeks, and the usual nearest point of contact other than me and OH is my mum, who would obviously be in London with me.

Just weighing up the pros and cons really. I want it to be a good day for my mum as it *is* her 50th, and she doesn't get to go out to many places as she is usually having to 'care' for my stepdad when their carers throw a sicky so somewhere a bit different from Birmingham. Maybe the compromise would be to find somewhere less far away that perhaps I could drive to?

I have loads of annual leave days available with work (they cocked up my maternity bank holidays so I discovered I have an extra 6 I didn't expect to get) so I could always have one day with Ryan and then one day without him... I just worry about him being so far away from me. If he was ill it would cost us a fortune to get back as getting the train cheap means retricting the train times.

Any suggestions? x

 

[beanie]

I went to London with a toddler and a teeny baby. My mate took a buggy and it was a nightmare on the underground so we just used our slings which was loads easier and TBH I would take my sling if I was going with just Cally. But then if you aren't used to carrying your toddler for long it might not be practical - you should be ok with a buggy as you will have your mum with you to help

 

[poppy160]

I went to London with Ella when she was about 7 months, the train journey was okay (I was on my own) took about 4 hours but she was fine. Underground with a buggy isn't very good, the turnstiles are okay as they have extra wide ones for disabled people and mums with buggies, TBH though I agree with beanie, it was sooooo much easier with the sling.

We only went to 1 restaurant with Ella and we had to wait for a highchair to become available. There were about 2 I think But that's one restaurant out of a zillion. Most should be okay!

 

[Hazel]

Haven't been to London in ages but I've been thinking the same thing about the underground. The stairs with a buggy would be a bit of a pain but just elbow people out your way on the train . Midweek shouldn't be to bad though. I don't think I could manage a sling all day and you would probably want to try clothes on if you're shopping so the buggy would be easier and you could hang all the clothes shopping bags on it

 

[Suzie and Faith]

We went to London when Fi was 6 weeks old and we took our huge buggy and people were very very helpful, we were never short on someone helping us carry the buggy up or down stairs etc xxx

 

[BabyMagic]

Well we live in London and use public transport regularly. I personally prefer busses over underground. Having said that, your mum could help you to get on escalators etc. If you arrive in Euston you can take Victoria Line straight to Oxford Circus (2 stops) but there are quite a few escalators and steps.

I would personally take a bus - there are LOADS leaving outside the main entrance. E.g. 10, 73 and 390. There are others too but these go to Oxford Circus which is in the middle of the Oxford Street. You could ask the bus driver (they are normally helpful) to let you know when you arrive. Most busses also do automatic announcements these days. You couldn't miss as most people get off the bus. Also you could easily see the Oxford Circus tube station from the bus. Just buy a ticket on the bus stop (they have ticket machines) as that will make it quicker to get on a bus (baby travels free).

Black cabs also take prams, and it would only cost about £10 (maybe a little more if there's traffic). Also, it wouldn't be too much to walk if you feel adventurous.

In terms of eating John Lewis has a great cafe upstairs where there's loads of space for buggies and they do high chairs too. There are other places too, but John Lewis is close to Oxford Circus (on the right hand side when walking towards Marble Arch).

There is Mamas and Papas on Regent Street off Oxford Street (literally 50 yards from Oxford Circus), and Mothercare near Marble Arch on Oxford Street. John Lewis naturally great for baby stuff as well. Just in case your mum wouldn't mind going to baby shops

 

[Tangerinedream]

I go to London a lot by train, the trip down by train is the worst bit for me as Jake seems to find that extra bit of energy to wriggle about! I do sometimes keep him in his buggy and use the disabled table (one chair on one side and a large space for a wheelchair on the other) Once off the train I get the bus to my mums. Im sure somebody on here could tell you if there is a bus from the station to Oxford Street. If not one baby, one buggy and two adults on the tube shouldnt be too much hassle (if you are like me and have a short fuse I would also take a big stick to hit people with ). I would rather do that than rush back to pick LO from nursery on time.

 

[ASD123456]

As a fellow londer I will seond Babymagic and say bus, bus, bus all the way. They have space for 2 prams and the only reason you would have to get off is for someone in a wheelchair. If this is the case there would be another one along withinh 5-10 mins anyway. I would avaoid a Saturday if possible as it would be a bit crazy but mid week would be good. Try and avaoid rush hour as that wouldn't be fun at all.

Trains and pushchairs is eash, buggies even easier, I take Rudy on the train all the time on my own with no issues what so ever.

Will you be using a umbrella buggy like a maclaren or an easily foldable like a zapp? If so it would also be quite easy on a tube with two of you. I always take the buggy or pram on escalators and it is so much easier than it looks, with two of you it would be a breeze.

With regards to eating you would be spoilt for choice. The John Lewis cafes/ resteraunts have already been mentioned. Hamleys even have a restraunt so that is certainly child friendly. There are quiet a few chain resteraunts around Oxford street too that will cater for kiddies and if you take a short walk down regents street to picadilliy circus and leicester square you will be spoilt for choice.

I think it is very dooable and you will be fine.
x

 

[valentine]

I think I am the only person who is going to say - go for a day out with your Mum and put Ryan in nursery!

I love my LO but find travelling with her really stressful (maybe just me and my stress levels). If you have loads of days off and can ease your guilt by taking a 'Ryan-day' another time and you can nominate someone else to be his emergency contact/in case of train breaking down pick-up person for that day, then I'd do that.

I'm a bit scared of London though, so maybe that's why I feel that way. If you want to take Ryan and are not sold on the idea of London, then how about somewhere closer with good shops (my geography of England is sh*t, otherwise I'd name some cities!)

Valentine Xxx

 

[sunnyday]

Why don't you just delay your trip out for a couple of weeks until your OH can be around to collect Ryan from nursery etc? If it were me I'd be tempted to put LO in nursery and have a lovely day out with my mum, knowing that if there is any drama then my OH could see to it.

Am sure your mum would be ok with waiting for a couple of weeks - she'll probably just be thrilled to know that she's got a lovely day out with her daughter coming up. You could still do something nice on her birthday, perhaps have her round for tea and cakes....mmmnnnn

 

[minxie]

Isnt there that new shopping centre (largest in Europe apparently) that opened up in West London not so long ago? Id imagine it would have good baby care facilities...

 

[trudie]

another londoner here lol and i total agree avoid the tube but minixie is rite there is an amazing shopping centre in west london called westfield and its in shepards bush. i go there all the time as its like 15mins from where i live theres loads of seats and couches where u can relax if u need a break and theres food outlets as well indoors i would recomend nandos coz every where else is like cafes but out sides theres all different resturants i think its better then going to central as i find its always really busy and it takes a long time to walk to all the shops i some time jus get on the tube even if its one stop coz at the mo i just get to tired lol but westfield is the place to go and if want to check out the sights u can jus nip back into london it wil be like 10 mins on the tube so as long as ur not in rush hour ul be fine

 

[heles7]

I think I would fall in the 'avoid shopping with baby' camp. James hates it and gets cranky and so do I! I like the suggestion of going when you can be sure of OH being here for baby duty and spend your mums birthday more locally with Ryan.

 

[BabyMagic]

another londoner here lol and i total agree avoid the tube but minixie is rite there is an amazing shopping centre in west london called westfield and its in shepards bush. i go there all the time as its like 15mins from where i live theres loads of seats and couches where u can relax if u need a break and theres food outlets as well indoors i would recomend nandos coz every where else is like cafes but out sides theres all different resturants i think its better then going to central as i find its always really busy and it takes a long time to walk to all the shops i some time jus get on the tube even if its one stop coz at the mo i just get to tired lol but westfield is the place to go and if want to check out the sights u can jus nip back into london it wil be like 10 mins on the tube so as long as ur not in rush hour ul be fine

Oh yes, Westfield is grand! It's a bit of treck from Euston but would be worth it.

 

[Magic Monkey]

I would put Ryan in nursery and go somewhere closer to home - how about Milton Keynes, think the train is really quick there and shopping centre is supposed to be very good.

Or, take Ryan somewhere that he will enjoy with your Mum on her bday and have a day out in London with just your Mum in a few weeks when OH is back.

 

[leckershell]

Hi thanks for your replies
We decided to take 2 days and do it while OH is around, so this'll mean before her birthday as shes on holiday immediately after OH returns.
Think we'll go somewhere on the one day without Ryan, and OH can pick him up if we're not back in time, and the next day would be like the nature centre or somewhere baby related