Tips for London Underground with toddlers

If you don’t use the tube regularly, it can feel overwhelming to start planning journeys – and that goes double if you’re travelling on London Underground with toddlers, babies and preschoolers.

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There’s no getting away from the fact that it’s not always easy: London’s tube network is over 150 years old, which means some are served only by stairs rather than escalators and lifts can be few and far between.

But millions of people travel on London Underground every day, including a lot of families – and I’ve survived plenty of tube journeys with my daughter, from her earliest days out in a buggy to trips on the London Underground as a toddler and a preschooler.

For ideas of the best things to do in London with toddlers and preschoolers, check out my top picks

Young kids travel free

First, the good news. Children under 11 travel free on all Tfl services, including bus, tube, overground and DLR. Even if you’re changing onto some of the London commuter rail routes, under-fives don’t need to pay for tickets.

You’ll also find wider, accessible gates to the sides when you’re entering and exiting most major stations, which have plenty of room to get a buggy through.

For smaller tube stations, there’s usually a luggage gate which staff can open for you – if there are no staff around, they’re usually left open.

Always remember to touch in and touch out on the yellow pad, even if the gates are open. On buses, you only need to touch the pad as you get on – through the double doors in the middle of double deckers can be easiest with larger buggies.

The simplest option for adults is to use contactless payments on a credit or debit card – simply swipe it in the same way as an Oyster card, and you’ll be charged the same fare, which is capped at a daily maximum. You can also use Google Pay and Apple Pay on your phone in the same way.

If you can’t use a contactless card, an Oyster card gets the cheapest fares and a daily capped rate. There is a £10.50 charge and you’ll need to add a minimum of £10 pay as you go credit.

For more tips if you’re using the London Underground with kids aged 5+ as well as babies, toddlers and preschoolers, check out this post

Download Citymapper

One of my top tips for navigating the London Underground with toddlers – with kids of any age, in fact! – is to download the Citymapper app.

As well as showing you the different routes you can take, using bus, tube (including the Elizabeth Line), overground and DLR, you can also filter it to show you step-free journeys.

There’s also the option to select bus routes only, and compare different routes: if you’re travelling with a buggy or a wriggly toddler, you might well decide that a slower journey is better than having to change along the way.

A list of journeys with step-free access, as well as lifts out of service, is available from the Tfl site too.

Pack a lightweight buggy

If you’re travelling with a baby, a carrier is often one of the easiest ways to get around London if you’re taking public transport – but once your kids are toddler age (and size), a buggy is usually the only option.

While people in London aren’t as unhelpful as the stereotype (although sadly not as helpful as my experiences on the Paris Metro), it’s best to be prepared to carry it or ease it gently up and down the steps solo.

I used a lightweight umbrella stroller or check out options like the Babyzen Yoyo which is small and light enough to take on planes as hand luggage, so a good option if you’re after something easy to carry.

Taking a pushchair on escalators isn’t recommended, so if that’s the only option, it’s safer to find a quieter corner, fold it for the escalator and carry/hold your toddler.

On buses, there is limited space for pushchairs – there’s one wheelchair space, which can fit one or two unfolded buggies if not being used (wheelchair users get priority), so you may need to fold your buggy to get on. It’s up to the bus driver to decide though.

If you have a double buggy, check with the driver first but you can usually board through the wider rear doors.

Try alternative transport

While you don’t have to avoid the tube entirely, you don’t need to rely on it for all journeys either.

If you’re only travelling a short way, it’s usually far easier to catch a bus than to head down into the London Underground with a toddler for a couple of stops.

And while the tube map is an iconic design, it’s not always the most helpful guide in terms of London’s geography – sometimes it’s faster simply to walk if two stations are closer than they look.

Check Google Maps as well as Citymapper as it also points out nearby bus stops, while this helpful map showing walking distances between stations.

If you’re worn out after a day exploring, black cabs can also take prams and pushchairs, so you don’t need to worry about having a car seat. You can book with apps like Gett if you can’t see one to flag down.

And while you’re unlikely to make all your journeys on the river boats, you can also take buggies on the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers water bus – it’s worth knowing that kids aged 5-15 pay a half fare on the boat, but under fives still travel free.

Check out the best boat trips in London with kids if you’re looking to travel along the river

Avoid the busy times

Sometimes easier said than done, especially if you’re visiting London in school holidays or for a major event, but if you can avoid peak times, do.

Travelling after 9.30am and before 4.30pm cuts out the worst of the rush hour. If you can’t avoid it entirely, heading to the end of the platform can often mean quieter carriages as well.

Don’t count on toilets in stations

There’s nothing worse after manoeuvring the buggy down to the platform than a little voice saying, mum, I need the toilet…

If you’re travelling with a potty-trained preschooler, there are some tube stations with toilets – some of which also include baby changing. Check out the Tfl map to plan any toilet stops.

You may need to pay a small charge, and they may not be available however. The Flush app is another helpful one to download, showing the closest toilets to your location.

Make the journey more exciting

Let’s face it, sitting on the tube isn’t necessarily the most thrilling experience whether you’re 2 or 42 – although for some toddlers and preschoolers, anything relating to trains and buses is automatically a huge treat.

If not and you want to entertain them for a short journey (rather than constantly grabbing a book or toy from a bag), pick up a map of the tube network.

Preschoolers can try counting the stations on the tube line or checking the colours of the different lines. Or there’s always I-Spy – the old-fashioned version, or even a pocket-sized I-Spy London Transport book.

Stay safe

It goes without saying to take extra care on the London Underground with toddlers.

And that’s not just staying behind the yellow lines at stations, and not attempting to dive onto a train as the doors are beeping, but keeping a tight hold on escalators (some of which can be very steep) or as trains and buses jerk away from stops and brake abruptly.

But with so much of London to discover, there’s no reason to wait until you’ve left the toddler and preschooler years behind.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links – any purchases you make are unaffected but I may receive a small commission. All opinions on using the London Underground with toddlers are my own

Images: To The Trains copyright MummyTravels, all others courtesy of Depositphotos

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