Top tips for travelling with kids on the London Underground

Travelling on the London Underground, commonly referred to as the Tube, is a time-efficient and cost-effective way of getting around London. Using the Tube in London with kids can be exciting, particularly for children with a love of trains and all things mechanical. However, navigating what are often busy stations and crowded trains with children can present its own challenges, especially if you aren’t used to underground public transport networks. There’s no need to worry though, because we’ve compiled a list of top London Underground tips to make travelling with kids on the London Underground easy and stress-free!

1. Avoid Rush Hour: If possible, try to avoid travelling during the peak rush hour periods. This is when the Tube is at its busiest. Peak times typically occur on weekday mornings between 7:30 am and 9:30 am and weekday evenings between 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm. Travelling outside of these times can make for a more comfortable experience with children. During quieter times you’ll have more space and fewer people to contend with. Generally the first and last carriages Tube trains are quieter than the others. It might, therefore, be sensible to make your way to one end of the Tube platform or the other when travelling with kids.
2. Plan Your Route in Advance: Before setting out on your Tube journey, take some time to plan your route. Consider the stations you’ll be using, any connections you might need to make, and the duration of your journey. Make sure that you check for any planned closures or disruptions to normal service. TfL’s website is good for this. In addition, apps are invaluable for navigating London’s public transport system. Apps can provide real-time updates on travel disruptions. Check out our post on the best apps to download before you visit London.
3. Be Prepared for Stairs and Escalators: Many Tube stations in London have step-free access. This makes them easily accessible for families with strollers or young children. When planning your journey, opt for stations with step-free access where possible. This will help to avoid the hassle of navigating stairs or escalators with little ones. However, many stations still require navigating stairs or escalators. If you’re travelling with a pushchair/stroller, consider using a lightweight, collapsible model that’s easy to carry up and down stairs. Alternatively, be prepared to bump up or down stairs. Generally a friendly Londoner will offer a hand. Despite a reputation for unfriendliness, it’s rare to see someone struggling without an offer of help being made. 
4. Pack Essentials: Pack a few essentials to keep your little ones comfortable and entertained during your Tube journey. Snacks, drinks, and small toys or books can help keep children occupied and happy while travelling long distances. In the height of summer, water and a small portable fan (either manual hand fan or small battery powered fan) might provide some much needed cooling. Keep in mind that most Tube trains and stations don’t have air conditioning!
5. Observe basic Tube etiquette: Your journey will be a lot less stressful if you are mindful of some basic points of Tube etiquette:
   • Encourage your children to stand on the right of escalators to allow people to pass safely on the left;
   • Wait for others to get off the Tube before getting on; and
   • Try and avoid stopping right at the bottom or top of a set of stairs or escalator while working out where to go. Move out of the flow of people and then take a moment to get your bearings.
6. Stay together: Travelling with kids on the busy London Underground carries with it the risk of getting separated. There are easy ways to mitigate the risk of getting split up when using the Tube:
   • Hold hands: Encourage children to hold your hand or stay close to you at all times/ This is especially important when moving through crowded stations or boarding trains. This helps prevent them from wandering off and ensures they stay by your side in busy environments
   • Take your time. Do not ever panic or rush. Tubes are really frequent, if you miss one and another will be along in a few minutes. So there is absolutely no need to rush to board a train. It is much better to take your time and ensure that you are all getting on the right train together, rather than rush and risk getting split up;
   • Make sure everyone knows which stop you’re next getting off at. Involve your family and kids in counting down how many stops until yours. This helps to prepare your group to get off at the right stop. It avoids someone realising suddenly that you’ve reached your stop and jumping off just as the doors shut, leaving others still on the train;
   • Have a plan: Establish a plan in case you become separated whilst on the London Underground. As you’re unlikely to have phone signal or wifi on much of the network, your plan should not be reliant upon calling each other. What your plan is will depend a lot on how many of you there are. It will also depend on how old your children are. With children, there are two main scenarios that you might want to consider: (a) you get on a train but they don’t; and (b) you get off a train but they don’t. If your children are old enough to follow instructions, one way to deal with this might be to tell them as follows:
     • In the situation that you get on a train but the child doesn’t – the child should stay on the platform. They should move away from the edge of the platform, stand next to the wall or find a nearby seat. They should NOT move. You will get off at the next stop and take the train back. You can then find them as long as they don’t move.
     • In the situation that your child gets on a train but you don’t – the child should not panic, but should get off the train at the next station. They should move away from the edge of the platform and stand next to the wall or find a nearby seat. You will be on the next available train from your station. In stations where different trains go through, this may not be the next train that stops at the station your child is at. Therefore, they should not worry if you ae not on the next train they see.
7. Stay safe: Make sure that you make your children aware of the dangers in a child-appropriate way. ‘Mind the gap’ is synonymous with the Tube for a reason. There can be large gaps between platforms and trains. Make sure that your children are aware of this and take care when boarding and exiting trains. Hold their hands if needed. Encourage children to stand behind the yellow line on the platform while waiting for trains. Ensure that loose belongings are secure. Familiarise yourself with the location of emergency help points at Tube stations. These points provide direct communication to station staff in case of emergencies or assistance needed. Teach children how to use these points and when to seek help if necessary.
8. Carry emergency contact details: Make sure that your kids either know your phone number(s) or make sure this information is on them somewhere. Although phones largely won’t work on large parts of the Tube network, this is a sensible precaution. Stations generally have mobile signal at the point of entry/exit and station staff could use contact details to get in touch if approached to help.
9. Get your children involved: Knowing how to navigate the London Underground is excellent groundwork for being able to use any underground network. Depending on the age of your child you could involve them in navigating. Get children counting the number of stops until your destination, finding certain stops, planning how to get to where you need to go or challenging them to find different ways to get to the same place. Paper maps of the Tube network should be available at London Underground stations at ticket hall level. Maps are not only excellent free souvenirs but are also great for kids to pore over.
10. Don’t worry too much about it: Remember, millions of people travel on the Tube every year, including plenty of parents and children – Londoners and tourists alike. Most people understand and appreciate the challenges and will tend to help where they can, whether that’s help with a pushchair or luggage on stairs or helping you to check you’re on the right platform. After just a few short trips, you’ll be a pro!

By following our top tips on travelling with kids on the London Underground you’ll be well-prepared for making lasting memories with your littles. Happy travels!