London with 5 yo - bring a stroller?
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Anonymous
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I think it entirely depends on your itinerary and your kid. If you are planning a ton of walking and have a kid who doesn't handle that well, bring a stroller.
I found that traveling in a European city with a 5/6 year old, we didn't need a stroller but we definitely need more on-the-go entertainment items and snacks than we'd normally take with us on vacation. Jet lag, culture shock, fatigue from walking (even with plenty of breaks and a kid-friendly itinerary), combined to make my kid a little whinier than usual, and having granola bars and coloring books on hand at all times helped a lot. |
Anonymous
| A five year old? Are you kidding?? |
Anonymous
I was looking for discussions about 5-year-old tourists and strollers and found this Trunki page: https://www.trunki.co.uk/collections/kids-suitcase Maybe if the main concern is what happens at the airport a Trunki would be a good compromise. |
Anonymous
| I thought the OP was going to tell us her child has special needs. But I guess not. |
Anonymous
| Obese Americans. They start 'em early. |
Anonymous
| Omg no. |
Anonymous
| I think you would find it more of a pain on the tube and when doing tourist stuff. You just won't be able to get as much covered as you would if you weren't bringing a 5 year old but that's fine - just go at a slower pace, and stop and rest more often. When my kids were that age, I prepared them with longer and longer walks around the neighborhood to get them used to walking long distances and it really did work. |
Anonymous
| Yes, these posters are insane. Bring a small stroller to make the long tube walks and end of day easier. It’s hilarious that someone thinks this makes you obese or clearly American. 5 year olds in strollers are very common in the Nordics and many European cities where the kid is with the parents all day long. The groceries go in the stroller, the kids belongings, etc. Without it you’re carrying everything. I’ve lived in Europe, have many European friends with children, and have traveled extensively there. The stroller is a life saver. |
Anonymous
| I think you should have posted this in the preK forum, OP. You’d have found a more helpful, kind, and knowledgeable crowd. This travel form is hardcore. Go ask people who have five year olds RIGHT now and see what they say. Good luck! |
Anonymous
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Poster above has a point. Serious travelers don't like to be burdened with extra stuff. Also believe in setting expectations for traveling children early - e.g., everyone carries their own bags, we use local transport vs. higher cost paid services, we walk a lot, we don't pay checked bag fees, we eat local food instead of KFC and McDonalds. These are typical norms.
If it's just an umbrella stroller, it can likely go on the plane but might end up gate-checked. I suppose if it's a 50:50 call, take it but it might end up left in the hotel the whole time. |
Anonymous
+1, people who live in cities where they walk everywhere are used to having kids in strollers until 4 or 5, and no one will think it's weird. The only place I've ever encountered judgment over having an older kid in a stroller is in the US, among suburban types who drive everywhere and think strollers are just for walking around the mall or Disneyland or something. |
Anonymous
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We took our then 3yo to London without a stroller. We lived there when he was a baby, so knew what to expect. We did a lot of walking — many miles a day, but there was so much for him to look at that he seemed to forget to whine about being tired. There were a few shoulder carries here and there, but for the vast majority of the time, he walked where we walked.
We went back at age 7 – same deal as age 3. The kid was a rockstar. It was, unsurprisingly, at about age 10 that the real whining kicked in. We remind him that he covered the same ground as a tiny legged child and complained a lot less. |
Anonymous
| 100% bring a stroller! The distances are huge in London - even walking from one end of the platform to the other in some tube stations is a big distance and will take much much longer (and your child will be jostled) if you have them walking along. I think you will be able to cover more ground and have a place for your child to decompress from the crowds, and hold your stuff, if you bring a stroller. Some parts of London are so crowded - not just with people, but buses, taxis, cars, bikes etc. - that I'd feel safer having my child contained in a stroller. My advice is to bring one, especially with a child who has *just* turned five. |
Anonymous
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Wow. The judgment on this post!!
I went to London March 2023 solo with my two kids who were 7.5 yrs and almost 5. My younger child is very petite at 34 lbs, wears size 3-4T but NO ONE batted an eye that we had a stroller. It made a HUGE difference because he is VERY wiggly, impulsive, and probably has ADHD and with jet-lag got tired at times. My big kid is a great walker and we all loved walking all over London, the playgrounds, museums, etc. It also made it a lot easier in the airport for me. I never use a stroller at home (never have tbh) but for this situation, it made ALL the difference. I'd say if there are two adults and you guys are comfortable carrying your kiddo on your shoulders somewhat, then you'll be fine. I can't say if I would have brought it if it was just me and him but with only 2 hands and not being able to carry him much, it helped. I honestly can remember pre-kid being judgy towards parents with older kids in a stroller but honestly, there really are moments when it just makes sense and it is very situation and child-specific. My concern with bringing a scooter (my kid loves scooters and actually is great at biking too), is that in a crowded city, it could become dangerous. They could accidentally run into someone or not stop fast enough and when they are little....that just makes me kinda nervous. We got the Gb pockit stroller....you can use it all through the airports, etc. and it folds up the size of a small carry-on. Also - definitely check out: the princess diana playground (sooo fun but try to go when kids might be in school) and I love the playground at st. james park. My kids loved the transportation museum, the Natural history museum, visiting some of the cool markets (borough market - fun for all and seven dials market- went there twice), visiting Hamley's toy store ---be prepared to get something for sure but we spent probably 1-2 hours there SOOO fun!!! We also LOVED our peppa pig bus afternoon tea bus tour. Since your little one is 5, they should be old enough to do the Paddington tour....I think that would be SO much fun!! There's the Paddington statues around and lots of Paddington books, etc. all over London. It was honestly one of the absolute best trips we have EVER taken. You will love it. I want to go back now just thinking about London lol. |
Anonymous
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Not worth it. A total PITA for the Tube (many stations do not have lifts to street level), buses, taxis .... I traveled alone to London with a two-year-old, with the stroller, and survived the ordeal but was very grateful when she did not need a stroller on our next trip.
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