Train to Cornwall with kids ?! Getting to Paddington...

DGJsaver

Maybe a VERY BAD idea , but we live in Bedfordshire , and we loved to go to St Ives when the first little one was tiny , and we used to drive , but now the little one is 3 , nearly 4 and another binlid is a year and a half..

How much hassle is it , getting to Paddington from Euston ? and by the time we had done it , would we be wishing we had driven ?

I it better/easier to get a london bus as was thinking a buggy and suitcase on the underground could be a bit stressfull...

The drive , with the kids , really puts us off...but maybe the train would be even worse...?

any advice welcome
Cheers

The_ICT_Engineer

As there are five of you, I would hail a cab. As the cost will be about the same as using the underground.

If you do use the underground, the station (Euston Square) for the circle line (five stops) is out on the Euston road, not in the mainline station. As is the bus stops heading west.

The circle line is subsurface and has only two short fights of stairs to and from the platforms.

johnmcga

I agree, a cab won't cost you anything more - unless you have through tickets from your home station, in which case your tube across London will already be included.

In any case, you might prefer to get a cab to minimise stress!

If you want to get the bus, I think the 205 runs from Euston to Paddington. There are almost certainly others as well - just check tfl.gov.uk.

As The ICT Engineer has said, it's a pretty easy trundle from Euston Square to Paddington on the Circle Line. You'll probably be fine with your luggage actually, as long as you're travelling outside of rush hour.

WestonDave

If you are going to go by train, book seats and do it so you get a table - sitting airline style for that length of journey with kids is hard work. That said most seats on FGW have access to a plug socket so you can take a laptop etc and plug it in so they can watch a DVD or play games. That helps break it up along with looking out of the window, drawing etc.

shark_DB

have you considered the sleeper train? it saves on the first and last day of the accomodation as you wake up alredy in Cornwall

xfive71

As per pp, the Circle Line is from Euston Square which is about a 5-7 minute brisk walk from the mainline. I think you might as well take the 205 bus from across the mainline station direct to Paddington. Taxi is the best way, of course and the least stressful - although if there is an almighty jam, it could be a hassle.

Trixie102

Sorry to say it but I would drive. We tried Nottingham to Axminster in Devon once with one child and very hectic and stressful. Even if seats reserved train can still be busy and nightmare to get to your seat.

What is the reason you don't want to drive (if you don't mind me asking?)

DGJsaver

Trixie102 wrote: »

Sorry to say it but I would drive. We tried Nottingham to Axminster in Devon once with one child and very hectic and stressful. Even if seats reserved train can still be busy and nightmare to get to your seat.

What is the reason you don't want to drive (if you don't mind me asking?)

Hi Trixie , well , if i`m absolutley honest , the driving thing is a mental block , i have driven us to st ives , with the other half pre kids and with the first born probaby 10 times in all , but the last time we went , was December 2010 , the little one was 1 and a half and my wife was pregnant with the other one , we got caught in St Ives when the snows came in , and long story short , i nearly killed us all when we couldnt see markings no a slip road in a service station in Okehampton and a artic nearly hit us , and i cant shake the memory

I am a good driver , i used to drive for a living , but i just cant make myself drive my family there because of this..sounds stupid i kinow because i drive everywhere else...

but when you have an affinity with somewhere (relatives used to live in Hayle as well) you get really longing to go back somewhere and its nearly 2 years , was trying to think of a way of getting there and letting someone else do the worrying!

DGJsaver

shark_DB wrote: »

have you considered the sleeper train? it saves on the first and last day of the accomodation as you wake up alredy in Cornwall

cost could be an issue there!

DGJsaver

WestonDave wrote: »

If you are going to go by train, book seats and do it so you get a table - sitting airline style for that length of journey with kids is hard work. That said most seats on FGW have access to a plug socket so you can take a laptop etc and plug it in so they can watch a DVD or play games. That helps break it up along with looking out of the window, drawing etc.

I am not sure , even when bookign on line and requesting a table ,that a table is guranteed ? , also , it means having to pay 4 tickets instead of two......even though , thinking about it , i would probably do that anyway......but the table would be essential

FGW are a bit of a nightmare , last time i travelled on one down to exeter , passengers were saying they have cut the amount of coaches used , and judging by the sardine feel , they werent far wrong!

Voyager2002

I often travel between Exeter and London, and apart from peak hours there are always lots of spare seats. Even when trains are full when leaving London, they seem to empty out fairly soon. So although it would be nice to reserve seats for all four of you, I don't think doing so is essential.

I suggest that you book well in advance, and see if you can get affordable first class tickets. The extra space would make a difference, and your four-year old would appreciate the unlimited supplies of juice and biscuits.