MULTILINGUAL FAMILY
IN LONDON

Everybody says you need a car once you have a baby. 

But we didn’t.

In fact, among our close parent friends, we were the only ones without a car for the first three and a half years—until we finally got one last year.

So… how did we manage?

Honestly, it wasn’t as bad as people might expect!

Getting around without a car

Despite not having a car, from the very beginning I took my baby everywhere—parks, baby classes, playgroups, cafes, playdates, and birthday parties—mostly by bus and Tube.

And actually, I realised we weren’t as unusual as I initially thought. Many of the mums I met didn’t drive either. Often it was the dads who drove, while we mums managed day-to-day life with public transport or simply walking.

Indeed, I walked a lot, pushing the buggy around the neighbourhood almost every day. Partly because it could get quite stressful if the baby started fussing or crying on the bus, but also because walking gave me a chance to try to get her to sleep. 

It didn’t always work. Quite often, I ended up carrying her in the baby carrier while pushing the buggy at the same time—sometimes in the heat, which made it even more challenging.

At the same time, I did rely on buses for shorter local trips, and used the Tube when we needed to go a bit further. In practice, even if you have a car, driving into central London isn’t always practical, so it’s not something families necessarily do very often.

Over time, I found a rhythm that worked for us, mixing walking and public transport depending on the day and how things were going.

Kind Londoners

Looking back, I didn’t find public transport in London too difficult. Not necessarily because it’s always convenient and reliable (it isn’t!), but because of the people.

People make space for buggies on buses and the Tube. They are generally understanding when babies cry or toddlers have meltdowns, as long as you are clearly trying your best to manage the situation. That unspoken mutual understanding makes a big difference.

And then there is the kindness.

London isn’t exactly known for being the easiest city to navigate with a buggy—especially with those long Tube stairs. I always tried to plan routes with step-free access, but that wasn’t always possible. I learned to be prepared to ask for help, even though it never felt particularly easy to do so.

But more often than not, I didn’t even need to ask. Someone would step in and offer to carry the buggy with me. Every single time, it genuinely meant a lot. Those small, everyday moments of kindness made the whole experience feel much more manageable.

What about all the baby stuff?

This is probably the part people worry about most. And to be honest, it is one of the harder aspects.

You end up carrying quite a lot. Changing bag, spare clothes, snacks, bottles… and somehow it always feels like more than you expected. It was more manageable when we were out with my husband. But more often than not, I was the one spending most of the time with our baby, so I had to be smart about what to bring with us. 

Breastfeeding definitely helped reduce what I needed to carry, at least in the early days. Otherwise, your bag can get quite heavy very quickly.

Even finding the right changing bag was something that took time. I probably tried at least 3-4 different bags before finding one that really worked for us.

Over time, I think you just get better at packing efficiently and only bringing what you really need. You learn what is truly essential, and what you can manage without.

The times we needed a car

We did still rely on taxis occasionally, mostly out of necessity.

For example, on the very first day coming home from the hospital, or when we needed to see a doctor, we used an Uber.

In the early months, we used a rear-facing infant car seat (the kind often called a “basket” seat, which is required for newborns). Ours could attach directly to the pram frame, which made things much easier. (Not all models do this, I guess, but many are designed to be compatible with prams with adapters.) It allowed us to move between walking and Uber without needing to carry a separate car seat and buggy.

As she got older, we switched to a more portable car seat or booster. We got a compact, portable one from Korea that comes in a bag you can carry on your back, which made it easier to bring along when needed. These are definitely more convenient to carry, although they are still not exactly light and often require a bit of patience from the driver.

For longer or more planned journeys, we sometimes booked private taxi services that provide a car seat. They are more expensive than Uber, but for us, it felt like the safer option and worth the extra cost.

Travelling without a car

One thing people often assume is that travelling without a car limits you. We still travelled quite a bit!

Within the UK, we went to places like Canterbury, Oxford, and Southampton. We also travelled abroad to Spain, Korea to visit our families, and also to Prague, and Tenerife as holidays, all without renting a car at our destinations.

And yes, that often meant travelling with two large suitcases, a buggy, and backpacks by train.

It wasn’t always easy, but it was absolutely doable. It just required more planning, more time, and a bit more patience. We also became quite strategic about timing and routes, especially when travelling with a buggy and luggage. But in a way, that also became part of the experience.

And honestly, it left us with so many memories. Sometimes, the more challenging moments are the ones that stay with you the longest! 😂 Those trips felt harder at the time, but they are among the memories I now treasure most.

The hard days

Of course, it wasn’t always easy.

There were days when everything felt like a challenge at once—rain pouring down, or the occasional scorching sun (yes, that can happen even in London!), a toddler refusing to stay in the buggy or wanting to be carried instead. London weather doesn’t always cooperate, and being outside with a small child in the cold, dark winter afternoons can be quite draining.

At times, my child would have a meltdown on the bus or in the middle of the pavement, and I had no quick escape. When you don’t have a car, you can’t just “leave and go home” immediately—you are already in the middle of your journey, and you have to manage the situation right then and there.

Even small things could feel harder. Carrying groceries while pushing a buggy. Rushing to catch a bus with a child who suddenly decides to come out of the buggy or stop walking. Navigating stations without lifts. These are all manageable, but they do require energy and patience.

Did we miss having a car?

There were times when I wished we had a car. For example, when my child was unwell, or when we were running late, or simply when I was too tired to deal with public transportation.

At the same time, because we didn’t drive to begin with and were already used to relying on public transport, we didn’t always feel the inconvenience as strongly as people might expect. In a way, you don’t really miss what you’ve never had.

I also didn’t experience what it’s like to drive with a baby. If a baby starts crying uncontrollably in a rear-facing car seat while you’re driving alone, or your toddler gets carsick and throws up, I imagine that wouldn’t necessarily be easier either. In that sense, every option probably comes with its own challenges.

I still remember the very first time I planned to take the bus with a buggy. I even googled which door to use and where to park the buggy inside. Just getting the buggy onto the bus felt like a challenge at the time, so I can completely understand why it might feel intimidating, especially as a first-time mum.

After 3.5 years, we eventually decided to get a car. We had been thinking about it for a while, and it felt like the right time—both practically and financially. As our daughter grew older, it also became more appealing to have that extra flexibility, whether for her activities or for exploring different parts of the country together.

Getting our first car as a family

One of the most memorable parts was choosing the car together as a family. Of course, she had her own ideas (she wanted a rainbow-coloured car!), but we managed to find a compromise in the end.

Interestingly, although she has always loved vehicles, she never really questioned why we didn’t have a car or asked for one before, perhaps because she was still too young at the time. She saw that other families had cars, but didn’t seem to take it for granted. So when the time finally came for us to get one, she was incredibly excited and became quite emotionally attached to the whole experience.

That, in itself, became a special memory for us as parents.

Final thoughts

Looking back, raising a child in London without a car was not only possible, but in many ways, it shaped how we experience daily life.

We walked more, planned more, and learned to navigate the city in a way we probably wouldn’t have otherwise. It wasn’t always easy, but it became our normal—and in many ways, it worked.

At the same time, I completely understand why many families choose to have a car. It really depends on your lifestyle, your routine, and what works best for your family at that stage.

For us, not having a car for those first few years didn’t feel like a disadvantage. It was simply a different way of doing things.

And we eventually got one, it just felt like we were moving into a new phase.

In the end, there’s no single right answer.

Just what works for you, at that moment in time.