Escalators & stairs in the London Underground?

Question

With the school summer holidays approaching and 4 young kids I plan on buying a family rail card and taking my children for days out when my husband is at work as I don't drive myself yet.
I have one problem.......ESCALATORS....I'm not so bad going up, I can at a push just about do it,..But going down I just can't, I get dizzy and feel like passing out,....Do all the London underground have stairs or lifts?

Thanks for your answers,.. I have tried the escalators with someone standing in front of me, still can't do it, II really am terrified of them and under no circumstances can I use them to go down, It just isn't possible.
So I'm off to the website to see who has stairs, I'm not really bothered about lifts as all my children are walking age (Youngest is 6). Thanks again.

MARK B

Thank you so much!!
Very appreciated.Thank you.

Answer 1

Hi,

The official transport for London page has a set of accessible tube maps indicating the facilities at each station, and which ones you can use without using escalators:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tube/maps/

The accessibility map is here -
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tube/downloads/pdf/maps/tube_access_tube1.pdf
And index of tube stations here -
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tube/downloads/pdf/maps/tube_access_tube2.pdf

There is also a journey planner on this web site which allows you to state "I don't use escalators" in the advanced search, and build a route on that basis. Here is the page:
http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk/user/XSLT_TRIP_REQUEST2?language=en&ptOptionsActive=1

I think using buses might be a good option. It might take a bit longer but it can be a better way to see London in any case, more views for the kids, plus a bit cooler than being on the packed tube in summer!

Mark

Answer 2

majority will have stairs as i think they need this for fire regulations. Look on the tube map, the ones with the little wheelchair are the ones with lifts. You may need to get off a station or two earlier or later and walk the rest of the way. But fortunately most of the stations are not that far apart. Bear in mind though that the ones with stairs, especially the deep tunnels have lots of stairs, like 200 steps. So the kids may find this a bit much.

Answer 3

A lot of the smaller stations have stairs between the escalators for... I beleive London Underground have a list of lifts and escalators on their site.

The District, Circle, Metropolitian and Hammersmith and City are shallow lines and so for the most part don't have escalators

Answer 4

Have you tried going down backwards whilst holding the moving belt. Only to be done if someone in fron of you is going to warn you of the approaching end of the escalator.

Answer 5

A lot also have lifts, ask the guard and he will help or advise you to a lift. But not all of them do but a guard ( well most are always willing to help.)

Answer 6

Just ask a guard to stand in front of you, then hold on to them.

Children will laugh at you as they effortlessly bound up and down them, but you'll feel safe.

Answer 7

all have stairs but not all have lifts