Getting around in London on public transport is fast and convenient. Even with a dog. However, if you travel with a large four-legged friend, escalators can become your nightmare. It is a matter of common knowledge that dogs may get injured on escalators: fur, nails or skin can get trapped into moving staircases’ teeth causing serious harm to your pet. So, unless you are Ryan Gosling – who was pictured few years back carrying his beloved furry companion George – or you are otherwise strong enough to carry your dog for an escalator ride, you may want to look for ways to avoid moving staircases.
In this post I will tell you the tricks of a trouble-free (aka escalator-free) tube ride with your weighty furry companion. In addition, I will also provide you with some advice for the case your dog has mobility problems and you wish to travel on public transport avoiding steps/gaps as much as possible.
The conditions for animal carriage on public transports in London are set out at Section 16 of TfL’s (Transport for London) Conditions of Carriage (also copied at the bottom of this post).
According to TfL’s conditions, dogs can travel on public transport for free, while kept on a lead on in a container. No muzzle is required, however staff can refuse access if there is a good reason to do so, for example if your dog looks dangerous.
ask a member of staff to stop the escalator and let you pass, subject to condition that the station is not busy.
If you are worried that you cannot carry your dog nor rely on TfL staff’s help because you are travelling through busy stations or simply because it is not always possible to find a member of staff available when you bump into an escalator during your travel, the next paragraph is for you.
It is great to watch what a great synchrony my husband and Argo have developed… Argo exactly knows when to jump and “perch” on my husband’s shoulder to be carried up or down the escalator and he seems to enjoy the ride, too.
Things work differently when my furry companion and I are travelling alone: I rather have to plan our route assessing which tube stations have a staircase or lift alternative to escalators, because I feel over 30 kilos of dog is a bit too much for my back’s sake!
Unfortunately Citymapper at the moment does not offer any accessibility option in planning your journey, but not everything is lost!
No escalators-free tube guides are available on TfL’s website, however there is a simple way to plan your stress (and escalator) free journey with your dog. All you have to do is accessing TfL’s Plan a journey tool (on tfl.gov.uk), click on Edit Preferences and select “Use stairs, not escalators” in the access options box (in case you prefer it, you can also choose to tailor your journey for step-free platform only or full-step free access). Below you can find some screenshots to help with a visual aid. Once you have typed in your start and arrival, click “plan your journey” at the bottom, and there you go! Your perfect escalator-free travel is served.
Recently I saw a lady with a dog on a cart. Of course if you have a small dog like a corgi it might not be an issue for you to carry it in case you encounter some stairs/steps. But what if you have a German Shepherd with dysplasia or another large-breed dog with mobility issues due to arthritis, ligament injuries, or similar?
There is some good news. You can still use TfL’s Plan a journey tool, click on Edit preferences and select “Step-free to platform only” or “Full-step free access” in the access options box.
You can also download TfL’s accessibility guides, in particular the Step-free tube guide (downloadable here), and/or the Avoiding stairs tube guide (downloadable here).
“16.1 You can bring an assistance dog with you without charge. You can also bring with you without charge any other dog or inoffensive animal, unless there is a good reason for us to refuse it (such as if the animal seems dangerous). You must keep it under control on a lead or in a suitable container, and must not allow it on a seat. Staff are not allowed to take charge of any animal.
16.2 If you bring an animal with you, for safety reasons you must carry it through automatic ticket gates. If you have an assistance dog, at stations where there is no wide automatic gate, you must ask a member of staff to open the manual gate to allow you to enter or leave a station.
I am travelling with my Labrador on Saturday from Folkestone to Muswell Hill. i know he will be fine on the HS1 to St Pancras but i need to know if there are lifts there to the tube as i cannot easily lift him on the escalator. if i try to lift him i think he will get scared and jump off. so i am looking for a way to get him to Muswell Hill from St Pancras. can you help please?
If you do the same search on Tfl’s website you will find be able to view more details and set the exact time you wish to leave/arrive as well as view maps showing walking routes, bus stop locations etc.
Whatever you do, don’t go to Highgate or Archway. Both have unavoidable escalators. Better to go to Finsbury Park and get the W7 to the Broadway (City Mapper does not give this option but as a local with a dog I can tell you it’s the easiest way).
Good morning, I am travelling with my big labrador from London Bridge station to Paddington station and she is too heavy to be lifted. Any suggestions or help please?
Dear Peter, many thanks for your message. The best solution in order to take into account closures etc. is to check on the day with the TFL journey planner by selecting “use stairs, not escalators” in the preferences, however from a quick search now it appears that Jubilee Line to Baker Street and then Bakerloo Line to Paddington should be an escalator free alternative. Please note that sometimes stairs are a bit hidden and you have to look for them.
I hope this is of help, good luck for your journey!
We are travelling to London Waterloo then on to Finchley Central this weekend with our medium size dog who loves the train and I’m sure will be fine on the tube but we’ll struggle with escalators. Then we’re travelling from Finchley Central back to Piccadilly Circus but can walk from Waterloo. Any advice?
Many thanks for your message. Yes, sure, as mentioned in the post above you can refer to this TfL tool: https://tfl.gov.uk/plan-a-journey/?&date=20171111&timeIs=departing&time=1300#more-options and in the preferences select “use stairs, not escalators”. By doing this you will be able to set the time you will be travelling so that the planner will also take into account any tube closures, delays, etc.
From a quick look it seems that you will have to take the Jubilee line Waterloo-Green Park, Victoria line to Euston and Northern line to Finchley Central, but I recommend checking with the TfL planner closer to your travelling time.
Hello, we’re travelling to London soon and our English Bulldog will join us. As he cannot walk long distances we’ll take him with us, using a small beach wagon. As we want to use the underground we would like to get some advise or recommendation so we can take him with us easily.
Travelling with my Cockapoo Ralph for the first time and couldn’t find the correct information.
Thank you Chelsea! Great this is of help!
We’re travelling from London to Brighton with our medium-sized collie (around 20kg). He doesn’t mind being on a train however he still is scared to get on trains, especially if there is a big gap. Any advice on getting him on and off the train?
Hi. I’m heading from Paddington to Brixton… best way with large dog, please?
Hi! The best way to make sure any station closures, delays, etc. are taken into account and you don’t end up to a dead end is using the method described in the post setting the time and date you need to travel: in TfL’s Plan a journey tool linked above, click on Edit Preferences and select “Use stairs, not escalators” in the access options box, type in your start and arrival, click “plan your journey” at the bottom). I hope this helps. Good luck with your trip!