Best Travel Systems and Pushchairs

A travel system combines a pushchair frame with a carrycot and car seat that clip on and off. Here are our honest picks for 2026, from premium to budget.

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Best overall Best for city living Best value Best for travel and everyday Best ultra-compact for frequent flyers Best on a budget

Premium

Our Pick

Best overall

Nuna MIXX Next Bundle

~£900 (pushchair + carrycot + car seat + base)

Weight ~11.3kg (pushchair only)Suitable from Birth to ~22kg (~4 years)

The one we would pick if budget allows. Reversible seat, large all-terrain wheels, a one-hand self-standing fold and a genuinely roomy basket. The ride is smooth on most surfaces and the included carrycot lies completely flat and is approved for overnight sleeping. It pairs with the Nuna PIPA car seat range. The trade-off is the price and the weight.

✓ Pros: Smooth ride, reversible seat, compact self-standing fold, premium build, excellent parent reviews

✗ Cons: Premium price, heavier than lightweight alternatives, basket access tricky when rear-facing

What reviewers say

“An excellent, affordable, all-terrain stroller” — Tom's Guide
“Infant-ready flat recline, huge basket, generous canopy” — MadeForMums
“Glowing praise from our testers” — Mother & Baby
“It pushes really well across the board” — Loved by Parents

Where to buy: John Lewis, Natural Baby Shower, Nuna direct

Best for city living

Silver Cross Dune 2

~£700+ full system

Weight ~11.3kgSuitable from Birth (full lie-flat seat and overnight-approved carrycot)

The original Dune has been replaced by the second-generation Dune 2. From a trusted British brand (since 1877), it is a premium, compact, city-focused travel system with a reversible seat, a magnetic Genius harness, a large basket and luxury recycled fabrics. Best on smooth urban surfaces rather than rough terrain. Most accessories are sold separately, so the full price adds up.

✓ Pros: Trusted UK brand, premium compact city design, reversible seat, multi-brand car seat compatibility

✗ Cons: Best on smooth surfaces not rough terrain, accessories sold separately, not the lightest to manoeuvre

What reviewers say

“Impressed me on almost every front” — Mother & Baby
“Robust quality from a trusted brand” — MadeForMums

Where to buy: John Lewis, Silver Cross direct

Mid-range

Best value

Joie Signature Finiti

~£450-500 (pushchair only); ~£820 full system

Weight ~11.2kgSuitable from Birth to 22kg

A stylish, full-feature everyday pushchair with a full lie-flat recline from birth, premium woven fabrics and faux-leather detailing that look far more expensive than the price. One-hand freestanding fold, large basket, good suspension. Pairs with Joie i-Level or i-Snug car seats for a full system. Won Gold for Best Newborn Pram under £650 (MadeForMums 2022) and Gold for Best Travel System (Mother & Baby 2026).

✓ Pros: Excellent value, premium feel, full lie-flat from birth, freestanding fold, smooth push

✗ Cons: Car seat and carrycot sold separately, fold lever fiddly with carrycot attached, chassis scratches easily

What reviewers say

“Folds compact and pushes like a dream” — MadeForMums
“Super smooth glide” — Mother & Baby
“A nice value for money and a beautiful reversible pushchair” — Strollberry

Where to buy: Joie direct, John Lewis

Best for travel and everyday

Bugaboo Butterfly 2

~£435

Weight 7.3kg foldedSuitable from Birth with the Bugaboo car seat attachment; standalone seat from 6 months, to 22kg

Our pick if you want one compact pushchair that genuinely does both travel and daily life. It folds in one second with one hand into a cabin-approved package (IATA) that fits most aircraft overhead lockers, yet it is sturdy and comfortable enough to be an everyday buggy. The v2 adds bigger wheels, better suspension, a fuller lie-flat recline and a generous 8kg basket over the original.

✓ Pros: One-second one-handed fold, cabin approved, light at 7.3kg, fuller lie-flat than most compacts, big 8kg basket, sturdy enough for everyday

✗ Cons: Standalone seat from 6 months so newborns need the car seat attachment, forward-facing only, premium for a compact, always check your airline's cabin limits

What reviewers say

“Compact enough to fit into overhead luggage compartments on planes” — Mumsnet
“A very easy fold, a generous basket” — MadeForMums
“A comfortable fit in the lockers” — Family Travel Tips

Where to buy: Bugaboo direct, John Lewis, Amazon

Best ultra-compact for frequent flyers

Stokke YOYO3 (formerly Babyzen)

~£449 (pushchair only); newborn pack ~£170 extra

Weight 6.59kg (chassis + 6-month seat)Suitable from Birth with the newborn pack, to 22kg

The YOYO is now sold under the Stokke name (Stokke acquired Babyzen). If you fly often or live somewhere tight on space, the YOYO3 is the benchmark featherweight. It folds to cabin size (~52 x 44 x 18cm), weighs next to nothing, and the third generation adds better suspension, double the basket capacity (10kg) and improved ventilation. The fold takes practice, the trickiest on this list, and the newborn pack and car seat adaptors are extra.

✓ Pros: Ultra-compact cabin fold, featherweight, smooth city push, iconic design, strong resale value

✗ Cons: Fold has a learning curve, not for rough terrain, newborn pack and adaptors sold separately, footrest is an extra for toddlers

What reviewers say

“Best overall cabin-approved stroller” — Mumsnet
“One of the most lightweight and compact strollers around” — Wanderlust Chloe
“Easily stowed away in the aircraft overhead compartment” — The Daily Mumtra

Where to buy: Natural Baby Shower, Stokke direct

Budget

Best on a budget

Joie Couri Stroller

Check current price at John Lewis

The budget pick, replacing the discontinued John Lewis ANYDAY Everyday Stroller. The Couri is Joie's lightweight everyday stroller, from the same trusted brand behind the Finiti, i-Spin and i-Snug elsewhere in these guides. Like any budget buggy it is a standalone stroller rather than a full travel system, so think of it as a brilliant first stroller, a holiday buggy, or a backup to keep in the car boot.

✓ Pros: Budget price from a trusted brand, lightweight everyday design, ideal holiday or backup buggy

✗ Cons: Standalone stroller, not a full travel system

Where to buy: John Lewis

What we’d tell a friend

If budget allows, the Nuna MIXX Next is the one we would pick, it does everything well and lasts years. For brilliant value without compromise, the Joie Finiti looks far pricier than it is. For travel you have two great compacts that split clearly: the Stokke YOYO3 is the featherweight for frequent flyers, while the Bugaboo Butterfly 2 is a touch heavier but has a fuller lie-flat and a much bigger basket, so it doubles better as your everyday pushchair. And if money is tight, do not overlook the John Lewis Everyday Stroller at £60, a genuinely good lightweight buggy and an ideal holiday or backup option. Whichever you choose, practise the fold before you actually need it at the airport.

Frequently asked questions

What is a travel system?

A travel system is a pushchair frame that works with a carrycot (for newborns lying flat) and a car seat that clicks on and off. Baby falls asleep in the car, you click the seat onto the pushchair frame, and keep moving without waking them.

When should I buy a pushchair during pregnancy?

Most parents start researching around weeks 12-16 and buy around weeks 20-28. Having your travel system ready by week 36 is recommended in case baby arrives early.

How long can a baby be in a pushchair car seat?

Babies should spend no more than two hours at a time in a car seat, whether in the car or on the pushchair frame. The NHS recommends babies lie flat for the first six months to support their spine and keep airways open.

Related guides

Car Seats Baby Carriers Nursery Setup

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