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Original poster

To let two 17 year olds stay in a hotel in London on their own

193 replies

Susieblue18 · 23/02/2026 20:28

My son wants to go to an event at the O2 arena in March with a friend. They will be almost 17 but hotels are saying they can’t stay without an over 18 present. I even checked with St Christopher’s hostel and they’re the same, even with a room for 2. I know some of the premier Inns and travelodges are self check in, are they likely to get away with this? I phoned a couple of hotels but they’re said they will ask for ID.

OP posts:
researchers3 · 23/02/2026 23:00

TeenageRooster · 23/02/2026 20:53

I would personally go with them, book a different room and let them go to the gig but that way you're on site for check in and also in the same city if needed. I've done this when my DS has gone to gigs at that age.

Agree, I'd just do this. Go with them, check in with them, but do your own thing.

GreenEyesIsBack · 23/02/2026 22:59

Susieblue18 · 23/02/2026 22:57

This is where I struggle as I’m more or less saying no to him but checking options at the same time. His friends parents seem to think it’s fine. My Instinct is to say no but because I have anxiety anyway I then end up questioning whether I’m being unreasonable. We’re not far from Edinburgh so he can manage there fine, doesn’t really have any experience on tubes but is fairly sensible. I just see London as a big scary place!

It's honestly fine, I'd have let mine BUT not with nowhere to stay, that's the sticking point.
I overnight bus up and down several times a year and stay in a hostel, but they check ID.

Shoemadlady · 23/02/2026 22:59

Could you book them on the Caledonian sleeper to get back after? They’d wake up in Scotland then x

Fiftyand · 23/02/2026 22:58

Try a youth hostel.

BeverleyBrooks · 23/02/2026 22:58

Susieblue18 · 23/02/2026 21:38

Just looked up YHA Thameside and even though it says from 16, if you put in 2 under 18’s it says there has to be an over 18 😩 I would have gone with them but already have a weekend away booked that can’t be changed and his friends parents don’t seem concerned. I think he may just have to miss it this time, won’t be happy!

Check again. It’s under 16s that have to be accompanied not under 18s.

My DD stayed in a youth hostel when she are her friends were 17 when they were visiting Universities. It was fine.

FrostyPalms · 23/02/2026 22:58

Susieblue18 · 23/02/2026 20:42

@SargeMargenot lying 🤔, my son will be 17 two days later, so yes, almost 17!

Your title said two 17 year olds, so yes - that was a lie.

Original poster
Susieblue18 · 23/02/2026 22:57

This is where I struggle as I’m more or less saying no to him but checking options at the same time. His friends parents seem to think it’s fine. My Instinct is to say no but because I have anxiety anyway I then end up questioning whether I’m being unreasonable. We’re not far from Edinburgh so he can manage there fine, doesn’t really have any experience on tubes but is fairly sensible. I just see London as a big scary place!

OP posts:
Translatethedog · 23/02/2026 22:57

RogueFemale · 23/02/2026 22:45

There's a reason for the rule. Almost 17 or 17 is extremely young. They are naive, clueless and reckless at that age, and London is very huge and harsh. Things could easily go badly wrong.

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I don’t even think that it’s due to this. The hotels are protecting the children.

GlasgowGal2014 · 23/02/2026 22:56

Thechaseison71 · 23/02/2026 22:53

They could live in Glasgow or Edinburgh which are both cities. And as long as they haven't been mollycoddled they should be able to find their way about. Muslch easier these days with phone apps and maps

I I think you are underestimating capabilities if they've been allowed to take responsibility for getting places by themselves.

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I did ask in my post whether they had much experience in a city and how would they deal with travelling across the city? I recognise that kids growing up in Glasgow and Edinburgh will be used to navigating across a city on public transport and they'll be well placed to cope with London, but lots of kids growing up in Scotland won't have that experience.

GreenEyesIsBack · 23/02/2026 22:55

Tigerbalmshark · 23/02/2026 22:28

It says main match starts at 8pm, so even if it runs a bit over, I can’t imagine it will finish any later than 10pm. It’s only 30 minutes on the tube from North Greenwich to Victoria.

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It's not 30 minutes when you have to get out of the O2 and get on a tube when it's rammed.
I've done it loads of times, It's a push to make it back to London Bridge by 11, which is where I always stay, (St Christophers), and why I always stay.
You don't want two teens stuck in Victoria overnight.

BeverleyBrooks · 23/02/2026 22:54

YHA allows under 18s to stay. It’s only under 16s that have to be accompanied by an 18 year old.
I just checked Thameside and got this:

To let two 17 year olds stay in a hotel in London on their own
Thechaseison71 · 23/02/2026 22:53

GlasgowGal2014 · 23/02/2026 22:47

So you live in Scotland, you don't have much experience of being in London so presumably neither does your son? My kids are a bit younger, but I honestly don't think I'd let them travel down to London by themselves at 16/17 year olds to attend an event (and I know London pretty well). How much experience do they have in a city? Would they be able to navigate across London and back to get to the event? They will be a long way away if anything goes wrong. Maybe I am underestimating what 16/17 year olds are capable of? But I'd be wary of being guided by people who say lots of kids grow up in London and manage fine. That's true, but I notice a huge difference in my small town kids compared to friends kids who are growing up in cities.

Edited

They could live in Glasgow or Edinburgh which are both cities. And as long as they haven't been mollycoddled they should be able to find their way about. Muslch easier these days with phone apps and maps

I I think you are underestimating capabilities if they've been allowed to take responsibility for getting places by themselves.

GlasgowGal2014 · 23/02/2026 22:47

So you live in Scotland, you don't have much experience of being in London so presumably neither does your son? My kids are a bit younger, but I honestly don't think I'd let them travel down to London by themselves at 16/17 year olds to attend an event (and I know London pretty well). How much experience do they have in a city? Would they be able to navigate across London and back to get to the event? They will be a long way away if anything goes wrong. Maybe I am underestimating what 16/17 year olds are capable of? But I'd be wary of being guided by people who say lots of kids grow up in London and manage fine. That's true, but I notice a huge difference in my small town kids compared to friends kids who are growing up in cities.

Thechaseison71 · 23/02/2026 22:47

RogueFemale · 23/02/2026 22:45

There's a reason for the rule. Almost 17 or 17 is extremely young. They are naive, clueless and reckless at that age, and London is very huge and harsh. Things could easily go badly wrong.

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Things could go wrong while they are making their way to a bus/ train station as well.

Strange they can get from Scotland to London and back yet considered too young to sleep in a hotel

And do t forget lots of teenagers actually live in London and manage

Hayley1256 · 23/02/2026 22:46

Could they catch the sleeper train back to Scotland?

RogueFemale · 23/02/2026 22:45

Susieblue18 · 23/02/2026 20:28

My son wants to go to an event at the O2 arena in March with a friend. They will be almost 17 but hotels are saying they can’t stay without an over 18 present. I even checked with St Christopher’s hostel and they’re the same, even with a room for 2. I know some of the premier Inns and travelodges are self check in, are they likely to get away with this? I phoned a couple of hotels but they’re said they will ask for ID.

There's a reason for the rule. Almost 17 or 17 is extremely young. They are naive, clueless and reckless at that age, and London is very huge and harsh. Things could easily go badly wrong.

Viviennemary · 23/02/2026 22:41

Susieblue18 · 23/02/2026 20:42

@SargeMargenot lying 🤔, my son will be 17 two days later, so yes, almost 17!

He is 16.

Captcha4903 · 23/02/2026 22:29

Overnight Megabus/Flixbus? I agree it is rather infantilising not being able to sleep in a hotel after a long day!

Mamadothehump · 23/02/2026 22:28

TeenageRooster · 23/02/2026 20:53

I would personally go with them, book a different room and let them go to the gig but that way you're on site for check in and also in the same city if needed. I've done this when my DS has gone to gigs at that age.

This is exactly what DH and I did with DD and her friend (both 17) just last week! Also a gig at the O2. We booked 2 rooms at a premier inn and in usual PI style, self check in wasn’t working. When we checked in at the desk there was a young couple checking in before us and they both got asked for ID (which they showed and were both over 18). Definitely not worth the risk!

Tigerbalmshark · 23/02/2026 22:28

Susieblue18 · 23/02/2026 22:10

Yeah, it’s for UFC. I don’t know what time it finishes and am just worried that it would take ages to get back on the tube. I don’t know London well at all. Do you know what time it finishes, I thought it would be around 11pm

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It says main match starts at 8pm, so even if it runs a bit over, I can’t imagine it will finish any later than 10pm. It’s only 30 minutes on the tube from North Greenwich to Victoria.

namechanged3210 · 23/02/2026 22:26

What about a youth hostel?

AnotherHormonalWoman · 23/02/2026 22:18

Somebody mentioned a sleeper train back. I'd consider National Express coaches for this purpose, too.

SuperMagicHappyForest · 23/02/2026 22:17

I wouldn’t risk it as the worst that could happen is they have nowhere to stay and wandering round London overnight at their age isn’t a practical alternative if PI don’t allow them in.

looks like the YHA is 18plus now, but maybe worth a phone call to them. Google also suggested the park plaza by raddison, not cheap but again worth a phone call because over 12’s have to pay the adult rate. Looks like most of the hostels are 18+

given that you’re in Scotland and not nearby, the only feasible alternative is the overnight bus home.

AnotherHormonalWoman · 23/02/2026 22:17

Do you or his friends' mum know somebody who lives in London who you trust and wouldn't mind asking if they can sofa surf?