Would you leave your 14 yr old at Thorpe Park for the day?

[fishfingersandketchup]

14 yr old DS and three of his friends want to go to Fright Night at Thorpe Park in half term. DS has been twice before on a normal day, with an adult present. He's asked whether it would be a possibility for me to drop them there and leave them, and another adult pick them up. I think the park is open until late (need to check).
I'm not sure, I don't know how I feel about being an hour's drive away. But also I don't know if I'm being over protective. What is the MN wisdom on this please?

Went at that age by train from London with friends. Was fun - went on rides. Was not into alcohol etc and wasnt on a fright night. Pre-mobiles.

I was allowed to go there on the train with a group of friends when I was 14, and stay all day and come back again- right from east London, so a good old distance away. And I’m old so mobile phones weren’t even common place then. Let them go, they’ll have a great time.

Yes assuming they were half sensible. I’d let them use public transport to get there and have a day off to go shopping.

Yes. If someone had an accident or incident staff there would get involved.

Thanks, a mixed bag of replies, I'm going to have a think and talk it over with DH when he gets back from working away. Really helpful to read all the responses.

Yes I would and I have, my ds and his friends went.

My eldest has done this a few times with friends she knew well, from age 12, no concerns at all.
13yo asked some of his newish friends if they wanted to go on an inset day, but none of them were allowed, we don't know any of their parents though.

Yes.
Make sure he has a mobile phone to stay in touch with you. Just a quick text every couple of hours just to let you know all is ok.
The park obviously has lots of adults working there, if there was a problem he could always ask for help.

Yes, and have done. Dd is 14. She has gone with her bf and with good friends. Lots of her friends do the same. If you trust your dd, why not?

Thank you. I do trust him, and he would be good at keeping in touch on his phone if I asked him. I know you're right saying there are adults there to help if there were a problem. I guess I would feel bad though, if it took me an hour to reach him. But I guess chances of that happening are quite low. Lots of good reassurance from you all though.

I would and have from 12. If he is reasonably trustworthy; why not?

Yep. Been doing this since he was 13 for his birthday (falls over the fright night dates). It doesn't finish till 10pm if I remember rightly.

I stay localish but at a friend's house.

Phone needed and a charger. Make sure all friends have your number and pick a collection point before they go in.

@Noboozeforme can I ask how scary the scare mazes are? It all looks a bit realistic on the website, but I'm a bit of a coward!

Fishfinger

They are graded on 'scaryness'. I find them scary and won't go in one! Son has been in once to the least scary and hasn't been back in once since but I think it's different for each person. The lines for the mazes are massive - which might put them off. Also the other rides are pretty much empty while the mazes are open (They don't open till 6pm) which is a great time to get on the rides.

Or tell him to watch other people coming out the mazes for 30 minutes... that should put him off

DD's 11 and wanders around London on her own. Thorpe Park's tiny by comparison.

Thanks NoBooze

If they are a sensible group I'd be happy leaving my 14 year old on a condition they kept in touch at pick up time etc. I'd also check with the park because I know a lot of age limits have changed this year. My daughter couldn't go to a scarefest thing if she was under 16 without an adult x

I think, at 14, basically any daytime activities are more or less ok. We used to go into town (an hour away on the train) from that age, no one picking us up, and tbh, half the time my parents didn't even know we'd gone because we went after they'd gone to work. No mobiles at that time, just left a note saying where we were.

Totally fine imo.