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Original poster

Would you let your Year 10 dc do this?

63 replies

bendmeoverbackwards · 10/02/2022 17:42

Get the tube into Central London on a school night to have a meal and see a show? And get the tube back afterwards? Or would you expect a parent to travel back with them?

OP posts:
BobbinHood · 10/02/2022 18:05

How long is the tube journey? How late would the show finish? I don’t live in london but would have got bus / metro home at 10/10:30pm at that age and would let my DC do the same if they are sensible.

BooksAndHooks · 10/02/2022 18:06

Year 10 yes if they would be coming home together. Mine are used to getting the tube though as we live within 3 min walk of a tube station so safer than getting bus for them.

My year 8 goes to football games and comes home with his friends on the bus safely.

onedayoranother · 10/02/2022 18:07

Go in yes but give them a lift back.

Echobelly · 10/02/2022 18:08

With friends probably, yeah. Oldest in Y9 is fairly streetwise and we live very close to tube, already can go into town in daytime with a mate or two.

Trolleedollee · 10/02/2022 18:11

Yea I would. The tubes are really busy at night. It isn’t going to be that late by the time they come back. My only caveat is that they are met at the station on their way home.

ThePennyJustDropped · 10/02/2022 18:16

@Trolleedollee

Yea I would. The tubes are really busy at night. It isn’t going to be that late by the time they come back. My only caveat is that they are met at the station on their way home.
Ditto this. No walking home from tube, but getting to tube from theatre will be well lit and busy, plus they're in a group.
Magenta82 · 10/02/2022 18:17

Yeah I would, the tube will be busy, they won't be on their own and it seems like an easy route. I was doing similar at 14/15.

SE13Mummy · 10/02/2022 18:20

I would, and did. DC1 is now Y12 but has been going into Central London with friends to see shows since they were in Y10. Provided they are all travelling together, I think it's fine.

marcopront · 10/02/2022 18:24

Do they travel by tube regularly?

DollyPartBaked · 10/02/2022 18:24

Yes but would collect at the local tube station /walk them back from there so get them to text when they're getting on the tube.

Svara · 10/02/2022 18:35

Yes, I'd have been happy for DS to do this from age 14. Assuming they will text and you collect from tube station again at the other end.

TheTurn0fTheScrew · 10/02/2022 18:39

fine if they're regular tube go-ers. I would want them to text before they go underground and meet them at the tube stop. my 14 yo gets a lift back from gigs, but we're in a different city where driving is far less of a ball ache.

CountessOfSponheim · 10/02/2022 18:44

Yes.

DC1 (currently Y12) would have been happy to do it. DC2 (currently Y9) is more twitchy and I don't know how they'd feel about it in a year's time.

foxgoosefinch · 10/02/2022 18:49

@bendmeoverbackwards

It's for my dd's 15th birthday. She wants to see a show in town with 2 friends. I would drop them at the tube station, it's an easy journey without any changes. It's the coming home I'm worrying about. If necessary dh could stay late at work (he works in town) and could accompany them home.
I would have your DH accompany them home. That’s lovely trip for a 15th, but having lived and worked in London I wouldn’t be happy with a group of 14/15 year olds coming home on their own late at night. I think at 15 I’d have been secretly pretty glad if my Dad appeared to look after us at the end of a nice night out.
peboh · 10/02/2022 18:51

Going, I probably wouldn't take an issue with it. However I wouldn't feel confident about allowing my 15 year old to travel back on the tube late in the evening. I've personally felt uncomfortable on the tube when travelling late (I'm 28) when visiting London.
I definitely think if it's an option ask dh to stay late to accompany them home!

duvetdayforeveryone · 10/02/2022 18:57

I would. Sounds like a great birthday celebration :)

AlwaysLatte · 10/02/2022 18:57

On their own? No but I'd be happy to go up with them and mooch about while they watched the show and had some food after. Assuming they would be with responsible friends.

duvetdayforeveryone · 10/02/2022 18:58

But I would meet them at the train station near home.

caranations · 10/02/2022 19:01

Since she's only just 15, I'd suggest they go there on their own, and your DH meets them outside the theatre afterwards.

Then maybe they can come back unaccompanied another time, when they are a little bit older.

Enko · 10/02/2022 19:05

I think I would get your dh to return with them.

I would let them do it for a matinée (and did with dd3 at thar age) I asked dd3 age 18 and she says she is really not sure so I think get dh to collect.

When dd did the matinée her friend was not allowed to go as they would be unaccompanied we live with a direct train link to Victoria and they were seeing Hamilton

blyn72 · 10/02/2022 19:06

Yes I would. Presumably they would be going with a friend or friends.

Original poster
bendmeoverbackwards · 10/02/2022 19:06

Thanks all. My instincts said I wouldn’t be happy about them coming home alone so Dh will meet them afterwards. Will be a bit of a late night but it’s a one off.

OP posts:
chesirecat99 · 10/02/2022 19:09

Mine started taking the tube back after the cinema/theatre/concerts at that age. It's a bit early for drunks on a week night. I would just advise them not to get in an empty carriage or one with just one bloke or one with loud groups of men.

As your DH works in town, it makes sense for him to meet them though. Maybe he could take them to get ice creams or a fizzy drink from the soda machine at Five Guys for the journey back so it feels like a bonus that he has come to meet them rather than an embarrassment Grin

LizziesTwin · 10/02/2022 19:12

Mine used to do this all the time as she did GCSE drama and used to go & see lots of plays in the West End. Really not an issue.

PugInTheHouse · 10/02/2022 19:15

Sounds OK to me. DS1 is Y11 and 15 and recently got the train for 1.5hrs and then a tube to meet his friend who is at school in London. He was on the 8pm-ish train home but if we lived in London and it was just a tube ride to get home after the theatre that would be OK. Obviously depends on the children, you know how reliable/sensible she is.