Ds 10 and 11 travel to meet friends.

[Whatsmyname66]

My ds are 10 and 11 go to a school quite far from home. So that means their friends are not local to us. Recently I have been letting them travel to the area. To the local park, to meet up with their friends. It takes about 40 mins by bus. So it means they can't just pop home. If they need to. I give them snacks and a drink to take. And they can refill with water. I don't drive so I can't drop of or pic up. I started letting them because they miss out playing with their friends. They seem to be happy with it. But I'm not sure if its such a good idea. We are in London from zone 3 to 4.

Too young to be travelling that far away from you unsupervised imho OP. If they needed you you're at least 40 minutes away from being able to help? Could you not travel with them and sit in the park or nearby to ensure their safety?

The thing is they want to play all day with their friends not just a couple of hours. And I was also thinking about then travelling to school alone since the oldest will be going to secondary school.
Safe wise they have a phone each. And if it was urgent I can contact their friends parents. But part of me is still not sure . I think children would normal play local to their home.

Too young. Too many opportunities to be groomed by older teens into county lines etc. If you live that far away you need to arrange things where children come to you or you go and supervise

Absolutely not.

I'm a very relaxed parent and encourage independence, I'm the opposite of over protective, but even I think this is too young for this.

Is there another parent you know in the area that they could go to? If it would take you at least 40mins to get to them that's really not okay.
My ds has friends that live a bit further but same village, maybe a mile walk and I'm happy for my home to be base for them when they're playing out here, to use the loo, get a drink or wait for parent to collect them. I'm not responsible for them in anyway, but they know they can come here if they need anything and their mum knows me.

I do think at that age you should be travelling with them and/or dropping them off somewhere. Not letting them travel themselves to just hang around. So many things could go wrong in the scenario.

I actually don't think travelling on the bus together is an issue, but I wouldn't want to be 40 minutes away (plus however long until the next bus is due) without their being another adult "on duty".

Absolutely too young - what if something happened and they needed you? How would you get to them quickly? How would they contact you?
So basically an 11-year-old is responsible for the 10-year-old?
Complete madness and I'm afraid I think totally totally irresponsible of you.

too young.
Tbh I was a free roaming city child in 80s and going for a day at a distance 40 minutes by bus at 10 y.o. would be too much even for me..

I was thinking exactly the same!