16 year old going to a gig in Camden.

[jellycake]

I need some really clear views especially from people who live in London and the surrounding area. Ds is 16, 17 in August wants to go to a 14+ gig in Camden next Monday night. I have said no. We live in Basildon so it's easy to get there but to get to Camden, he would need to get three tubes.
My reasons are:

1. He has college the next day.
2. He is only 16
3. It's in Camden which will be fine to get to, but dodgier getting home if the gig doesn't finish til gone 10. Last train home is 11:05 pm.

He is currently not talking to me
AIBU? I lived in a tiny Welsh village as a teenager and never wanted to do this sort of thing. He has been up to London with a group of friends before but that was in the day for a Comic Con.
Feeling guilty and unreasonable, don't have a DP/ DH to discuss this with.

I wouldn't, but only because it's a school night.
I was going to gigs in Camden from 13 yo so his age isn't an issue, I'm sure he is capable of negotiating the train/tube changes!

I wouldnt. It's a college night.

Really? One groggy morning due to tiredness and a memory-giving night of fun won't hurt this lads chances of completing college.

And Eve - your son has enough time to do some dry runs and familiarise himself with the route.....

Yep really. here. Weekends and school holidays fine. School night, no.

i used to go to gigs at Brixton Academy from the age of 14 (lived on the N.Kent/S.London borders at the time).

Once you're in the venue it's comparatively safe, and Camden High St is always busy. i agree that timekeeping is the big one here - lots of gigs go on until approx 11, which is the curfew at most venues. Is there an alternative station that's fairly near that you could pick him up from/get a cab from if the gig runs over? Our station was Bromley South, but if we missed the last train we could get one to Orpington instead, and share a cab from there.

My dd went to a concert age 15. Due to the twat pop star being two hours late on stage she finally made it home at 3am and I got her up for school at 7am. She was fine! It's not like it's every night.

Justin Bieber?

It's only 20 minutes by tube to Liverpool St from Camden or there's a direct bus from opposite the tube to L/S that takes about 40 minutes if he has enough time.

I live in Camden Town and can be on hand if there's a drama if you like, OP.
Let me know and I'll pm you my number.

Id let him go- on the proviso you get a text when is there, when he is leaving and when he is on the train. Thats the best compromise id come up with! Also drop off and pick up from the station.

I wouldnt stop him because its a school night. One night out isnt going to harm him is it.

I would let him go- esp if he will be with a friend (?). Camden isn't as dodgy as it used to be. I used to go from Wales to the Camden Palace clubbing, and get the mail train home. (I saw Madonna there , her first UK gig. She was terrible...)
I was 18 then but not streetwise.
You could go with him and have a meal out in Camden while he's at the gig, if you are worried.

I remember before Christmas agonizing about letting my ds go and see Star Wars at a minute past midnight on the day when school had unexpectedly decided to schedule a BTec final exam..............:) According to many on here I was condemning him to a life of shelf stacking if he was lucky if I let him go...............

I think id be nervous but Camden is generally just really friendly. Yes more and more people are getting drunk as it gets late but it's a proper community where everyone knows each other too. So I think it's pretty safe. Just as long as he leaves enough time to get the train. There will be lots of people going in his direction as he heads out. They say there's safety in numbers. I think Camden is like that.

well, only you can judge if he is responsible enough to handle crazy London, will tell you truthfully where he is, use good judgement etc etc

If you are worried about danger, that's a different issue. Camden is pretty safe.

Basildon is served by both Liverpool Street and Fenchurch St Downstairsmixup

I used to do this lots, from the age of 14. Was fine. And I wasn't a particularly savvy sort of kid, though I was sensible old before my time.

As others have said the issues are 1) will he have a friend with him and 2) getting that last train - gig very likely to go on till 11. Can you set up an Uber account for him perhaps? Don't let him get a black cab it will bankrupt you, or a dodgy "anyone wanna ride" minicab.

Camden is as safe as anywhere else these days and there will be loads of people around.

But you absolutely need to have a contingency plan for when he misses the train! The timing doesnt leave any room for error.

Depending on the size of venue it can take time to get out and then down onto the tube platform, and at 10.45pm trains will be less frequent than at rush hour especially on the Northern Line city branch.

Been through this: in the end my ds went to many gigs and came home in one piece. I used to insist on a couple of extra things.

1. That I had the phone number of at least one or two of the friends he was going with and that he gave them my number in return (because if he lost his phone or got separated from his mates then at least they could phone me, or me them). OMG he hated this rule so much
2. If anything made him uncomfortable or his friends started being idiots he could call on me to come and get him or pay for a taxi if needs be, no questions asked.

I'm glad you've changed your mind OP.

I lived in Essex but on the tube. But in Basildon you have quick trains into Liverpool Street - my brother lives that way - so that should be fine.

I went from the eastern end of the Central Line to my first gig in Hammersmith at 14. I think that was two changes. Maybe three.

Like you've said to him, I knew the route and went with friends who stuck together. My dad met me at the station but if I was a 17 year old boy he'd have stayed at home. He did with me when I was 17 . It was a safe walk though.

I was even allowed to do this on a school night.

Bet he'll love it. You'll fret until you hear his key in the door though

I think this is fine. I went out to gigs younger than this. School night should be a one off. Would he be going back to Basildon with mates? Is there a night bus he could get in case of emergency.

Thank you everybody! I am now a cool mum! I think I will offer to pick them up from Upminster as there are more trains and he will be able to watch more of the gig if I do that.

If you're worried about him getting multiple tubes then he could get the Overground from Stratford to Camden Road.