Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not want so to stay over in London

54 replies

TooMuchJD · 02/02/2018 21:57

DS & his gf are both 17 (18 in a few weeks). They want to go London and stay over for one night together. AIBU to want to say NO!! because I keep imagining scary scenarios where they're mugged/kidnapped etc. and don't feel they're very streetwise being from the sticks and "Up North".
They have been very sensible, got a nice hotel not too far from Oxford St, booked rail tickets, looked at closest tube stations etc. They are paying for it themselves with Xmas money.
He has stayed in London several times but always with family members.
Am I just being a tart about it Confused

OP posts:
Notcontent · 02/02/2018 22:37

They will be fine!! I am a very protective mother and my 11 year old dd is a quite an anxious, risk adverse child. Yet, being a London kid, she travels alone on the bus and tube... London is still pretty safe.

italiancortado · 02/02/2018 22:39

Few hotel's allow under 18'svto stay alone.

There are premier inns all over London that will let you stay from 16.

OP yes you need to cool your jets Grin

LoudBatPerson · 02/02/2018 22:54

YABU.

You need to let him experience life. There are far worse places to visit than London. He is nearly an adult and will be free to travel the whole world.

Many of us manage to be in London everyday without being under constant siege of threats, violence and robberies.

StillPissedOff · 02/02/2018 23:08

The letting go is a major part of parenting, too!
(Quite a good part, too, really!! Smile )

PookieSnackenberger · 02/02/2018 23:14

Some 17 year olds actually manage to live in London without dying.

My kids have been safely travelling around London unaccompanied from age 11. No problems.

They'll have a blast and will be fine.

PookieSnackenberger · 02/02/2018 23:15

@ italiancortado

No idea why but 'cool your jets' always makes me laugh! Grin

AndromedaPerseus · 02/02/2018 23:16

I travelled to London by myself at 17 from up North and no one kidnapped me despite my Granny’s dire warnings.

HateTheDF · 02/02/2018 23:19

YABU. I moved to London from the countryside. I was the least streetwise person you'd ever come across and I'm still here 10 years later. I haven't been mugged or kidnapped or even anything close to that.

Your son will love it, he'll learn some stuff, he'll have fun and it's only a night. There really isn't anything to worry about

DancesWithOtters · 02/02/2018 23:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

happymummy12345 · 02/02/2018 23:26

I was born in and grew up in east London op. I lived there until I was 20. I went out by myself, in the day and at night. I am perfectly fine. I'm still here. There's a lot worse places to go.
I understand why it may be a worrying prospect for someone who isn't used to the place, and it's easy for someone who's spent most of their life there to say, but honestly, it's fine. Plenty of people live and work there and are fine.
I think you're worrying a bit too much. Things happen everywhere, it's life.

nancy75 · 02/02/2018 23:27

It would have to be a terrible slip up to fall in oxford street & land in the Thames 😂

MollyHuaCha · 02/02/2018 23:33

I expect they'll spend a lot of time in their hotel room anyway.

HappyLollipop · 02/02/2018 23:41

Why do people from the north think Londons some sort of gangland where everyone is shady and dangerous? It's London not the favelas of Brazil, worried about 'kidnapping' I've never heard anything so ridiculous Grin I grew up in a rough part of west London and managed to survive I'm sure your son will be fine for a night, relax.

riceuten · 02/02/2018 23:42

Kidnapped? That’s a VERY vivid imagination...

Original poster
TooMuchJD · 02/02/2018 23:49

Thanks for making me feel much better about this Smile and yes I was being sarcastic about the whole kidnapping thing!
He spent a week with his cousin in London last year and survived whilst his Aunt was on her hols Grin

OP posts:
KarmaStar · 02/02/2018 23:56

Hi OP
He sounds very responsible,take pride in him,trust him and send him off with your blessing and a big smile.

crunchymint · 03/02/2018 00:02

They are staying in a decent hotel and will be going to tourist places. The main risk they will face is pickpocketing, so they need to be careful where they keep cash and phones. But apart from that they will be fine. It is pretty low risk what they are doing.

PookieSnackenberger · 03/02/2018 00:09

@ DancesWithOtters

"I feel safer in London than I do in several parts of Norfolk."

PMSL!

blackberryfairy · 03/02/2018 00:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Battleax · 03/02/2018 00:20

Grin @ "slipping and falling in the Thames". I can't remember any such incident EVER being reported.

Yep, just give yourself a shake and get accustomed. You have a few years of these firsts starting now. You'll be okay Cake

crunchymint · 03/02/2018 00:27

You would have to climb up railings and deliberately jump into the Thames.

NorthernLurker · 03/02/2018 00:32

I think this is really sweet for your son and his girlfriend. No chance of mugging etc, they will be too busy shagging. Arrive and shag, go out for food, return to shag, sleep, shag, return home. Sweet.

Nakedavenger74 · 03/02/2018 02:19

Lived in London for 25 years and up north for 15. Never felt even vaguely scared in London. Up north on the other hand. Terrifying gangs of maurading teenagers. Gobshitey women. Sexist men commenting. Empty dark streets. Awful

Lethaldrizzle · 03/02/2018 06:37

I hear there be drugs in London too

EmmaGrundyForPM · 03/02/2018 06:45

Oh ye gods. Really? OP, I've come across some over protective parents but you really take the biscuit.

They really won't get kidnapped.