To not want my dd to go to London on the train?

[Haxdret]

Its a 2 hour journey on the train then the tube to where they want to go. Would you let yours do this? She's 13. Travelling with one other then meeting two friends en route.

Camden Lock has some pretty insalubrious characters loitering around and the area is pretty popular as a hang out spot for gangs. I work nearby. Also not great for vintage! Don’t forget Covent Garden for vintage shops around Endell street. A couple of lovely but expensive ones still surviving in Camden passage in angel.

Fab! Enjoy!

I live and work in London as do my friends and colleagues. We don't feel as you say you do.

And yet the people I mix with do 🤷‍♀️

Funny isn't it? You'd almost think that we all have different perceptions that my be influenced by the different areas we live in and the different kinds of lives we lead.

I wouldn't bother with the 24/7 beigel bakery because it's just, well, bagels (and a nice cheesecake). The food stalls I Spitalfields will be fun. Otherwise there is the usual Giraffe etc

My point, @CarolDanvers, was you holding out to non Londoners that Londoners are living in fear so, no, don't let your teenage children visit. Just wanted to counterbalance The London Fear

@AlkaSeltz

Ok, so you would have been fine getting on a train to say Birmingham, finding your own way to the bullring market, going round and then getting home again at 11 years old?

It's easy when you know the place, and are making a straightforward daily journey... different ballgame when you don't know the place

Petticoat Lane - cheaper & cheerful tat - is in Middlesex Street and parallel to Spitalfields. But Spitalfields is more arty

Have a great time OP!

My dd is at university in London - in her week she and some people from her halls went to Camden market. They saw two people get arrested on the way there, and two more arrests in the market itself!

There’s no way I’d allow a 13 year old to go there with no adults. Camden market is sleazy and tacky.

If they are sensible and stick together they will be ok. New friends, not so much

My son flew on his own when he was 12 - but I would not have allowed him to travel to London on his own to meet friends. If they all go together from the same station and come back to the same station, then perhaps.

was you holding out to non Londoners that Londoners are living in fear so, no, don't let your teenage children visit. Just wanted to counterbalance The London Fear

Oh I do apologise. I didn't realise I actually had to spell out that I wasn't speaking personally for every single Londoner when I posted my thoughts, but only was in agreement with a previous poster, and speaking generally of what I observe and experience myself in my large circle of family, friends and acquaintances in the area we live in. I do hope it's clearer now.

Even my 16 year old doesn't like being out and about too much these days. As a previous poster said, things don't feel quite right at the minute

Fair enough, I do not know anyone at all who feels that way in London at the moment! It's half term for most of the kids, and people are only concerned about overcrowding of kids this week.

Um provided she knows how to use a tube not sure what the problem is? Aged 13 me and friends were getting a one hour train to our nearest big city to go shopping. The world is not more dangerous now

I used to at that age, but then I lived half an hour away on the train.

Aged 13 me and friends were getting a one hour train to our nearest big city to go shopping

Yes, I'd let her travel one hour away. I've just checked and it would take 2.5 hours then a further 25 mins on the tube. Not really the same

Just saw your update. Spittalfields will be fine, and if you let her go off on her own for a bit and observe her while you're there you can get a better sense of how well she's adapting to things. Take her to Portabello Rd if she wants to scope out clothes though.

people are only concerned about overcrowding of kids this week.

See I don't know anyone who's expressed concern about that. We've had multiple stabbings in the area, one in Westfield, less than half a km away from us just last week, a place where my ds regularly goes. He says things feel weird at the minute and prefers to steer clear. I have a friend who is a senior police officer in West London and he explained it as "yeah it's a "nice" area but it's very different for the youngsters who live here". He said "when you cross Shepherds Bush Green to go and do your shopping you aren't worried about anything except your shopping are you? It's very different for many of the teens round here who have to be watching their backs, watch what they say and who'd be looking over the shoulder all the time".

It made a lot of sense to me. Teens and young people lead their own lives and they're often very different and more risky than ours whether we like it or not,

Go over to Brick Lane, the vibe is similar to Camden, but not really touristy.

I disagree. These days Spitalfields is incredibly touristy.
( I live nearby). Spitalfields itself is incredibly sanitised and full of chain shops and restaurants (the independents have mostly moved out because rents are so high). Brick Lane is less sanitised and more independent-orientated but there is a more 'unsavoury' element here so keep your wits about you OP. Some of the sidestreets/alleyways are 'home' to a lot of drug activity so stay on the main streets (Brick Lane, Hanbury St, etc) and don't be tempted to wander away from the main drag. You won't notice the drugs unless you go looking for it but it does mean there's a high rate of opportunistic crime (not helped by the Spitalfields area only having TWO full time police!) You'll be fine as long as you keep an hand on your bag/phone and don't wander down any alleys. And ignore any begging.

Spitalfields is open every day other than a Saturday

Not true. Spitalfields is open every day of the week although very quiet on Mon, Tues, etc. It is increasingly busy and crowded on Sat although not at the same level as the Sun madness.

Pleased you got it sorted.
My brother would like dd to travel to london on her own near Christmas. Doncaster to london, so 2hrs and he would meet her there. He says first class (booked in advance so cheaper) would be safest. However she is a very confident 12 and a half year old who would easily pass for 16. I'm more worried about the train journey and who would be sat with her than london itself.
I've also said no, maybe at 15 when shes a bit more worldly wise.

Hope you enjoy it. The food stalls in Spitalfields market are brilliant - you can go round grazing (I recommend the Taiwanese dessert stand). The market-style vintage clothes places round Brick Lane I think are weekend only, but there are some shops as well - just wander along Hanbury Street to get to Brick Lane from Spitalfields and see what you find. A lot of it will be well beyond a 13-year-old's budget, but she should enjoy browsing, spotting interesting street art and so on.

There is also an amazing chocolate shop called Dark Sugars (very expensive but you only need one or two, or try the hot chocolate) near the corner of Hanbury St and Brick Lane.

Is there anywhere in London that's trendy, arty, pretty and cool, where we probably won't get mugged??!?

Look up the history of the area and try to spot the artist studios (well they used to be there - Gilbert & George and Tracy Emin) also the Hawksmoor church (creepy).

Have a lovely time. London really isn't that scary. No worse than any medium-sized market town in terms of crime.

Chances of getting mugged anywhere in central London in daylight are low. Anywhere with crowds there is the chance of pickpockets and handbag thieves, so be sensible with money and phones, but really there is nothing to worry about unless you wander off down dark deserted alleyways.