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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

218 replies

Haxdret · 21/10/2019 18:26

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.

OP posts:
runwithme · 21/10/2019 20:59

Greenwich? They can get a boat there and back from Westminster

ymf117 · 21/10/2019 21:01

I'd go with another mum or a friend for a day out. Even at 16 it's still a big and busy city, even more so for those that don't know London.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 21/10/2019 21:06

Most of the bits of London most people want to visit are absolutely fine.
Camden Market, on the other hand, is not a great place for unaccompanied 13 year olds; at points edgy becomes sleazy.

Spitalfields is a good choice at their age. They can mooch around the market for a bit and meet up with you for food.

exexpat · 21/10/2019 21:06

The other place DD liked round the Brick Lane area last time she went was Boxpark Shoreditch. I didn't go, but I apparently the food was good and all very instagrammable round there...

www.boxpark.co.uk/shoreditch/

AlkaSeltz · 21/10/2019 21:10

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

OK, now I think you are actually trolling. I've lived in London my whole life - 40 years. My mum has lived here her whole life -72 years. My grandpa lived here his whole life - 99 years. None of us have ever been mugged. Wtf kind of idea are you giving your children, on the off chance that this is real?

00100001 · 21/10/2019 21:11

You won't get mugged in London.

Maaaaaaaaaybe pickpocketed.

Isitnearlyweekend · 21/10/2019 21:16

My god absolutely not. Maybe if she was 15. 13 is so young.

megletthesecond · 21/10/2019 21:19

Camden was meant to be cool 30 years ago. It was shit and I've never been back.

applesandacorns · 21/10/2019 21:21

Lot of scare-mongering on this thread. I've been to Camden Market a million times and seen plenty of groups of teenage girls having a fun day out. It's absolutely packed with tourists, it's not some skeezy hang-out. Also, what are people seriously expecting to happen on the train/tube? I see little kids going to school on their own everyday... Some people on here need to get a grip, IMO.

Cyberworrier · 21/10/2019 21:23

Hax, you plus daughters will be fine. Group of out of town thirteen year olds completely different matter. I do recommend Angel as a nice area on way to or from Spitalfields. You can get bus Kings X to Angel, then Angel to Liverpool St/Old St and walk to Spitalfields, see more of London. I grew up outside of London and explored a lot with my mum before bing allowed up with friends at about 15 for galleries and shopping in the early 2000s. I would say gang stuff is more of an issue now and I think there’s a lot more homelessness and poverty visible on the streets.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 21/10/2019 21:23

AlkaSeltz

I think that was a tongue in cheek comment.

Nobody is equating London with a war zone. My DC started taking the bus home before the end of primary school. However, Camden Market is something else again and I wouldn’t want my DC going there at 13. I lived in that area for over a decade.

Cauliflowerpower · 21/10/2019 21:27

Crikey I flew from Dubai to London on my own at 7. I think she'll be ok as you say shes quite mature, with friends and has a phone....

HundredMilesAnHour · 21/10/2019 21:28

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

Really?? What medium sized market town are you comparing it to?

Some interesting reading here. Tower Hamlets is the 5th most 'dangerous borough' in London, and within Tower Hamlets the Brick Lane area has the most crime.

www.mylondon.news/news/east-london-news/revealed-most-dangerous-places-live-15664764

But Camden had more crime than Tower Hamlets so it's all relative Wink

I'm not trying to freak you out OP. You'll be fine. I've lived in the area for over 20 years and never had any problems. Unlike Hampstead and Highgate!! Just keep your wits about you. There are so many tourists milling around these days that there are much easier targets than you. Grin

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)

Gilbert & George still live in the area. They own quite a few properties now including several on Fournier St (their original home and studio). I've seen them quite a few times on Brick Lane itself (during the week of course). I'm not sure about Tracey Emin. She still lived in the area last year but I'm not sure if she's still local.

The real hipsters have all moved to Hackney Wick these days but there's still a buzz around Brick Lane/Shoreditch so I'm sure you'll enjoy yourselves.

IdblowJonSnow · 21/10/2019 21:31

No. Go with your gut. I went last year and didn't see any kids unaccompanied by adults.
What do the other parents think?
Can't an adult travel down with them and give them a few hours to shop and get lunch?

Elodie2019 · 21/10/2019 21:32

Yes but if she wants to go to Camden market she needs to go to Chalk Farm tube and walk (in a straight line) down the road to the good bit.

The dodgy outdoor market near to Camden tube is vile and like any dodgy market around the UK. Circled in red.

She'll have seen the 'cool' artsy market (Chalk Farm end) & it's great! I've circled it green.

Elodie2019 · 21/10/2019 21:33

Oops! Here's the map!

To not want my dd to go to London on the train?
00100001 · 21/10/2019 21:35

@Cauliflowerpower “Crikey I flew from Dubai to London on my own at 7.“

You would of have been taken to the airport by any adult, escorted all the way by an adult, handed over to another adult on arrival at the airport who would have taken you to wherever you were going.

Not the same situation at all! Confused

Original poster
Haxdret · 21/10/2019 21:37

Being taken to the airport by an adult and then collected by an adult at the other end is completely safe and i wouldn't be concerned. If you had arrived in New York and travelled into Manhattan by yourself at 7 then I'd be impressed.

OP posts:
Cauliflowerpower · 21/10/2019 21:38

True. I still think it's over the top at 13!

Mumofboth · 21/10/2019 21:39

I wouldn’t. I’m not going to insult your intelligence by telling you the dangers but I think 13 is too young for a two hour train journey. Camden market I don’t think is particularly dangerous but I wouldn’t let my 13 year old.

Cauliflowerpower · 21/10/2019 21:39

Mind you..... call me in 9 years when my two are 13.... I might think differently!!!!! 😂🤣👍

Original poster
Haxdret · 21/10/2019 21:40

alkaseltz i wasn't being completely serious Wink

I lived in London for 10 years or so, but that was 20 years ago!

OP posts:
recededpronunciation · 21/10/2019 21:44

Mine started travelling from one side of the country to the other, across London, at 13. We live in the sticks, very very rural, but had been up to London a few times so she was comfortable with finding her way around on the underground. Key thing was that she felt confident to do it. If your daughter feel comfortable and happy to use her brain and voice if there’s some sort of problem, then she will have a great time and the sense of responsibility is really empowering.

Original poster
Haxdret · 21/10/2019 21:46

Yes she's very comfortable on the underground and she's good in a crisis. But anyway she's sticking with me and dd17 tomorrow and I'm sure we'll have a good time.

Wonder if there are any good exhibitions we could go to?

OP posts:
2stepsonthewater · 21/10/2019 21:47

Camden market = touristy, but also druggy and lots of street crime.