AIBU to let 14yo DD go on a day trip to London?

[MoFoFlo]

It's DD's 14th birthday soon and she's said she would like to go to London for the day with her best friend who's 15. We're in Manchester, so a 2 hour train ride away. They're planning to go to Oxford Street and Covent Garden to go shopping and visit a cafe they've seen on Instagram. Both girls are pretty sensible, used to big cities and have been to London with parents several times.

I would have done this sort of trip in my early teens and am more than happy for her to go. However, DH thinks she's too young and it's too dangerous .

Would you let your 14 year old go?

No. You go as well but leave them to do the things they want, meet up for lunch and the train home.

They will be fine. I used to go to all sorts of cities this age and go shopping... if I wasn’t out getting drunk in a park 😂

Manchester to London is quite far to go at that age. I think it does make a difference that their used to big cities, if it were my DD (who's just turned 14) I would say no without hesitation. If they can get around Manchester on their own then they would probably be able to handle London it's just they're a long way away if anything does happen. I would maybe go with them but let them go off on their own for a while whilst you're there

I flew to the States at 13 with my 14 year old best friend to see family friends. Had a delay and had to stay in another state over night. I'm still alive...

That's a long way to travel to go to some shops you can probably get in Manchester. I would assume the train tickets would be very expensive unless you do pre booked tickets. The problem with these you are often confined to catching a specific train at a specific time. If you don't know London it can be very difficult to judge how long it will take to do what looks like a quick journey on the tube back to the station to catch the train. If they miss the return train they will be well and truly stuck in London unless they have the means to purchase new tickets.
It's a long way to go for a day trip to do a bit of shopping. A long weekend would be nicer. With an adult to do a few tourist things with and then go off and do the shopping on their own for a few hours.

Also Oxford Street is nothing special. Except for Selfridge's all the shops are the same old high street retailers you get anywhere. It's crowded and the traffic fumes are horrible. There are much nicer places to shop.

DD1 (15) has been allowed to go into London with a friend for a good year or more, since Y9 basically, but we are in commuting distance.

Would I have allowed her to go for a day trip to London from Manchester at 14? Yes probably. But it depends how sensible they are and whether they would cope with the Tube and so on.

BTW, I was allowed to go to Manchester with a friend from age 14 and it was very dodgy around Piccadilly station in the late 80s/90s. Loads of mugging, you really had to watch yourself. And of course we headed for Tibb Street market and Afflecks.

Yes.

But I would book them first class on the train, any problems then they have access to the lounges and on the train someone to ask if things do change.

Check if they are meeting someone and take appropriate action.

Some spare money sewn into clothing in case they do get mugged.

Check rules and book the cafe - well get her to do it.

I think if it’s their first time then I’d go too, help them get acclimatised and guide them to their first destination then go off by myself for the day and meet them to go home. I live in London and safety-wise I’m sure if they can manage Manchester they can manage London. For me it’d be more about them getting lost or if there’s a train cock up or whatever and being able to come and help out if needed. I did similar with a friend and her mum at that age, but we were total bumpkins! Then if they have a good day then next time they don’t need mum tagging along.

I would, but like others have said I would also go for the day so I am in the same area at least, in case there is a problem.

We took our girls similar age abs to mix up the shopping went to Royal Academy summer exhibition which was very funky despite eye rolling about going to an art gallery they enjoyed it and differentiates London from other big city. Carnaby street fun too mine love the American diner there