Kirstie Allsop's 15 Year Old Son

[ImAFemaleVersionOfRoyKeane]

Kirstie Allsop has just posted on X (Twitter) that her 15 year old son has just returned from inter-railing around Europe.

He was accompanied by his 16 year old friend.

AIBU to think this is too young?

These situations may seem OK but at that age they think they are invincible, so they can be impulsive and not make the best decisions, especially when something goes wrong!

Absolutely agree…your DD sounds like mine. She caught the travel bug at 16 when her and her Polish bestie went to Poland for 3 weeks for a music festival. She’s 24 now and has covered more than 30 countries, completely self-financed and like your DD thinks absolutely nothing of getting a flight to some random place off the beaten track and staying in hostels for £3 a night. She’s had some absolutely amazing experiences both alone and with fellow solo travellers - just back from a month in Indonesia swimming with wild turtles, exploring temples in the jungle and climbing into volcanoes - and it’s moulded her into the most independent, capable human I know tbh. My younger son is starting to do the same. Of course I worry sick when they’re away but at the same time too many young adults are cosseted by their parents to the point that they’re being crippled one way or another.
Let them go.

You've never heard of youth hostels? Did you never travel around Europe as a teenager? I thought it was a right of passage thing.

Absolutely fine.

Went to France for a week post O'levels (1980s) with a couple of friends- sayed in hostels. Kirsty's son would have a mobile phone so even easier to keep tabs. I can't remember phoning home at all - sent a postcard.

In the UK, there's no law against it. In fact there's no mention in any law of the age at which a child can be left alone overnight. It's only an offense if they're deemed to be 'at risk'.

The NSPCC recommend 16ish. But in practice it depends on the circs and the kid.

8, bless him! My own father joined the Royal Marines at 15. He was in before the start of WW2 so was being torpedoed as a teenager.

"most likely have that extreme confidence elite privately educated children so often have, will have endless pot of cash and most probably have a number of friends who they can just pop in and stay with"

That is the difference. Friends and family who can get them help or get to them, wherever they are. Being worth £16 million cushions most things. She's always given them independence. She left them in economy while travelling first class etc.

I had bucket loads of freedom beyond the norm I think when I was a teen in the early 2010s, and even I think this is very young. But a responsible nearly 16 year old absolutely can fend for themselves in this kind of situation and come out unscathed, as is evident from her son's experience. I'd be worried about him getting trouble because of his age potentially, while trying to book places to stay or buying things, but he was obviously fine. I bet it's dragged him up a few years on the maturity scale, given him an amazing experience he will never forget and probably given him the travel bug - so he will know he's capable of doing it in the future alone. Incredible opportunity to see the world, fair play to the lad.

Inter-railing passes don't entitle you to first class travel and I imagine he'll have stayed in hostels/camped as most hotels won't permit under 18s to stay alone.

Poshos tend to be very good at slumming it - boarding school, OTC and rural life make them rather better prepared for rough living than you might think.

It's not even a recent thing over protective parents. My parents were incredibly protective of me , but my mum was the victim of child abuse as a young child and having a girl kind of threw them , so everyone was seen as a danger. It's not always black and white why some tend to be more protective than others might be. It's a fine balance I think.

I recall doing that with a group on a London day trip down from Yorkshire. We were on the Embankment and pointed out all the sights they could visit easily, See you back here in a couple of hours. When they returned many had been to the Abbey, Parliament etc but one group were a few minutes late back, they'd been on the tube to visit as many as First Division football grounds as they could manage.

Posho's?
If somebody mentions chavs or common people here, they are flamed, yet being rude about the people percieved as having money, if fair game
Amazing levels of double-standards and jealousy today

15 seems way too young to do this sort of trip.

I agree about rudeness and understand your point. But it’s not quite the same given the context of shocking class discrimination and very high wealth inequality in UK. Like saying it’s the same if women say sexist things about men. While wrong, it’s not quite the same because we live in a patriarchal society, which is structurally discriminatory to women. And I don’t get what sounded jealous about that post. I think most working class people are proud of who they are, rather than jealous.

You can get married at 16, and have a baby at 16, join the Army etc. It's fine to leave them overnight alone.

Wish I'd had the balls to do it at that age or parents that actively took an interest in encouraging me to see the world.

Good on the lad

She obviously felt he was mature enough to go with a friend.
I'm sure he wouldn't have been hitchhiking and staying in rat infested accommodation on his parents budget
There's so many modes of communication and I'm sure she would've have rescued him if in trouble
It's not comparable really
Money and contacts are invaluable.

It is young for most kids but KA’s son will have travelled extensively all his life, they has homes in various countries, his friends probably have homes in multiple countries too, he’d have credit cards and back up cards, friends who have previously travelled have bags of confidence and be completely comfortable booking into hotels.

It is not a like for like situation so it is not realistic to have a blanket opinion about ages.

You "allowed" you adult Daughter to go abroad ?

Kirsty loves making controversial statements to get a reaction and handing out 'advice' on how to operate our lives. 'Do as I say' not Do as I do' springs to mind. Have you ever watched Property Ladder and seen her advising young people to not be soooo fussy and just put an offer on the pokey little place she has found for them.... Meanwhile back at Kirstie mansions she is living in the lap of luxury.

Ergo her 'handmade Christmas' claptrap

Please do a quick Google search to avail yourself of the available information.

You're right - she should advise them to put in an offer on a mansion like hers.

I mean, I don't like the woman, as I've said, but I hardly think it's hypocritical, in that show, to suggest that people buy what they can afford.

My problem with her is that she has a tendency to tell them that the things that matter to them don't matter. It's not that she's a hypocrite - I mean, I think she's pretty consistent - it's that she's bossy.

None of which, really, has anything to do with speculation as to how she treats her kids. She hasn't actually contributed to this exchange. I speculated that she probably brings them up one way, and you suggested making a bet that she raised them another way. Neither of us have consulted her. Perhaps we should.

But its part of the same parcel isn't it? She would never dream of compromising on her high standards but rides roughshod over other people's preferences in an obnoxious and officious manner. She is unbearable and I do not trust her statements as she loves to show off and say controversial things for the sake of it. For instance she previously stated that she puts her kids in economy while she goes in first class. Who cares Kirstie - we know she is broadcasting this to demonstrate her manufactured 'laissez affair' approach to parenting for shock value.

I don't think anyone has been able to clarify how her 15 year old son stayed at hostels across the stated destinations with a 16 year old have they?

So no I don't believe it is as how she has stated it.

Using the derogatory term 'posho' and assuming they have money and that they went to boarding school
Thete is much envy across MN in general, but today, almost every thread had some envious bint wittering on about how people with dosh are 'x, y, or, z' in their behaviour or outlook

@PointsSouth

nasty & unnecessary.

i personally think she seems like a nice person, but that's irrelevant just like your personal opinion.

@Vettrianofan the legal age for marriage in the UK is now 18. It only rose to 16 in 1929, horrifying.

I think I've achieved something here...

In the same thread I'm being told off both for attacking Kirstie Allsop and for defending Kirstie Allsop.

I might take a shot at Giles Coren next.