Kirstie Allsop's 15 Year Old Son

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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!

Yes I agree. I don’t think it indicates jealousy to say that coming from a privileged background helps. It’s just stating facts! He would probably be used to at least annual ski trips, and extensive travel generally. And posh school trips help. As does speaking a foreign language and family or friends with second homes abroad. A lot easier if you have some spare cash to fall back on in an emergency. But good for him anyway!

It’s just a lot harder if money is very tight, your school trips go no further than the local amusement park, languages aren’t an option at o level, you’ve never been abroad before, or even out of your home town much.

Surely at 18 you don't 'allow them'.
They can do what they want as they are adults.

I mean he’s fifteen not five, interrailing in europe is very easy, the majority of stations are well manned and any missed trains etc are easily resolved. If they can catch a train in the UK and walk to a location they can do it in europe, I’d be quite embarrassed if my fifteen year old who had left school couldn’t do it, it would be a huge sign that me and my husband had done a fairly rubbish job of raising our children.

If your daughter was eighteen I’m not sure you allowed anything 😂 Unless you mean you funded the trip and thus allowed it to take place.

18 snd 19 year olds are usually impulsive and make bad decisions, I'd say a lot of young people are still like that it their 20s too. They have the option to drink alcohol too which increases the risk.

Way too young imo, not something I would let mine do at 15.

Interestingly I don’t think K would have let her DD do this.

Yes, I went interrailing with one female friend at the age of 19. No internet or mobile phones then, and we were probably a lot more naive than kids our age would be now.

We too slept in a lot of dodgy places and had a few close shaves, but overall a very positive experience which we still talk about over 3 decades on. I'm sure Allsop's son is perfectly fine.

To
clarify - under 18 accommodation eg air bnbs are out, most are out etc

Brilliant experience for him.

Or that the kids had SEN.

I’m more amazed they found places he could stay (unless he stayed with friends)

My daughter is 16 and her friends all wanted to go on a holiday after GCSEs, but couldnt find anywhere that would take them. They’re all so trustworthy too :-(

I don't see it, because it wasn't at all 'sarky' or 'mean-spirited' - that is your erroneous interpretation.

You have a good day, now.

What an amazing summer for him.

I’d rather mine did that at 16 than head off to festivals.

He’s just young for his school year. Interrailing post GCSE isn’t unusual at all.

My friend and I went interailing at 16.

We didn’t ask our parents. We both worked and saved and paid for ourselves.
Think 16 was seen as older in the 80s.

We were away for 6 weeks and it was very very challenging but also a wonderful experience.

Had no problem finding places to stay from hotels in Rome through to youth hostels.
Never an issue

I did this when I was 16, pre mobile phones. We stayed in youth hostels, which were hairier than i probably told my mother once back home. I was definitely not from a privileged background but was very independent from young so was phased at all. By contrast no way my 15 year old would fancy a similar trip - he’s no less smart or sensible but lacks the gung-ho attitude I had (which drives me crazy but also suits me fine when I hear what his peers have done).

Sounds like she bought up a sensible lad, who she trusts.

Too many kids these days being wrapped up in cotton wool, who can’t do a thing for themselves in adulthood!

I think the context is important. This isn’t a teenager who has never left the country or city they live in. They will be well travelled, have connections across Europe and have the confidence that public school gives kids. They likely travelled around Europe staying with friends and family along the way.

It will get her some much wanted attention though I am sure.

A lot of hostels are Ok, from memory

I know 3 brothers who tried this. Both under 18 and the youth hostels wouldn't let them stay.
So not sure how a 15 and 16 magaged it.

Ah yes, no mobiles at all so only contact when found a pay phone and parents were at home at same time.

None of your (or our) business. Just because you disagree doesn't make it wrong.

Nope
tried those too!
not even possible in a lot of English hostels when looking at universities and that's same country

Oh and also I had never been abroad prior to going imtetailing for six weeks.

Funny because we didn’t think it was an issue in any way and we did survive.
When I think of my teenager doing it in a few years it would worry me.