To let two 17 year olds stay in a hotel in London on their own

[Susieblue18]

My son wants to go to an event at the O2 arena in March with a friend. They will be almost 17 but hotels are saying they can’t stay without an over 18 present. I even checked with St Christopher’s hostel and they’re the same, even with a room for 2. I know some of the premier Inns and travelodges are self check in, are they likely to get away with this? I phoned a couple of hotels but they’re said they will ask for ID.

Agree with this and personally it's what I would do.

My son and a group of friends did this at age 17. Brighton not London. The hotel asked to speak to me on the phone when they checked in and took my contact details. I had to agree to cover any damages to the room (there were none and I trusted them).

Mega bus used to have an overnight bus to Scotland (can’t remember where exactly as I only used it to Sheffield). It would leave Victoria at 1am

Private rooms can be booked for 16 plus, just checked

I think it's quite telling even if unintentional that you said they were 17 in your title, as you knew it would be unlikely for anywhere to take 2 16 year olds

Even if they are days away from 17 they will still both be 16 at the time of the stay. It makes no difference to the accommodation if they are 16 and 1 day or 16 and 364 days.

I think your best bet is to book travel home in the evening, a coach company rather than try and find somewhere for them to stay.

There are coaches back up to either Edinburgh or Glasgow at 2am, getting in early morning. They can sleep on the coach then get a train back to your town in the morning. Yes it’s a pain, but not as much of a pain as sleeping in the station overnight because the Premier Inn won’t let them in.

I had this when my DS was 17 and I think he was only 6/7 weeks away from 18 at the time. Wanted to go to a concert and so tried finding a hotel to now avail! Even all travelloges, premier inn, air bnbs etc all were over 18! I'm with you, it does seem crazy there are no real options.

With the greatest of respect and as a mum of four now adults : no

They still do but the one direct to Glasgow is 11.45ish, I use it often.
Their may be a later one though.

If they look 17/18 it should be fine. Ds has done it loads of times as have his friends

I thought you had to show ID to prove you are over 18.

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They will rarely ask for it

Borrow a cousin / older siblings ID would solve the issue, if feasible? Wild that they aren't allowed to stay! Me and two friends backpacked in England for a few weeks at 17 (in the school holidays). Such a great experience! Never occurred to us that we wouldn't be allowed to stay in a bnb?! And I'm 34 so not ancient.

If this is the UFC match, they will easily be able to get over to Victoria to get on the 23:00 coach up to Glasgow. Sleep on the coach, get in at 7:30am, get an onwards train to wherever they need to get back to. Likely cheaper too.

Yeah, it’s for UFC. I don’t know what time it finishes and am just worried that it would take ages to get back on the tube. I don’t know London well at all. Do you know what time it finishes, I thought it would be around 11pm

That's a hell of a lot of extra expense

I find it crazy that hotels won’t allow this, surely this is putting 16 year olds in the vulnerable position of sleeping in train stations etc.

I wouldn’t let him stay of the hotel is likely to turn them away but wouldn’t have a problem otherwise.

Do you or his friends' mum know somebody who lives in London who you trust and wouldn't mind asking if they can sofa surf?

I wouldn’t risk it as the worst that could happen is they have nowhere to stay and wandering round London overnight at their age isn’t a practical alternative if PI don’t allow them in.

looks like the YHA is 18plus now, but maybe worth a phone call to them. Google also suggested the park plaza by raddison, not cheap but again worth a phone call because over 12’s have to pay the adult rate. Looks like most of the hostels are 18+

given that you’re in Scotland and not nearby, the only feasible alternative is the overnight bus home.

Somebody mentioned a sleeper train back. I'd consider National Express coaches for this purpose, too.

What about a youth hostel?

It says main match starts at 8pm, so even if it runs a bit over, I can’t imagine it will finish any later than 10pm. It’s only 30 minutes on the tube from North Greenwich to Victoria.

This is exactly what DH and I did with DD and her friend (both 17) just last week! Also a gig at the O2. We booked 2 rooms at a premier inn and in usual PI style, self check in wasn’t working. When we checked in at the desk there was a young couple checking in before us and they both got asked for ID (which they showed and were both over 18). Definitely not worth the risk!

Overnight Megabus/Flixbus? I agree it is rather infantilising not being able to sleep in a hotel after a long day!