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.

Nope I dislike London immensely and tend to avoid it.

And why are you assuming that I even drive,?

Sorry if I've read the situation wrong, but letting a 16/17 year old from Essex travel into London on their own just feels different to letting a 16/17 year old from Scotland do the same. Maybe it is not that different, I'm just trying to help OP with her dilemma.

Came on also to say YHA. You are allowed to stay unaccompanied at 16 - I stayed in one myself in the last month and asked the same specific question. Book a private room as PPs have said.

Hoy is it different. Train in then transport across London to wherever.?

Smarthostel

I went with my DS and his friend and did the same. I am doing the same again in a few weeks then they turn 18 a few weeks after so they'll be ok

In one London hotel they refused to let us check in until I had an email from his friends mum to say I was allowed to bring him. They can be so strict.

Even for the sleeper?

Can’t they just head to airport after event and snooze at airport and get early flight home next morning. Would be cheaper too

I would explore AirBnBs - you can ask the host questions before booking, so you can be completely honest about it being 2 (sensible) teenagers needing a bed for the night after a show.

From the airbnb site: For experiences that allow guests under 18: Although only people 18 or over can make reservations, a child’s parent or legal guardian can book additional spots for children who meet your minimum age requirement. If guests book an experience on behalf of a minor, they represent that they are the legal guardian of that minor.

Hmmm, maybe I'm mistaken and actually you have to have an adult with you in an airbnb.
Not sure.

The Caledonian Sleeper leaves from Euston, departs 23.45. They'd go from Greenwich to London Bridge and change to Northern Line.

You are completely reasonable to trust your under 18 year old to visit London, go to a planned event, and sort themselves out. There are all sorts of reasons why a savvy, mobile phone charged up, back up charger, tracked young person with a friend who is there for a reason, who has no easy access to drink (due to being age checked (although my 4 would have dodged this and there are shops that do not give a hoot) and your son is likely to plan pretty well because it is a big adventure is far safer than many others. Unfortunately, unless some of the valid YHA options work out, you are unreasonable to expect them to be able to stay there legally, or be able to get themselves out of a tricky situation (transport getting cancelled etc.) because most forms of accommodation will simply not tolerate anyone under 18 checking in, and yes, they will check their ID. And no, they won't help out in an emergency because if they do they will lose their job. Lots of places stay open late stations, McD etc. and open early with the first trains starting very early - and your son and friend would probably be OK if push came to shove, but it isn't what you would want, and a nervous "up all night" night all round. Check out YHA though...

@Susieblue18 it's already been said upthread, but if they are over 16 they can stay at yha. Thameside is £80 for a private room. Check the t&cs before booking but I would say if you feel they are mature enough than absolutely

I was born in London and lived there. I managed, if you count repeated sexual abuse as managing.

It's big and it's scary. I grew up there. Your instinct is correct.

Op have you read this right? The amber warning on the page says under the age of 16 need to be accompanied by an adult not under 18s need to be accompanied by an adult

The Youth hostel read really oddly like if there was a single 16 year old they could stay unaccompanied but if there were two there had to be an over 18 with them. If this is right, maybe I read it wrong though, they probably need to book their own single rooms separately

Hi my son is this age too and in Scotland also. I think they have a lot more freedom here so it’s odd to have these restrictions. That being said it is what it is.
check out national express there is a bus to Edinburgh overnight 11.30pm or worst case 2am I would be hesitant about 2am bus but if they can uber stay in the venue until 1am maybe?
it’s a difficult one sorry

They could probably get the National Express home, there are night buses.

This is what youth hostels are for!

The o2 has a curfew of 10.30pm so the event won't go later than that.

I suspect this is partly to do with insurance. If your son or his friend were injured or caused an injury/damage to the hotel, then the hotel wouldn't be insured. The hotel are responsible for checking ID, and if they allowed unaccompanied minors to stay, and something did happen, they'd get into trouble.

Your son will still only be 16 - the fact he's 'nearly 17' is irrelevant. He's still 2 years below the legal age to check into hotels. Yes, you could book a room, but what happens if check-in is denied??? Your son is then in London, with no where to stay. Could they travel home easily if that were to happen?? If my son did the same, the last train is around 11.30 pm, if that was missed, then he'd be screwed until around 6 am the following morning.

Either your son doesn't go to the concert or you go with them (not necessarily to the concert) to ensure they are least have a room for the night.

Could someone else go and have a night out and stay in same hotel and book 2 rooms. My son is same age and I would not be happy him staying in London

That happens everywhere. Not exclusive to London so irrelevant

Thanks for all your comments, I would definitely have offered to go but am away abroad that weekend. First time we’ve gone away without the kids and happens to be the same weekend, all paid for so can’t change.

Ideally he would have got a hotel close to the venue and travelled home next morning. Had a look at National express and if he didn’t make the 23.35 from London Golders Green, it would be a 2am bus which has an almost 3hr wait in Birmingham so less ideal to be hanging about London and Birmingham.