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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Leeds Festival for a 17 year old

83 replies

Throwmoneyatit · 17/07/2026 18:15

Good evening everyone!

I need advice! Talk to me about Leeds Festival please!

I just want to start by saying that when I was 17, I was horse obsessed and didn't like to go too far from my horses so I've led quite a few sheltered teen years!

My son has asked for a ticket to Leeds Festival for his birthday. He will turn 17 a month before.

The thing is, I'm 3 hours away from the site and I'm working that weekend. Obviously if there were any problems, I'd leave work or pay for a taxi home (ideally neither of these things but this is where we are on emergencies).

There is return coach travel available to the Festival from a city about an hour away from me so it would be train and then coach. He knows how to catch trains, buses, read timetables etc.

I've taken him to Highest Point every year (and I think this is where he got the festival bug), went to Kendal Calling last year with his girlfriend and some friends. There was a parent at this festival and I'm less than an hour away, in the event of an emergency.

He has saved up and bought a ticket for Kendal Calling again this year, saved his spending money, bought a tent etc. He's an apprenticeship and works really hard. He will continue working during the holidays and has booked the weekend of Leeds Festival off.

He is kind, considerate, well mannered, reliable and sensible. I'm biased but I am so incredibly lucky to have a son like him. We are close and he tells me a lot. Dh thinks because of how he is as a person, he will be absolutely fine but this is our first child and I don't know if it's a sensible idea due to my teenage years.

He will be attending the events with his lovely girlfriend and their friends (mainly couples) who have a similar mentality to my son and I've met them all. They're all fabulous 17 and 18 year old.

I would book the train, coach, festival ticket and the powerbank swap scheme.

I know I can't have absolute certainty, and I don't know if I'm thinking too much as I suffer with diagnosed anxiety, but is Leeds Fest OK for a 17 year old?

OP posts:
Erin1975 · 17/07/2026 18:20

He's 17. He's almost an adult.

Leeds festival is mostly for teenagers nowadays. It's not like it was back in the 80s/90s. He will be fine.

Throwmoneyatit · 17/07/2026 18:23

Erin1975 · 17/07/2026 18:20

He's 17. He's almost an adult.

Leeds festival is mostly for teenagers nowadays. It's not like it was back in the 80s/90s. He will be fine.

Thank you so much! I just needed to hear that!

OP posts:
BauhausOfEliott · 17/07/2026 18:23

He’s 17, not 12. Of course it’s OK for him to go to the Leeds Festival. He’s doing an apprenticeship; he’s got a job! He’s not a child.

I wouldn’t expect a 17-year-old to even need permission to go to a festival. I also don’t understand why you would need to book his train for him.

Restlessinthenorth · 17/07/2026 18:32

My 16 year old and from what i can gather half the year group are going. I'm not overly thrilled with it but it does seem like it is very much aimed at that age and almost a post GCSE right of passage. I'm sure they will all have a ball whilst we sit and worry!

Alarae · 17/07/2026 18:32

Reading Festival (the twin of Leeds) is notorious for teens just passing GCSEs. There can be a problem with drugs (I’ve heard) but if your son has a good head on his shoulders, that can all be ignored.

He will be fine.

Didimum · 17/07/2026 18:33

I went for 3 days camping with a friend when I was 18.

MrsTomRipley · 17/07/2026 18:35

I'm sure he is perfectly capable of booking his own transport. He will be fine.

Throwmoneyatit · 17/07/2026 18:40

BauhausOfEliott · 17/07/2026 18:23

He’s 17, not 12. Of course it’s OK for him to go to the Leeds Festival. He’s doing an apprenticeship; he’s got a job! He’s not a child.

I wouldn’t expect a 17-year-old to even need permission to go to a festival. I also don’t understand why you would need to book his train for him.

As I mentioned, I had a different childhood to many. He is my eldest child and I have nobody to speak to with children his age - all my friends have younger children and haven't got to this stage.

I also mentioned about his character because I trust him, it's because I'm miles away from the venue should there be an emergency.

I would book his coach as part of the ticket. I'm not going to do the actual booking - he's booked everything else himself. I should have said pay for his coach and ticket. He is a lovely boy, very respectful but he hasn't asked permission. He has asked me to buy his ticket for his birthday. I merely wanted opinions on the festival as I want to get him what he wants for his birthday but if it is a notoriously unsafe place to go, I wouldn't buy him the ticket.

OP posts:
Yetanotherone12 · 17/07/2026 18:40

As pp said leedsfest is mainly post 16 celebrating GCSE’s.

it’s safer than reading imo because there’s no curfew, so you don’t get bored idiots creating trouble once the main events finish.

there’s plenty of support, police, first aid etc.

he’ll be fine.

Throwmoneyatit · 17/07/2026 18:42

Restlessinthenorth · 17/07/2026 18:32

My 16 year old and from what i can gather half the year group are going. I'm not overly thrilled with it but it does seem like it is very much aimed at that age and almost a post GCSE right of passage. I'm sure they will all have a ball whilst we sit and worry!

That's what I've heard but other than the group he is going with, I have nobody else to ask!
Thank you, I will pay for the ticket and sit and worry until he's home 😁

OP posts:
Throwmoneyatit · 17/07/2026 18:42

Alarae · 17/07/2026 18:32

Reading Festival (the twin of Leeds) is notorious for teens just passing GCSEs. There can be a problem with drugs (I’ve heard) but if your son has a good head on his shoulders, that can all be ignored.

He will be fine.

Thank you!

I don't think he would and he would definitely tell me if he has but you just never know!

OP posts:
Throwmoneyatit · 17/07/2026 18:44

Didimum · 17/07/2026 18:33

I went for 3 days camping with a friend when I was 18.

It's the drugs and the setting fire to tents that I worry about... I've only heard, I have no idea how true it is! I guess I'll find out when he's back 😁

OP posts:
Throwmoneyatit · 17/07/2026 18:46

MrsTomRipley · 17/07/2026 18:35

I'm sure he is perfectly capable of booking his own transport. He will be fine.

I should have said pay, he books everything else he does that needs booking and will be doing so this time!

OP posts:
Funkylights · 17/07/2026 18:47

Drugs - he just needs to say no
Fires - they have fire marshals in towers.
its full of 16 years olds post gsce

Tittyfilarious · 17/07/2026 18:48

My son went when he was 17 and he was absolutely fine , we are about 3 hours away too but he got there and back with his friends no problems. It's natural to worry but he sounds very sensible and when my son went there was no trouble and it was a great experience for him .

Throwmoneyatit · 17/07/2026 18:49

Yetanotherone12 · 17/07/2026 18:40

As pp said leedsfest is mainly post 16 celebrating GCSE’s.

it’s safer than reading imo because there’s no curfew, so you don’t get bored idiots creating trouble once the main events finish.

there’s plenty of support, police, first aid etc.

he’ll be fine.

Thank you!

He mentioned he wouldn't like to go to Reading which I'm glad about now!
I feel much better about it now I've got some opinions, he can go to the festival for his birthday!
I did imagine it will be heavily watched and supported by emergency services but my anxiety didn't like those answers!
Thank you!

OP posts:
Throwmoneyatit · 17/07/2026 18:51

Funkylights · 17/07/2026 18:47

Drugs - he just needs to say no
Fires - they have fire marshals in towers.
its full of 16 years olds post gsce

I'm positive he would say no!
As for fire Marshall towers, thank you! That will help the worries about tents on fire!

OP posts:
Wingwalk · 17/07/2026 18:52

"He knows how to catch trains, buses, read timetables etc."

... good? He's 17. I went at 14 with friends, back when it was still quite rough. He will be absolutely fine. Don't overthink it.

Throwmoneyatit · 17/07/2026 18:53

Tittyfilarious · 17/07/2026 18:48

My son went when he was 17 and he was absolutely fine , we are about 3 hours away too but he got there and back with his friends no problems. It's natural to worry but he sounds very sensible and when my son went there was no trouble and it was a great experience for him .

Perfect! Thank you for posting! I'm so glad it all went well for you!
I will buy him his ticket and wish him an amazing time! The line up looks fantastic to be honest and I wish I could go 😁

OP posts:
tripleginandtonic · 17/07/2026 18:54

Yes, mine went and had a blast.

Throwmoneyatit · 17/07/2026 18:56

Wingwalk · 17/07/2026 18:52

"He knows how to catch trains, buses, read timetables etc."

... good? He's 17. I went at 14 with friends, back when it was still quite rough. He will be absolutely fine. Don't overthink it.

Honestly, I can't ask anything else of him, he's a wonderful son!
He will be absolutely fine getting there, and I trust him to behave and not get himself into any trouble. It is mainly the distance away that I'm worried about but I'll work on this 😁 thank you!

OP posts:
Throwmoneyatit · 17/07/2026 18:56

tripleginandtonic · 17/07/2026 18:54

Yes, mine went and had a blast.

Brilliant! I really hope my son does too!
Thank you!

OP posts:
Slingsanderrors · 17/07/2026 19:00

My boys went to Leeds/ Reading from age 16. They survived

Throwmoneyatit · 17/07/2026 19:01

Slingsanderrors · 17/07/2026 19:00

My boys went to Leeds/ Reading from age 16. They survived

Good 😆 I'm very glad! Thank you! It will be his birthday present!
Thank you!

OP posts:
Sugarfish · 17/07/2026 19:14

He’ll be absolutely fine and will have the best memories. It’s the perfect age to go to a festival! I started going to Reading and other festivals when I was 17 and wish I still had the energy I had back then to endure them!

If his friends are sensible and they aren’t into drugs then he probably won’t even be tempted. And honestly festivals do have so much security that if he gets into trouble there will be plenty of people to help. I would be more worried about thieves than tent fires tbh!