Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Leeds Festival for a 17 year old

109 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:
Throwmoneyatit · 30/08/2026 20:21

OnTheBoardwalk · 23/08/2026 23:33

I’m all for everything but this is a nope from me

as you say sticking together at any festival is key, I’ve sorted all sorts out in a group

what trains are even travelling at this time? I assume all local accommodation is booked up

We gave him lifts in the end. Took close to three hours each way with traffic but at least he was safe!
Leeds isn't for him though!

OP posts:
Throwmoneyatit · 30/08/2026 20:22

Jo14357 · 23/08/2026 23:58

Yes this always happens on the Sunday night with the tents so mine were picked up on the Sunday at 11pm.

Yes! I ended up arriving to collect him at about 3pm. There wasn't anyone he was desperate to see. I'm glad he's home 😁

OP posts:
Throwmoneyatit · 30/08/2026 20:23

ItsAllSoUnfair · 24/08/2026 08:25

There are shuttle busses from Leeds train station to the site. I assume that’s for day trippers as well as the full weekend but definitely worth checking. Depending on her age I would be wary of her being on her own. The last act finishes at just before 11pm so it’s late to be getting home alone.

Agree, definitely wouldn't want them out and about somewhere unfamiliar on their own at that time!

OP posts:
Throwmoneyatit · 30/08/2026 20:25

Yetanotherone12 · 26/08/2026 23:57

Keep an eye on resale sites, tickets often come up last minute.

That's what my son ended up doing. Since this thread was started, he changed his mind a few times so the ticket was bought the week of the festival for £30 less from Tixl.

OP posts:
Throwmoneyatit · 30/08/2026 20:29

Wingingit73 · 28/08/2026 15:13

Going with friends. What an adventure. Let him go. No taxi. That's not cool. Worry in secret

He went! Enjoyed it but wouldn't go back. He's organising his festival calendar for next year!
We did end up being his taxi but me and dh are cool 😂

OP posts:
Throwmoneyatit · 30/08/2026 20:30

FettleOfKish · 28/08/2026 15:46

Our nieces (raised in Jersey so rather more sheltered than some teens in the UK, and no real experience of train or coach travel) both went to Reading at 17, were absolutely fine and had a blast.

I'm so glad they enjoyed too! Great memories!

OP posts:
Throwmoneyatit · 30/08/2026 20:31

Fibrous · 28/08/2026 16:53

I didn't even tell my parents when I went to reading festival when I was 17. They probably thought I was at scout camp. The funny thing was, I bumped into my 15 year old sister at it - we didn't know either of us were going 😂. No idea what she told them. We both turned out okay.

The days before mobile phones were good times!

Edited

That's hilarious! Is it still a secret between you both?
My sisters would have definitely grassed 😂

OP posts:
beadyboo · 30/08/2026 20:33

She went (course she did!)
she researched, with the help of ChatGPT, a solution. Bought a big green coach ticket which takes you there directly. Promised to have her phone and location on and took a portable charger. There was no signal, but the coach company gives you a password on the outbound journey just in case your phone dies for the return leg.
it all seemed to be well organised and efficient. Only downside was having to pick her up from Manchester at 1.30 am as we definitely were comfortable with her proposal of “I’ll just get an uber”
She had a blast though and I’m glad we let her go.

OnTheBoardwalk · 30/08/2026 20:48

beadyboo · 30/08/2026 20:33

She went (course she did!)
she researched, with the help of ChatGPT, a solution. Bought a big green coach ticket which takes you there directly. Promised to have her phone and location on and took a portable charger. There was no signal, but the coach company gives you a password on the outbound journey just in case your phone dies for the return leg.
it all seemed to be well organised and efficient. Only downside was having to pick her up from Manchester at 1.30 am as we definitely were comfortable with her proposal of “I’ll just get an uber”
She had a blast though and I’m glad we let her go.

Ah I’m glad it all worked out for her and you!

the old ‘I’ll just get an Uber’ works on so many parents and usually guarantees a lift

New posts on this thread. Refresh page