My 16 year old son want to go to London for the day alone.

[Blueknees21]

My son is a very mature and sensible 16 year old. He’s an avid Spurs fan and has been to London numerous times with my husband to watch the football so knows exactly where he is going, what train and tube to catch etc.

he’s getting to the point where he wants to go more regularly and get a season ticket, but whilst my husband likes football he doesn’t want to go weekly. My son is more than happy to go alone and my husband is fine with it too saying I have to let go and let him grow up as it’s good for his confidence and independence, but as a mum I am struggling with it. None of his friends are Spurs fans so don’t have the money or inclination to pay £50 for a ticket plus train/tube/food to watch a team they don’t support.

My son is buzzing to have this solo adventure and promises he will be in touch every step of the way but I’m so anxious. Should I let him go? I’d never forgive myself if something happened. Thank you

My DD travelled to London for music college on a Saturday from the age of 13. I went with her the first few times, then she went wanted to go alone. Her sisters did the same when they reached that age. Nothing untoward ever happened to any of them

He'll be well into adulthood before he gets a season ticket!

He knows the way and what to do. Check he knows what to do in an emergency/violent situation. Tell him to avoid alcohol.

16? He could join the army! Let the poor kid live. Of course he can go to London on his own.

A mature 16 year old I think is more than fine, especially as he knows the route having been before so no confusion about where to go or getting lost. Never been to Tottenham but do know the station is near the ground so he won't have far to walk and will be in crowds. He could travel alone, but looking ahead since he plans to go regularly he could maybe try to link up with a Spurs supporters group near to where you live so he could share the travel journey?

From NI, and I flew on my own to see Liverpool when I was 17. Had been to Anfield before with family, so like your son knew what route to take (bus journey from John Lennon airport), hotel location etc. If I was going to make it a regular thing like your son I'd definitely be looking to hook up with other Liverpool fans from here who regularly make the journey over.

Yeah there is that. I asked a woman at the ticket desk at Anfield about a season ticket naively thinking they were readily available, only to be told "you'd have 7 years to wait". That was a while ago and think the waiting time has only increased since then.

Absolutely fine OP, I wouldn’t have any concerns about this.

The journey sounds fine. The season ticket will be the problem- the waiting list is about 80,000.

I was thinking that, too.

Let him go! My son grew up on the Isle of Wight met his (much older) half brother to go to a footie match. I gave him specific instructions on his to get the tube to where we were staying but he ignored me convinced he could change at Waterloo for the right tube line. So instead of two changes he had to make five! He got home and afterwards felt totally confident navigating his way around. He was 14.
He set off at 17 to meet a friend and again despite me suggesting a route he decided he could walk from Clapham Junction to... Hammersmith. It's four miles, not a huge deal but if you haven't done it before and it's dark - silly boy!
My DD has been in the tube daily for school since she was 16. And days out with friends, coming home late at times. We keep in touch and I collect her from the station my end.
Your son is confident, he's been there before. Time to cut those strings mama!

I fail to see the dilemma here. Why are you being so over protective. He's 16.

My daughter was using tube on her own from 11 yo to get to school in London and from 15 going into centre of town shopping.
it’s worrying to begin with but great he wants this and has this passion!

I used to travel from Ireland to England by myself at age 12.

The air hostess used to look after me on the plane.

And someone would pick me up at the other end.

Do they still do that on airlines?

Thank you all so much this has been really so helpful. We have said he can only attend day matches at this stage. We live about an hour by train from London but as said we have been several times as a family to Spurs so knows the route well. He goes to town, cinema, Nando’s etc with his friends locally travelling by bus so is not fazed by line travel, I guess it’s just because it’s so far away and we can’t get to him if anything happens. My daughter who’s 20 lives in London so she is there just in case of emergency’s (didn’t think of that before I just went into panic mode 😂) I think I just needed some fellow parents help, reassurance. My own parents mollycoddled me and I wasn’t allowed to go anywhere by myself probably why I left home at 18! My mum still frets when I go anywhere solo and I’m now 50! So perhaps a little scare mongering from them have rubbed off. Crazy thing is I am from London originally (we moved out to Cambridgeshire when I was still young) and it’s still my favourite city in the world and I always feel at home and safe there when I go back and am never phased and neither is my daughter who moved there 6 months ago to take a job. I need to put my big mumma pants on and let my boy go and be proud that we have raised him with the confidence to do it. Thanks so much again. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Glad this has helped, it sounds like a great activity for a 16 year old to get used to going around town.

Of course he should go. And please don't make him stay in touch "every step of the way" - that would be ridiculous, and spoil his fantastic day out.

He would be fine I am sure. But yeah, he won’t be getting a season ticket any time soon due to the waiting list. The £50 per ticket seems optimistic too (my season ticket is £2,000!)

edited: oh actually, £50 per game is possible, especially as a young adult. Looks like I’m just spoiled in the fancy seats!

These threads always make me smile as a parent living in London. I grew up in the country so get how London feels if you don’t live here but as others says, kids who live in London travel here on their own from a much younger age.

I agree about not having him check in regularly as that will mean getting his phone out which is more risky than not.

He knows where he's going, he's been loads of times before, and he is confident to do it. He's ready to spread his wings so let him fly.

Here speaks someone who lives around the same distance from London as you, and who let their dd loose on the train into London on her own every week when she was 13.