Trafalgar Square on New Year's Eve - OK for a group of fairly sensible teenagers?

[toalakebytheriver]

Ds wants to go up to Central London/Trafalgar Square with a group of mixed friends for New Year's Eve, to witness the fireworks. They are all pretty sensible and streetwise, and don't drink stupidly. They are Londoners so are used to daft behaviour and how to avoid getting mixed up in it.

What do you think? Safe or not?

Blimey, Musicposy, that is really bad. But I can well imagine it happening.

Boys might find it better, though, as it was the groping, kissing men I found the worst aspect, and your DS will probably have less worry in that department!

Well, there are girls going as well, and I don't want ds to get into any bother trying to defend them, which he would do. He would be outraged.

I went 1999/2000 NYE and it was a great atmosphere, but I did get split from my friends when the crowd surged and I got pushed through the police horse barrier and my friends got pushed the other way. The phone network was overloaded that night, so I couldn't even call them, however I met some lovely people and they looked after me. Definitely a great experience, but I wouldn't want to do it again! Older and wiser and like access to seats and toilets these days!

OK, I think we've persuaded them to go to the Natural History Museum ice rink instead - at least you have to pay to get in so hopefully undesirables just there to cop a feel won't stump up.

Now dd, 14, is demanding to know where we're taking her. Any ideas for other places in London to see the New Year in???

I've not been (but friends have) to the south bank to watch the fireworks at the London eye. The only problem they reported was that there was nowhere for their 3 year old to go gor a wee.

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Thanks, Kitten. We discussed that option quite a lot for ds and his mates. Frankly, we would rather not go with dd!!! Just because of all the hassle of the crowds (which I hate) and trying to get home.

We might have to tell her she's staying home to watch them on the telly. Of course ALL her friends are doing something terribly exciting with their families.

The crowds are massive.

I wouldn't recommend it but if your ds goes ahead, make sure they have a contingency plan if they all get split up. Tbh, it's pretty frightening out there at midnight.

Good luck

Thanks, Jalopy. I really hope we've dissuaded them.

D2and also DD 1 went last year they were aged 20 and 22, Both of them said they wouldn't do it this year, The fireworks were amazing butit took ages for them to get home. One was going to Kingston the other to Ealing, But apparently they even had to que to walk back to aan underground station.