Would you let your 13 yr old go into London with just their friends, no adults?

[Jabbie2]

Just that really.She has a day off on Friday and she wants to go into London on the Tube with 2 girlfriends and possibly 2 boys who are friends.I did let her go to Westfield a little while back with a friend but I was nervous all day.Her dad is saying an emphatic no, she is too young and I think I agree.I will be in work all day and because I work in a school I am not allowed to keep my phone on my person.I feel there is the potential for too many things to go wrong.She hasn't been on the underground by herself before and I'm worried she/they will get lost and what if they fall out and seperate?Then there's the whole crowdedness of the centre of town thing as she wants to go to Big Ben, trafalgar Sq etc.Then there's the issue of her personal safety having her Blackberry out and her camera etc, what if she were mugged?

Absolutely not, unless she's grown up there!

I'd say 15/16 would be a good age, depending on the maturity of the child, and whether they have experience of getting round in London (eg on the tube).

Why not take them there, leave them somewhere, and arrange for them to check in with you at certain times at a pre-arranged place?

I'd say it would be OK if you dropped them somewhere like Oxford Street to do the shops, and then arranged to meet them after a couple of hours, then left them go off again.

What do they want to do when they get to London?

If she's used to London and the tube with you then yes, if the friends are sensible.

I think I'd let DD 14 and her best friends take the train to Birmingham (trouble is their mum might take some convincing, as its not one of their places to visit).

London is a very long trip from here so DD's only been on the tube twice once last spring and once aged about 9. Even so, I suspect she'd work it out ok.

It's the leaving enough time to catch cross country train home that worries me.

If they made a total fuck up of Brum, I could pick them up.

Hi everyone thanks for all your views and advice.I didn't have any internet this morning so couldn't get on here.She won't be going as instead of the original 6 , 2 dropped out and I found out last night that she was doing a " you say to your mum I can go so she will let you go and I'll do the same" thing so I called friends mum and she was like I'm glad you have said you are not happy with this as neither am I.I only know one of the girls.DD is trying to form different friendship groups after her recent bullying experiences so whilst I am encouraging this I think London is too big a trip at this stage.I think yes, they may fall out.I think they will disagree on what to do, where to go and I hadn't even thought about the girl/boy dynamics!.She is not used to travelling by tube, she has been to Westfield on the bus , she has been to Westfield with me by train and once by bus.We don't go into London much even though we can easily get into London.I agree with the pickpocketing advice rather than the mugging it's just that DH thought she may have ber Blackberry snatched from her when she is not paying attention.I think if I am honest I was most worried about her crossing the road, daft as that may sound, you know how you can misjudge something and go when you shouldn't type of thing.She is sensible but not that sensible and I wasn't happy about her wanting to take her phone as others have said, it's another thing to potentially lose.

She is now going on a sleepover tonight and swimming tomorrow but I think I will set up a trip into London with a friends or friends and I can be closeish by but hopefully not cramping her too much.Thanks again.

Well done OP good decision.

no definately not.... i would be worried sick. Its not your daughter you should be concerned about if she is sensible, its the disgusting perverts that are lurking. My husband is a police officer and he has been to lots of calls regarding teenage girls in trouble. Please please think about it

My 13 yr old son has every now and then admitted how panicked he feels about travelling in London alone - many of his friends do use tubes and busses by themselves - but he has heard about muggings and gangs and I worry he is developing a bit of a phobia. Any tips on how to talk to and reassure him would be helpful

Well, this kid is now 21.
ZOMBIE THREAD

As others have said, It really depends on maturity and experience, we live in the sticks and even I find London overwhelming and sometimes a bit scary.
Not sure they will have much fun at the moment anyway, they shouldn't be travelling as a group, shopping, or going to any venues together.

@maras2 thank you for pointing out the date! I was wondering who had a Blackberry these days 🤔

barbites Me