What age to travel into London for the day with friends...

[ThreeLannistersOneTargaryen]

Sorry to do one of those 'at what age' threads. DS1 wants to go into London tomorrow on the tube with some friends for the day. He has been using the tube on his own and with friends, but only locally. We live in the outer suburbs.
My instincts are telling me that it's fine, but I wanted to check in with the Mumsnet collective wisdom, in case I'm about to make a 'What were his parents thinking?' sort of decision.

It completely depends on the individual but I would say around 13-14 as long as you are confident they won't get lost!

Oh no! Don't say that! He has the worst sense of direction of anyone I've ever met (apart from DD, who is even worse than him).

Surely one of his mates will have a better idea? I know my DD2 is always in charge of keeping her 'group' on track whenever they go somewhere unknown, just make sure they know where is/isn't safe to ask for directions.

Luckily his friends are a lot less clueless. Although he doesn't have any sense of direction, he does have some common sense. I need to just let him get on with it.

I used to go from th age of 11 with my best friend and her 13 and 10 yr old brothers.

If he's already used to using the tube, I'd say it's no problem. Let's face it, he must know which tube line he needs to get home, and the final destination, so he can travel the entire network finding it if necessary and for no money at all!

Equally, there's a tube station on most streets in the London, so he'll be fine.

he must know which tube line he needs to get home, and the final destination, so he can travel the entire network finding it if necessary

That's true, and it gets him out of the house.

We live in London, my kids have been getting on the tube alone since year 7, so if he knows the tube system he will be fine, make sure he knows alternative routes in case of line closures, and has his mobile. I would be more worried about what they are going to do off the tube than on it.

Thank you all. The friends he is going with are sensible, so I think this will be a good opportunity for independence.

Ds did this for the first time in y8 I think - the first time he went in with one of his friends and they travelled in with friend's mum and elder sister, left them at London Bridge, spent the day pottering about by themselves with instructions to text a smiley face to friend's mum every now and then to show they were still alive and to answer phone if she or I rang. They met up again at the station at tea time

Neither ds nor his friend were particularly mature at that age so it seemed like a good balance of letting them have some independence but with an adult on call if need be - worked well and they all had a good time

safety-wise the centre is better, solid cameras and plenty of people.

but he does need to go with ears unplugged, pockets zipped and eyes not glued to phone. That way he might come back with his possessions.