DS17 and Notting Hill Carnival

[frazmum]

DS & mate are wanting to go to the carnival on the Sunday - we’ve never been and are very concerned. We don’t live in London anymore but DH can stay there for the weekend (he works & lives there during the week).

We’re worried about what could go wrong I guess. I do trust him but he’s a teenager who can make stupid decisions plus he doesn’t know that area at all.

Any suggestions, reassurance or just tell me it’s a stupid idea would be welcome.

These threads come up every year, and I'm not getting any better at replying to them evenhandedly.

Personally I hated NHC - overcrowded, inescapable, lots of unwanted groping (I'm female, mind), lots of violence nearby, lots of thefts witnessed... just not somewhere I'd venture again having tried twice and had two consistently bad experiences.

But if he's desperate to go I'd lay down sensible ground rules, anticipate heavy crowds and an absence of phone signal at times, and let him see how he likes it.

the Sunday is the quieter day isn't it?
I would let him go. He probably wont want to go again.
It is important he leaves the area before dark, and takes a cheap phone , nothing in pockets etc.

I would let him go but set some rules. Get there early. Watch the floats (nice and colourful costumes). Grab some tasty food (I would bring £20 cash and no wallet, bring Oyster card too). Go to a few sound systems, however stay on the outside of busy areas. Take a map and have an idea of the end tube station to go home from as a lot of stations are closed. Have fun, enjoy the atmosphere, place mobile phone somewhere safe, e.g an inside pocket and leave early.

I live inside the Carnival route. It is very busy and hectic but essentially a fabulous party for young people especially.

What I would say about safety etc is that the Carnival is one of the most heavily policed events in the world (and I was at a a G7 summit protest once). I meed to carry identification to be allowed to walk my own street, sometimes. Also, there is a proportionally a lower rate of crime than Glastonbury, Leeds and Reading, etc.

The overwhelming evidence is that the biggest danger to your DS will be himself. Is he likely to get carried away and drink loads and puke in my garden? You should base your decision on whether you trust him or not, on a night out, with friends and easily accessed alcohol.

Thanks everyone- have already told him he needs a clear plan about getting home and to have a back up. I’d read about the phone signal so he’ll need to know where he’s going and not rely on his phone.

He won’t be drinking (he’s a bit put off after over indulging recently) so no puking in Gardens - that sounds awful OutsSelf.

DH is more concerned than me - but then he was a teenager once and remembers failing to use his brain.

15 year old DD is going on Monday (Sunday is "family" day). I'm not worried. I pride myself on never having been, despite living in London all my life and very nearby for some years, it's just not my scene. I'll give her lots of advice and let her enjoy it