Advice please - teen going off to London

[woopdewoop]

Advice wanted please. My 15 almost 16 year old has asked me if he can go to London with a friend for the day during the summer hols. He wants to go shopping, be around the main streets etc. Probably go on the train or something. Is this something you’d let your teen do? He’s a fairly sensible lad but it’s been a learning curve this year with him in terms of managing independence/grown up choices/consequences type stuff. Any advice appreciated. We live about an hour by train from London

I don’t use a travel card anymore, if you have a debit card just tap it on every tube entrance, it’s a much cheaper way of travelling than buying single or return tickets.

It's fine, but do stress how much busier it is, keeping personal belongings secure, make suggestions of free activities (museums etc) for if run out of money. I have sent water and snacks too because kids have a habit of not thinking about paying for food and instead buying extra stuff

He'll be fine!

And remember that getting lost or something going wrong and DC coping with it is the most important part of learning!

Ds went with his friends to oxford st aged 14. We live about an hour away but we're originally from London. He wants to go again for his 15th birthday. Does your ds have a debit card? Our kids have nimbl cards that I can top up at my end so he carries minimal cash. I can see from the app what he's spending and where. It's contactless so fine for the tube, although I'm not sure if that would charge adult instead of teen fares