What age is ok to get bus/train to city on own

[mamamoomin2]

Dd 13 and friend 12 want to go on public transport from our rural town to city (30 mins). What age would you let your teen do this. She is a bit wild side curious (found vapes and lighters) and thinks is more mature than is...although also does look older. They just want to mooch about the shops. What thoughts do you have?

12/13 is fine IMO

I’ve just let my 13 year old DS go into town with friends, most of them 14 already. Similar - 30 mins by bus. Felt a bit nervous but all ok, went to cinema and shops, then back home.

13 for my daughter too, but we’d gone in by bus and train before so she knew where to get off and how to get to the shops. The first couple of times she went without me I insisted she only went with her most sensible friend and not a big gang of them!

Thanks all. Reassuring relies

At age 13 mine did it daily for school. They got used to it very quickly.

11 / secondary school age. Loads of kids do this kind of journey for school and go into town after school before catching the train / bus home.

12/13 fine

My DD has been commuting into London for travel to school since age 11. She’s now very confident on finding her way around, and able to figure out journeys by way of using apps such as Citymapper, Journeyplanner etc

I would be very concerned if a 13 year old couldn’t get a bus or train by themselves, unless there are serious SEN.

my just turned 13 yr old travelled on two trains a journey of 2.5 hours the other day and was absolutely fine.

I agree kids this age should be able to spend a day in a town with friends. Mine were doing that from about year 6 (live on edge of a busy city)

10/11 to go by bus to our local town and meet a friend.

12 taking the train to London with a group of friends.

She has been using public transport with us for years (living in an outer London borough) so it wasn't new to her.

11 when I took the train to the nearest city for school.

Mine did it with 2 friends the summer of Y6. So they were 11. Bus (30 minutes) into city centre and I picked up the first time. After that, bus both ways.

It's fine! Lots of 11 year olds get trains/buses to school.