My Daughter wants to go to London...

As Rich said, London is fine! We live in London but outside of the centre in south east London so we're away from the overpriced hotels etc but only 8 miles from central London and can get a train in in 17 minutes

The hotels are ridiculously expensive in London so ideally go for the budget ones or ones slightly out of the centre, maybe on a tube line in east, north some parts of south London.

If you need any info on places we can find out for you or let you know what we thnk of certain areas. Good luck!!

 

Central London is alive way beyond midnight every night and the streets are packed with people - the Mabelette is doing her late shifts now and leaves work at 11pm tonight. I've no issue with her when shes going to and on the tube, its when she gets off this end I worry. Saying that, the streets of London are safer than most places in this world thankfully and as hippyrichy says there are plenty of us in and around London in an emergency. When the mabelette went to Bournemouth university we had the name and telephone number of a complete stranger who was a friend of a friend who happened to live in Bournemouth. Never had to call her, nor did the Mabelette but the fact we had that number was a massive comfort blanket

 

If you want a bit of London-y, English-y inspiration, stick this on and turn the volume up...

 

Its difficult to let your baby girl cut loose. Mine just got back from Amsterdam. Shes 18 and has been cosseted but then again we do live in a city and shes not stupid. Depends how mature she is and how she looks after herself. Chances are she'll be absolutely fine. It is difficult as a dad as they are still your little girl but then again I was in the Army at 16!!

At least you know a few people not that far away should you need them eh! where abouts are you?

 

We have a part of the university of Evansville just out my town which made me wonder if there was some US organisation she could connect with while here or maybe lodge .

 

My parents trusted me when I was 15 to accompany my mate (also 15) and his sister (11) to Singapore for 3 days

Naturally we got ridiculously drunk

 

I trust her & she's fairly street smart we don't live in the greatest city either,At this point we're just planning.
Thanks for all your replies,when i get home in an hour i'll have her read this.

 

i used to take groups of students to london every year. what i found was that the students wanted to be in the thick of it, right in the centre but the 'hotels' (i refuse to call anything a hotel when you have to queue up to get your sheets to make your bed) are pretty dire. admittedly it's less of a worry being in the centre of a 24hr city but the better accommodation is a taxi/tube ride away - students liked the hotel but hated the travelling and expense as they wanted to be in the thick of it. to be honest, i worried more about them when we were out of the centre.

i think it's a great idea and an amazing experience for her. is there a student/young persons travel company that you can book through which may give you some peace of mind? (we book groups via an educational tour company and the deals are better and the information, accommodation etc is often better as it's negotiated by them)

 

If you trust her then defo do let her do it. I live and work In London. There are scams and dodgy people in every city. As long as she has a good sensible head on her shoulders she will be fine.

I would say travel with a friend just to be that bit safer and there are some good budget hotels/ hostels in central london.

Loads to see and loads to do. I often take my dslr to work and go snapping in my lunch break and there is always something happening.

I would advise to go in the spring/summer as all the royal parks are in bloom and just nice to chill out in and cheaper than sitting in coffe shops to keep warm.

My point is it is a safe city indeed and would recommend it.

Good luck with the planning.