Hello everyone! I'm heading to London next week with my 14 year old daughter. She is heavily into rock/alternative music and would like to catch some shows. None of my guidebooks address the issue of age restrictions in GB, so I'm hoping someone here can provide that information. Thanks for your help!

Steve

Legal drinking age in England is 18, though some pubs may let in minors so long as they're accompanied by an adult and before certain hours.

I suspect most clubs your daughter is interested in would likely serve alcohols, in which case she would be too young to enter.

Lots of folks have the have the wrong idea about pubs in London. They (mostly) aren't the family friendly places w/ gardens like out in the country. Pubs sometimes will allow children when they have a separate dining room - at least up to a certain time. But they can't go in most pubs most of the time . . .

Quite a few clubs have a higher age limit - 21 or even 25 - depending on the clientele (ie no pissed teenagers) they want to attract

how old does she look? It's not usual to ask for ID unless you look young and are trying to buy alcohol.

I'm assuming she won't be going alone so I don't think you'll have a problem

If you are going to a concert in a specific concert venue (i.e. a theatre or club that hosts concerts) you shouldn't have any problems - most venues will allow 14+ in without batting an eye.

At the last "alternative" gig I went to held at the local university, there was even a raised platform at the back for the littlest kids to watch from so they could see and wouldn't get stood on!

Even if a band is playing in a pub providing she is accompianed and is not buying/drinking alcohol you should be OK.

A club as in nightclub is different and she wouldn't be admitted

There are nighclubs nights and gigs specifically for the under 18s - no alcohol is served.

Have a google - there's loaads of them. The only one I know about for sure (being somewhat over 18) is at the Hammersmith Palais.

Thanks for all the advice and information. Since it's the music she wants, I'm sure we'll find some places.

Steve

I recommend getting a copy of TimeOut or Evening Standard to check what gigs there will be when you arrive.

The Time Out website is great; it has a gig guide: http://www.timeout.com/london/

Tania