Kirstie Allsopp has sparked a heated debate after revealing on Twitter/X that her 15-year-old son has just returned from three weeks interrailing around Europe, staying in youth hostels with his 16-year-old friend.
“They organised the whole thing; Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin, Munich, Marseilles, Toulouse, Barcelona and Madrid,” she wrote, adding: “For obvious budget reasons interrailing isn’t on the cards for everyone, but in this increasingly risk averse world it’s vital that we find any ways we can to give our children the confidence that only comes from trusting them.”
Of the dozens of comments that followed, many criticised Allsopp. One pointed out that “it can be a dangerous world and 15 is not mature enough for all encounters”. Another said: “I don’t have sons but