children left home alone

There's no legal age, but if a child comes to harm, under 16, then parents can be prosecuted.

I wouldn't have left my 14 year olds alone. God knows what I'd have come back to..?

I was 15 when, living in London, my father was taken critically ill in the Lake District (on exercises while serving in the army), My younger sister 8 1/2 years younger) was whipped away to stay with relatives, while my mother went to be with my father. I was left at home so I would not miss school. I don’t remember how long she was away, but it was at least two weeks. I was fine.

What I didn’t know, of course, was that friendly neighbours in the married quarters were secretly ‘looking out for me’.

You can get married here at 16 without parental consent but it would depend on the child if I'd leave them at 14 ,maybe one night as a trial .I have friends who left theirs at that age and they came home to a wrecked kitchen and loads of damaged carpet and furniture.Apparently a party got out of hand !