From the age of 16 you can legally consent to sex this includes sexual intercourse, penetrative sex and any sort of sexual touching but 16 may not necessarily be the right age for you to start having sex. Many people do not have sex for the first time until they are older. Being ready happens at different times for different people — never decide to have sex just because you feel pressured. For more information about knowing when you are ready to have sex look here. Remember, under 16s are still able to access sexual health advice, contraception and free protection from sexually transmitted infections STIs and pregnancy by visiting their local clinic or GP.