Apartment in Hoxton Shoreditch area of London
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Apartment in Hoxton Shoreditch area of London
We are going to be in London for 10 days in late summer of 2014 - we will be first timers to the city. We are looking at potential apartments to rent, and realized we have no idea where various neighborhoods are! I've been looking online at various sites, and have ordered a guidebook to London and map of the tube (neither has arrived).
Even though it's still early, we are checking on availability of rental properties. We've found one that looks very nice, has good user reviews, is within our price range, and is located in Hoxton/Shoreditch on Regent's Canal.
My question is - how hard would it be to get into and around the city from this area? We will be using public transportation, and hope to spend our days seeing as much as possible - museums, cultural sights, monuments, historic sites, etc.
As an example of something we are comfortable with - we spent a couple weeks in a Montmartre apartment in Paris a few years ago and were fine with taking the metro into the center of the city and exploring all areas. Would this be comparable, or is it not as convenient?
Any suggestions of safe and accessible areas for us to look at staying in London are appreciated! Or websites that will help us figure out the many neighborhoods. Thank you!
Even though it's still early, we are checking on availability of rental properties. We've found one that looks very nice, has good user reviews, is within our price range, and is located in Hoxton/Shoreditch on Regent's Canal.
My question is - how hard would it be to get into and around the city from this area? We will be using public transportation, and hope to spend our days seeing as much as possible - museums, cultural sights, monuments, historic sites, etc.
As an example of something we are comfortable with - we spent a couple weeks in a Montmartre apartment in Paris a few years ago and were fine with taking the metro into the center of the city and exploring all areas. Would this be comparable, or is it not as convenient?
Any suggestions of safe and accessible areas for us to look at staying in London are appreciated! Or websites that will help us figure out the many neighborhoods. Thank you!
#2
It is a sort of trendy/young/artsy area and most parts would be fine. But what is the actual address/post code? Some owners take 'liberties' describing locations. Also - there is a pretty large section w/ few/no tube stations and you'd be taking buses to get to lots of places. So the actual location would tell us more.
>>Any suggestions of safe and accessible areas for us to look at
>>Any suggestions of safe and accessible areas for us to look at
#4
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Already ditched it because of location. We found another flat that is 150 m from the Tower of London. Looks very good - in an older building, but renovated with modern conveniences and even a peek of the Thames from the balcony.
Thanks for the info - I was kind of concerned about the actual location of the other apartment, even though it looked pretty nice. We hadn't connected with the owner yet, so didn't have the precise address.
Thanks for the info - I was kind of concerned about the actual location of the other apartment, even though it looked pretty nice. We hadn't connected with the owner yet, so didn't have the precise address.
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I don't have the actual address yet - the listings don't include the street address. You have to make an inquiry - which I have - so I should find out when the owner responds. All I know is that it is on Pepys Street. Does that help locate it?
#9
Yes -- Pepys street is sort of behind Tower Hill tube station. Very easy to get around and also the number 15 bus runs nearby - the bus route runs from the East End past the Tower, to St Pauls, and on to Trafalgar Sq.
(not St Katharine's or Butler's wharf which are right on the river)
(not St Katharine's or Butler's wharf which are right on the river)
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I know that general area fairly well. I have stayed in the area many times on business, and was quite happy.
It is within walking distance of the Central/District line, on the edge of the City.
However, it is not in the center of London, and very quiet at the weekend. I’d be quite content there if the rates were good, but would like to see your alternatives.
It is within walking distance of the Central/District line, on the edge of the City.
However, it is not in the center of London, and very quiet at the weekend. I’d be quite content there if the rates were good, but would like to see your alternatives.
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Here is a link to the property. Even if it's quiet on the weekends, we are fine with walking or taking public transportation to get around. What do you think?
http://www.vrbo.com/186892
http://www.vrbo.com/186892
#13
Looks terrific -- I know the exact bldg (have't rented there but it is directly behind the tube station)
And w/ the Tower practically across the street and St Katharine's and Tower Bridge just 2 or 3 blocks away it is a lovely location.
And w/ the Tower practically across the street and St Katharine's and Tower Bridge just 2 or 3 blocks away it is a lovely location.
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Great! Thank you so much for the info - I hope the owner gets back with me soon. So excited to finally visit the country my grandparents came to the US from. I am ready to book this!
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Glad the OP has found a flat that suits but wanted to respond to the poster who would not recommend Hoxton/Shoreditch for a tourist. That area is actually experiencing a mini hotel boom with six high profile boutique hotels, opening, led by the Ace Hotel's first property outside the US. So somebody definitely wants to stay here, though maybe not the Fodors demographic: " London’s next hotel boom is underway in the trendy neighbourhood of Shoreditch, which lies on the border of the City of London and its historic East End.....
The spate of new hotels marks a shift in traveller interest from the usual London attractions of the West End to the grittier — and hipper — environs of the city’s east.
“All the hotel operators moving in to the area say that their target demographic, the 18 to 45 age-group, no longer want to stay in the West End,” said Andrew Sissons, the head of regeneration projects at Hackney Council, the local authority in Shoreditch. “St Paul’s, Westminster Abbey, Selfridge’s — that’s not what they want anymore.” http://skift.com/2013/08/22/londons-...tel-opening/#1
The spate of new hotels marks a shift in traveller interest from the usual London attractions of the West End to the grittier — and hipper — environs of the city’s east.
“All the hotel operators moving in to the area say that their target demographic, the 18 to 45 age-group, no longer want to stay in the West End,” said Andrew Sissons, the head of regeneration projects at Hackney Council, the local authority in Shoreditch. “St Paul’s, Westminster Abbey, Selfridge’s — that’s not what they want anymore.” http://skift.com/2013/08/22/londons-...tel-opening/#1
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>>wanted to respond to the poster who would not recommend Hoxton/Shoreditch for a tourist. exact address, as given by the postcode. I wouldn't necessarily dismiss anywhere based on the "Hoxton/Shoreditch" label - it could suit some people and not others.
But NEVER rely on neighbourhood names and labels to make a firm decision. People who have something to market can often make neighbourhood descriptions and boundaries remarkably elastic, especially if they've "bought to let" in a new development in an up-and-coming area and find it's not coming up as fast as they'd hoped.
There are lots of nice new developments on and near the Regent's Canal, but some are next door to various run-down light industrial and mixed social housing areas. Transport links vary, depending on exactly where you are.
But NEVER rely on neighbourhood names and labels to make a firm decision. People who have something to market can often make neighbourhood descriptions and boundaries remarkably elastic, especially if they've "bought to let" in a new development in an up-and-coming area and find it's not coming up as fast as they'd hoped.
There are lots of nice new developments on and near the Regent's Canal, but some are next door to various run-down light industrial and mixed social housing areas. Transport links vary, depending on exactly where you are.
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Okay - we got the Pepys Street apartment for 11 nights - thanks to all you helped us figure out the neighborhood/location situation. I think this locations will give us a good taste of the city.
Havana128 - I know I can download the tube map, but I ordered a pocket-sized laminated map for less than $2 to carry along while we're out and about. The journey planner sounds like a good bet, thanks for referring me to it!
We are still almost a year away from being in London - it's the tail end of a longer trip, which includes the Baltic area of Europe. Can't believe I have so much organized so early!
Havana128 - I know I can download the tube map, but I ordered a pocket-sized laminated map for less than $2 to carry along while we're out and about. The journey planner sounds like a good bet, thanks for referring me to it!
We are still almost a year away from being in London - it's the tail end of a longer trip, which includes the Baltic area of Europe. Can't believe I have so much organized so early!