JH1926

Hi all --
We're in the process of booking a flat in London for 2 families (4 adults, 3 teens). We found a great deal on a place just south of the Thames in South Lambeth that gets great reviews. However, we know very little about that area from prior London trips and worry it will be too remote.

I also found another place that looks great (more expensive but still reasonable) a few blocks from Paddington Station. I'm kind of leaning towards this one, but would love some thoughts.

We've been to London many times, but this will be the first time with such a large group and the first time staying in a flat.

Does anyone know/have opinions about staying in South Lambeth? It's a few blocks from the Vauxhall tube station.

Any opinions would really help.

Thanks in advance!

janisj

A 'few block from Paddington' could be fine or awful - need more info. And if the other one is truly in 'South"' Lambeth, it would be more than a few blocks from Vauxhall. Many owners play fast and loose describing their locations. We'd need the post codes to tell you what neighborhoods they actually are. Or at least a link to the listings so we can look for red flags.

But just in general -- I personally would not stay in <i>either</i> location.

What is your budget? And how much are these two places charging?

JH1926

Thanks for the initial thoughts. Here are the links to both:

http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p920354

The map for this one does show that it's just a few blocks from Vauxhall, so perhaps my label of S. Lambeth isn't right? Or maybe it is.

http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p250413vb

As for budget, we are hoping to spend somewhere in the neighborhood of L1500 or so for the say (4 nights). We could go up to about L2000.

Preference is to be centrally located, but we're a party of 7, so finding a place that can accommodate us reasonably has been a bit tricky.

We're certainly not wedded to any particular location, but finding accommodation for us all together is a priority. THANKS!

Tulips

Praed Street (Paddington) is a bit messy, but it's very central and easy transportation links. Nothing really wrong with it, just lots of fast food places and such. Not the most charming area. Have a look at a streetview of Praed Street to see what it looks like.

I would prefer the Paddington location to the other one, though.

JH1926

Thanks so much -- we're probably going to keep looking a bit, but good to get this info, too.

BigRuss

What's an L? Is that supposed to be a Pound Sterling?

There are two families so question 1 is what's the split of the kids - all in one family or 2/1 split?

1500 for four nights is 375 quid per, which is about $625.

You are limiting your choices by seeking a flat for all seven travelers. There are ton(ne)s of vacation rentals available in London and less remote than Vauxhall or Paddington.

Why not two flats in the same building (see aplacelikehome.co.uk) or two serviced apartments at an Oakwood or Citadines property or at janisj's favorite place at St. Katherine's Dock? You'll have proximity and a modicum of privacy.

janisj

A party of seven what? 2 adults, a baby and some pre teenagers . . . or 7 adults . . . or two couples and some toddlers? That will make a big difference.

Many flats will sleep 6 w/ space for a cot (UK for 'crib') . . . but fewer will sleep 7 adults.

£1500 - £2000 should be doable but a lot depends on the make up of your group.

I was surprised opening the first link and seeing a very suburban looking semi -- an unusual sort of property in central-ish London.. That property is almost a mile from the Vauxhall tube station and about the same from the nearest train station. Not convenient.

The other one is much more central . . . but still is paddington.

I agree w/ Big Russ that (again depending on the group's make up) a studio and two bedroom or large one bedroom in the same complex/bldg or street might be easier to find.

RoamEurope

I agree. Our place in July was in Soho and had two flats rented by the same owner that each held 4-6. Some people wouldn't like the noise of the area but it was great. I'm pretty sure there were several I ran across on homeaway/vrbo in Soho/Covent Garden/Russell Square that had multiple flats rented by the same owner in the same building.

carolyn

A number of years ago London Connections found us a three-bedroom flat on Queens Gate Gardens for six adults. It also had a sofa in the living room that one person could sleep on. That is the Chelsea-South Kensingston area and quite close to the Gloucester Road tube stop.

The website is londonconnection.com if you are interested.

love_travel_Aus

At the risk of intruding in this thread - what is janisj's favourite place?
Looking at a very last minute early December possible London visit with eldest son and feel we might appreciate some space!

I too endorse the suggestion to consider two apartments if two family groups.

janisj

Hi - It isn't my <i>very</i> favorite nor is it in my VERY favorite location . . . but these are amazing bargains for London and the Marina is a terrific area to stay. Much more convenient for a week's stay than I thought before the first time I stayed there several years ago. Have since booked them 3 times. Nice but not posh two bedroom flats sleeping 6 for £125 a night in the winter and about £130 during high season. I wouldn't try to sleep 6 adults in them since two would be on a sofa sleeper. But they are really roomy for a group of 4. And the 1 bdrms are less than £100 a night in winter. Just unbelievable for London for the quality.

But because of that they do book up well ahead.

http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~hamlet_uk/

JH1926

Yes -- the L is the best I can do to represent pounds

Thanks for all the thoughts everyone! We are two families -- one with a 12 year old and another with an 11 year old and a 14 year old. We'd also prefer not to have to use sofa beds, but realize it's a tall order. We would actually prefer to stay together in one flat, but realize this may not be possible.

Thanks for the links -- it may be that 2 flats near each other could work, too.

Gordon_R

>>the L is the best I can do to represent pounds <<

Just type either of the following, with the space immediately before the semi-colon removed:

&#163 ;

&pound ;

Failing that, there's "GBP". Nobody in the UK will have any idea what you mean by "L1500"

janisj

JH1926: >>We would actually prefer to stay together in one flat, but realize this may not be possible.<<

Consider that the majority of flats - even 3 bdrm ones - will only have 1 or 1.5 bathrooms. When you get up to 3+ bedroom, 2+ bathroom properties you are usually talking REAL money. Now, both of the flats you originally found do have 2 baths -- butt they are only in your budget because of the locations which aren't primo.

I'd consider something like a one bdrm and a 2 bdrm at the Marina. That would get you more overall space, two full bathrooms, and you'd spend far less money than most large, multi-bath places. But you'd only be in the same complex - not next door neighbors.

Places like the Citadines or maybe Dolphin House you might be able to request adjacent flats or on the same floor. But they would also be more expensive than the Marina.

PatrickLondon

Oh I think it's possible to guess, given what a pound sign looks like.

Havana128

At the risk of pedantry when I was young, pre-decimalisation, L always stood for £ as in pounds shillings and pence represented by the Latin words Libra Solidus Denarius, Libra meaning pound. LSD was shorthand for money.

JH1926

Thanks for the ideas of other places to look. I really do get it that it will be easier to find a couple of flats together.