4annmarie

I am planning a trip for my family (me, my husband and our children ages 22, 19 and 16).
I am looking for an apartment in London. We need at least 2 bedrooms (total of 4 beds) and 2 bathrooms. I am not familiar at all with London. We are fine walking and will take public transport. I'm sure the older "kids" will enjoy heading out to a nearby pub at night. We will eat breakfast in the flat but probably not other meals. I would like a safe area, close to transport and "attractions". Any thoughts on the following rentals is greatly appreciated. I am most interested in your opinions on the location and the rental companies. Has anyone stayed in these units or used these companies?
Thanks

http://www.aplacelikehome.co.uk/l277...bqxeqcpxf.aspx

http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p55067

jamikins

I would much prefer the Kensington location to the kings cross location. The area is more posh, with lots of atmosphere.

I can't determine exactly the location, but it says kings cross or euston are the closest tubes to the Bloomsbury one...I just find this area not quite as atmospheric...seems busier with traffic etc....

nytraveler

The first is pretty and not in a bad location - althoughI wouldn't want all those steep stairs. Since it is a mews house, expect all of the rooms to be tiny. But I would prefer somehwer more central.

The other seems to be a less pleasant area and doesn;t specify how far to the tube.

But both are much better than apartments I have seen proposed here in the outer reaches of who knows where.

4annmarie

Thanks. I have just found one more that is in Chelsea.
Thoughts....?

http://www.aplacelikehome.co.uk/l241...bqxeiepxf.aspx

IdyllicItaly

I like your first choice very much.

One thing I look for when renting an apartment is the proximity of grocery stores, pubs, bakeries, restaurants, etc. As you may know, if you enter the address into google maps and then, immediately after the address, specify the type of business (such as grocery store, cafe, pub) that you're looking for, those businesses will be displayed on the Google map with links to them. I found all of the above for the apartment in Kensington. It also looks like you have excellent transportation connections to the center of London.

Chelsea is another nice area to stay in. We rented an apartment in Chelsea through "A Place Like Home" and were very satisfied.

Toucan

I dealt with A Place Like Home last fall for a 2br 2 ba on Courtfield Gardens in So Kensington. They were great to work with and we had no problems at all. Even the deposit refund only took a couple of days. We ate several times at The Blackbird pub near Earls Court tube, great food!

PatrickLondon

The apparently mysterious Bloomsbury one is advertised on other sites as being in Tonbridge House, Tonbridge St, WC1. This is the less posh end of Bloomsbury, and the building is a gentrified/zhooshed-up late Victorian block that would have been built for the respectable working classes and is now a gated block (do a Google Street View on the address). It's on the edge of the academic/arty side of Bloomsbury, and it is indeed within 5-10 minutes' walk of the sort of ambiance you're looking for, around Leigh St, the Brunswick Centre, Red Lion St, and so on - plenty of shops, pubs, restaurants and a neighbourhood/villagey feel, even if this particular street looks a bit dull.

Tulips

I would go for Adam and Eve Mews; nice location. Plenty of shops in the area, and close to High Street Kensington station.
The one in Chelsea is much further from the tube; and it only sleeps 4.

Avalon2

Keniston One is muchmore desirable area.Lots of shops and cafes nearby/

PatrickLondon

Personally, I think the public transport options are better from the Bloomsbury one, especially once you've looked at the bus routes nearby.

But granted, the Kensington option puts you in a quiet spot just round the corner from a major shopping street, even if it is a bit further to travel to a lot of attractions - but you're going to have to travel, wherever you are.

Cathinjoetown

The Chelsea place says sleeps 4 and you are 5, also only one bath and 15-18 min walk to tube, 5 min by bus but doesn't include any wait time for bus. I would rule this out, you can't show up with 5 people for a 4- person flat.

4annmarie

Great input.
I agree about the Chelsea apartment. We would really have to want Chelsea to make that unit work. I am taking it off the list.
Bloomsbury looks like it has good transport options but most people I've spoken with like the Kensington area.
I'll get in touch with both the Kensington and Bloomsbury properties and confirm availability and get essential details.
thanks so much.

oh2doula

I used http://www.rentals.chslondon.com/
in March - we loved it. I looked at some many flats and after much discussion on here and research we went with Coach. They were easy to reach before hand and were great while in London. My deposit was returned in about a week!! We stayed at the St George's Square flat.

just27

ttt

Seamus

Have had very good experience renting through London Connection www.londonconnection.com. They are based in the US and accept payment in dollars. They do have staff on the ground in London, too, and they were great.

Also was pleased with www.ivylettings.com when we used them.

Of the two in your OP, I'd opt for the Bloomsbury (-ish) property based on layout and location but could be happy in either.

BigRuss

I would keep looking.

The one on Adam and Eve Mews is nearest to High St Kensington, which is not a central location compared to other places in "Central London." The other Place Like Home flat you referenced specifically says it sleeps up to four, not five, and is nowhere near a Tube line.

London is the largest city in Western Europe and it's double the size of #2, so do NOT think that you will actually be able to find a place near ALL attractions. The Tube is your friend, not the bus system because the latter is subject to London's traffic and 15th century street layout.

You're better off looking in South Kensington (near various museums and key Tube lines that will take you throughout the city) and South Bank than Kensington or Chelsea by the Battersea Bridge.

BigRuss

Try to get a real indication of size - # of bedrooms doesn't tell you what you need. Ask for square meter total.

Then get out a calculator and multiply the sq meters by 10.5625 and you'll get the square footage. E.g., a 65 sqm flat is 686 sq ft.

4annmarie

I think I just need to pin something down. Many of the units I am finding are already booked. And, it takes a day or 2 after inquiry to discover that.
I think we will go with the Bloomsbury unit (assuming it hasn't been rented in the past day or two).
It seems to have everything we need such as beds and baths and is close to a few tube lines.
I was hoping for something with a bit more activity for the kids-but you can't have everything.
When we went to Paris we stayed on the Ile St. Louis and when in Rome stayed near Piazza Navonna.
The kids liked being able to walk to dinner, bars etc in the evenings.

thanks for the input