Two of us going to London for the first time for a week in early September. I have looked at apartments till I am cross-eyed. Always keep coming back to this one. It is on Launceston Pl near the corner of Victoria Grove in Kensington.

Requirements are simple: safe neighborhood, easy access to local pubs/restaurants. Close tube stations. Washer/dryer in apartment.

http://www.vrbo.com/1688

Thanks in advance, as always.

I won't speak to location as I'm not a native. I've been searching through VRBO, myself and have sent queries to a dozen places. Many are already booked, and many don't respond (I'm looking for April, though)... so you may want to send a query sooner rather than later. Good luck!

Well, it meets all your requirements - the Gloucester Road tube is less than a 10 minute walk. The apartment looks fine, go for it.

It's unrealistic to assume anyone here will have stayed in a particular apartment as there are thousands of short term rentals in London. I've rented one about 10 blocks SW of there, it's a very nice area.

Choosing a flat instead of an hotel was a great move. We've stayed in London three times and always in flats. After walking around London in nice warm weather on long days we've really appreciated having our own washer/dryer in the flat. After our first trip in 2000 (Italy, Austria, Germany), we quickly learned that time spent doing laundry is time spent not seeing the things we've come to see. We've quite enjoyed the luxury of breakfasting in our own flat with real English orange marmalade and The London Times.

We've not used VRBO, but made an enquiry on their web site for our 2004 trip. We didn't at the time find anything on VRBO that appealed to our budget and location preferences, but they have followed up by putting us on and keeping us on their emailing list (which doesn't particularly bother us). On our first London trip, we stayed in Knightsbridge in a flat managed by, I think, Snow White Properties, and shared a washer/dryre with the rest of the building's tenants, not a difficulty.

On our two subsequent trips we lodged in flats in Mayfair in 2004 and Knightsbridge in 2009 and rented those flats through LondonConnection (easily found on the Web). We were very happy with LC's services and it was handy that their headquarters is in Utah and we were able to talk with them directly on their 800 number. We highly recommend them and will certainly use them again (Knightsbridge--what a great collection of eating places!).

Kensington is a neighborhood adjacent to Knightsbridge and seems a great base with good tube access to the rest of the city. The Victoria and Albert Museum is a must-visit.

We've

I just booked an apartment for March and used Avanti Apartments at the recommendation of a friend. They are great. The email is [email protected]. Ask for Joan. Good luck.

Please do a trip report, cheryl. I have looked at this property several times but not booked it. I am with you on flat rentals, the only way to go in London! Enjoy your trip.

I have bookmarked that particular apartment for a stay next year in London, but I found it through LondonPerfect (a sister company of the well-known ParisPerfect apartments??)If it is run by the same company, then I'm sure it upholds to the same standard as the Paris apartments.

The location and size of the apartment seems to suit our needs. If you end up choosing it, I would be very interested in your report. Thanks.

I sent an email to the flat owners today asking for confirmation of availablity, so its getting closer! Now if only the air-fare gods smile on me.

rncheryl:

I guarantee that that the Launceston Place apartment will be perfection. This particular apartment is owned by the proprietors of Paris Perfect and London Perfect. Beautiful neighborhood, close to Gloucester Road tube station, too.