London Apartment Location
 

I am trying to decide on two apartments: one is in Bloomsbury, where we have always stayed, and the other is very near St. Paul's Cathedral. I'm leaning to the St. Paul's location, but are there any factors I need to be aware of that may cause this not to be a good choice? I realize that the Tube may be congested during rush hours and that it will probably be more expensive to get there from Heathrow, but that's all I can think of that would factor in me choosing elsewhere.

I can't think why it'd be more expensive to get to St Paul's than Bloomsbury.

The main difference that occurs to me is that, depending on exactly where these flats are, around St Paul's may feel a bit more like a business/office area than Bloomsbury. But some parts of either might be the opposite.

Totally agree. Bloomsbury would be my strong preference and arguably the general area is one of the best places for a tourist to stay. No problem with St Paul's area but (aligned with Patrick's comment) it's very busy and business-y during the week and can be dead at the weekends. Speaking very generally, Bloomsbury is just much more pleasant in my view - more easy going (for London) and fewer knobs.

But also as Patrick says, it depends exactly where it is as both areas have better and worse with regard to desirability.

I stayed in Shoreditch last trip and really liked it, although that's a ways from St. Paul's. I think one reason to consider another apartment is if you want to shake things up a bit and experiment with a different area. I love Bloomsbury also, and have stayed there several times. On this last trip, one thing I recall seeing in the business area at lunchtime was an incredible collection of kiosks with different food offerings (sorry, can't recall the street). I enjoyed a free lunchtime concert at Jerwood Hall, LSO St Luke's. You can easily walk over the bridge to Tate Modern from St. Paul's, and so on.

As with other parts of London, there are side-streets and alleyways around St Paul's that can feel a bit more residential and villagey: around Carter Lane/Blackfriars Lane or down Watling Street/Bow Lane. But, as walkinround suggests, the bars and restaurants might have too high a quotient of braying "City types".

Bloomsbury has a number of hotels, colleges and hospitals, so from a villagey atmosphere round Marchmont St/Lamb's Conduit Street, you might turn a corner and find a much more urban/studenty ambiance.

My preference in general would be Bloomsbury, but people marketing property have an elastic idea of neighbourhoods, so it all comes down to exactly where these places are.
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We stayed last year in Bloomsbury and a number of years ago stayed out past St Paul's, towards the Tower of London. I much prefer the Bloomsbury area, there was a lot within an easy walk and a lovely atmosphere. The main thing I remember from staying out the other way was that most things were closed on the weekends. We had trouble a few times finding somewhere to eat and chains that would be open near Oxford St were closed near our hotel. It's always good to try another area of London so if you are keen, go for it. You can always go back to Bloomsbury on another visit.

Kay

It would help if you provided the post codes for each flat. As Patrick says, there are specific areas in each of the two neighborhoods that are 'village-y'/residential and areas that aren't

Thanks, all. The St. Paul's flat is on Amen Court. I am leaning towards the other flat on Charlotte Street (more Fitzrovia) because of the shops and atmosphere. I think it will be a better experience for my 22-year-old granddaughter, since it is her first trip to London.

I think you're right. Charlotte Street is much livelier (in a good way).

>>(more Fitzrovia)<<

Absolutely Fitzrovia. Charlotte St is one restaurant after another. Amen Ct is little more than an alley and a private road so it would likely be VERY quiet.

Thanks all for your help. We booked a flat in Marylebone that wasn't even in my sights the first couple of looks. Both my husband and granddaughter chose it as their first pick, and it is on a quiet street, two/three blocks away from 2 Tube stations, has a supermarket and restaurants close by, and (most importantly for my granddaughter) has a coffee shop on the block--she is 22, after all). We are going in late May, so I will report back in afterwards to let you know how the experience was.