London Flat Rental Opinions Please!
 

I am still exploring a flat for the nine days we are in London this summer. Flights are set and we are thinking this would be an ideal time to try a rental with more room than we are used to in  another neighborhood other than Bloomsbury.

I’ve been following the "crazyfamilyof4" conversation and have found it really helpful. I share the same reservations and am a little skittish about renting an apartment; but I have been looking at all the agencies mentioned on many sites, including Coach House Rentals, and all the apartments listed below are listed by that company.

I’m really liking the THC2 one as it seems to be a good location; but I’ve been wrong before. We like the museums, a grocery nearby, and pubs.  The price seems very good, almost too good to me.  We will be all over central London for our activities with the one trip to Hampton Court.

Comments please? Thank you.

http://rentals.chslondon.com/THC2/THC2.htm

http://rentals.chslondon.com/DNE/DNE.htm

http://rentals.chslondon.com/SSG/SSG.htm

http://rentals.chslondon.com/WYN/WYN.htm

THC2's location is alright. It's a lovely area and pretty well connected by public transport.

Location-wise I like WYN best though.

I'll have to disagree a bit w/ ssachida. WYN is a nice location but not at all convenient to LHR. But it is w/i reasonable walks of several tube lines

THC2 and DNE are very convenient to LHR and near many sites.

Definitely NOT the third one - SSG. Not a convenient area. Not close to anything but Portobello Rd.

janisj is probably right on this one -- i live in Loondon as opposed to visit it and the logistics are different.
Question though: WYN is no more than a 5 minute taxi ride / 15 minute walk to Paddington and the Heathrow express, no?

ssachida: IMO no one should take the HEX unless money is absolutely no object. And the HEX + a cab would cost a fortune.

Either the tube or a car service in from LHR is the way to go. (w/ a car service one can stay anywhere, but then transport/proximity to sites <i>during</i> the week should be a major consideration)

Thank you both for your prompt replies. I'm leaning towards THC2, but the Marleybone flat looks nice too.

We will probably be taking the tube in from LHR.

After London we will be leaving for Spain from Gatwick. Are these flats convenient for transport to Gatwick?

Please comment on these two possibilities from Farnum&Christ.

http://farnum-christ.com/sloane-squa...term-apartment

http://farnum-christ.com/flats/flats...term-apartment

Thank you.

For Gatwick from THC2 - easy peasy. Tube 2 stops to Victoria, 30-35 min train from Victoria to LGW.

WYN would be a bit of a bear from LHR, but easy to LGW. 2 or three different tube options to get to stations for trains to LGW.

Re the F&C flats: The Sloane Sq one (#2) is in a lovely location - though a bit of a hike to Sloane Sq tube station. Practically across the road from Wren's Chelsea Hospital and very close to the river.

The Elm Park Lane mews cottage looks wonderful - but it is quite a way from any tube station. You'd be using buses instead of the tube.

janicej,

Great info as usual. We are waiting to hear about THC2's availability. My husband and I were wondering about those tube connections in Chelsea, pouring over our A-Z last night.

Thank you.

I think THC2 is in a fine location. My only hesitation is that it's quite a small apartment (those things in the LR are loveseats - not sofas) - and might be tight quarters for 4 people. But I beleive most London apts are small.

Also, I wouldn't want to be the one sleeping on a pullout loveseat.

nytraveler, thank you for tip about the loveseats. Fortunately we are only 3 in the flat.

One reason we discounted WYN was that the sofas in the LR were twin beds.

A few days down the road and we haven't heard from the rental agency about the desired flat; so we are still looking and arethisclose to renting this one.
http://www.aplacelikehome.co.uk/l278...bqxeqepxf.aspx

It looks close to Sloane Square Tube Station. Am I right? Of course not on the Piccadilly line from Heathrow and a little more expensive than any of the other flats we are considering.

I like the neighborhood, I think I stayed near here in the 80s in the now defunct British Overseas Club. Could be wrong.
DD and DH are good with it and are looking at grocery stores close by and think we found a Sainsbury.

Same transportation issues apply. Will be leaving to catch a plane to Spain from Gatwick. Of course I haven't made those reservations yet and will probably post about that soon.

Advice please? Thank you.

That is a lovely location.

For the tube in from LHR: Piccadilly line to Hammersmith. Exit train and walk a few feet across the same platform. Board the next eastbound District line train. Five stops to Sloane Sq.

For transport to LGW: Sloane Sq Circle/District line east bound one stop to Victoria (or a short cab ride). Train to LGW.

Thank you, janisj. I was worried about getting there from LHR. I did not want to use a car service until we leave. The info about the steps and platform are invaluable.

The family is still talking about the trek from King's Cross to Victoria after our trip to Yorkshire a few years ago. A kindly stranger took pity on my daughter and lugged her suitcase up a flight of stairs. It seemed to take forever. Now I'm sure I would just take a taxi or ask in a post about the best way.

The agency also has a smaller flat very close to the South Kensington station, but there isn't a lift and I can't see climbing up to the third floor.

Now we have some decisions to make and again I thank you.

>>A kindly stranger took pity on my daughter and lugged her suitcase up a flight of stairs.<<

Lesson learned - only take as much luggage as one can lug ;)

We just returned from London and stayed at Coach House's EMP flat near the Gloucester Road tube stop in South Kensington. We took a car service to and from LHR (DH insists it is money well spent but it would have been only one tube line in from LHR - on the return to LHR we had to leave before the tube started running!). We had a good experience with Coach House - although I don't yet know how long it will take to receive our security deposit back (we only departed yesterday).

I must say that I spend an inordinate amount of time researching and fretting about the exact correct apartment (there seem to be endless choices) - and why is one better than another??? But our flat was well appointed and worked great for us - DH, me and 10 year old DD. We did have 48 stairs to climb at the end of the day but as DH says what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger!

http://www.rentals.chslondon.com/ I used Coach as well and only returned last week but have received an emai that our deposit is on its way back to us.... I would use them again in a minute!! I drove myself crazy researching flats and very happy with my decision

deposit received - didnt even take a week

The Draycott Place flat is closer than you might think to the South Ken tube station which is on the Picadilly line from LHR. Or it is easy to get a black cab at the tube station and make a quick ride from there. I lived just a couple of blocks away and would often walk from SK rather than switch lines to Sloane Square tube station which was hardly closer. But do check out car service like www.justairports.com especially if there are three of you it likely is not that much more than the tube.

And if you were looking for a grocery nearby the Draycott Place apartment there is on Kings Road right there the quite posh Partridges. www.partridges.co.uk. Sainsbury is fine though a rather basic grocery. Also not too far is the Waitrose on Kings Road more of a full service grocery than Sainsbury.

did u hear back about the THC flat? it looks great...

i can highly recommend Farnum and Christ, will be using them for the 3rd time this December, when renting the Vicarage Gate flat for Christmas...they are prompt and easy to deal with, you get the keys before leaving, deposit always refunded timely and the flats are as pictured. I got this agency from research on fodors, it was recommended by Neopatrick then...they have a 2 bed covent garden flat that looks amazing...lots of stairs though...and it is close to the tube which is direct line from LHR (not sure if you are gatwick though)...great area to stay, lots of action on your doorstep...

How very nice to hear from all of you, particularly those of you who have used the rental agencies,

As you can probably tell, I too drive myself crazy examining every possibility and every angle. I'm not an "on the fly" kind of person.

I haven't heard back from CHR about the ThC2 flat, as they haven't heard back from the owner, and it's been over a week. This flat is listed with another agency, is this common practice? Does this cause double booking? It will be interesting to see what my email brings me in the morning. Just bought some matinee tickets for the "Book of Mormon," and I feel like I'm bleeding money, but also feel very blessed to be able to celebrate my 60th birthday in this manner.

Now I must make arrangements for getting from London to Seville. I will post a question about that very soon. These multiple travel plans are really stressing me out. Thanks again and I will post as soon as we make a decision.

Could that Partidges be the store in the "Sensitive Skin" TV show I just finished with the wonderful Joanna Lumley? I haven't checked to see where it was filmed.

>>This flat is listed with another agency, is this common practice?<<

That isn't unheard of - semi-typical actually. Especially for flats on say vrbo. MANY of them are also w/ various agencies.

For Draycott Place, there's also the area of Cale Street/Elystan Street nearby; some very nice small food shops. There's a fish monger, and the Pie Man that does take-away food.

The THC2 flat is not available so we have decided to go with the Draycott rental. In the process of filling out the paperwork now.

I really do appreciate the input from you all.

It sure made a difference to find reviews of the agencies and flats on SlowTrav, TA, and of course particularly Fodor's.

Knowing how much that helped me I promise to post a review of the flat, the location and the process hoping someone will be helped by me for a change!

Now I'm starting to search for restaurants and above all pubs. Thank you Tulips for the Cale Street tip. Always wanted to try the Pie Man.

If you don't already know the website www.fancyapint.com it has a search tool for pubs by neighborhood, tube station, etc. and reviews. We liked to use it to scope in advance of a day out in London what good pubs there were near wherever we were sightseeing.

In the area of the Draycott apartment the closest pub would be the Queen's Head or the Chelsea Potter. But there is also in the general area that we enjoyed the Pig's Ear (has a restaurant too), the Phoenix (has a restaurant too), the Admiral Coddington (has a restaurant too), the Hoop and Toy (across from South Kensington tube station). In those pubs with restaurants we often liked to stay in the pub area for the atmosphere but then order food to eat in there.

In case you need anything else in the neighborhood, between the apartment and the Sloane Square tube station along Kings Road there is a Boots pharmacy and also a Peter Jones department store (similar to Macy's if you are from the USA, they have good departments for soap, lotions, cosmetics, underwear, small electrics, kitchen utensils, etc. if you forgot something from home or your flat doesn't have it).

And for later hours if you need milk, bottled water, or anything like that there is a small convenience store there near the Cale Street/Elystan Street intersection. But, despite the name "Retail 24" it is not open 24 hours a day but more like 7 am to 11 pm. (You can see a picture of it if you google maps "jane asher cakes cale street london" and look at the "street view" photo of that location.)

If there is anything else you would like to know about that neighborhood happy to try and answer.

All good info from laurie_ann.

>>Peter Jones department store (similar to Macy's . . . <<

Peter Jones is probably my fave department store in London. I <i>wish</i> Macy's (at least the ones near me) was anything similar :)

I like eating in PJ's Top floor cafe.

Ah, the Admiral Coddington! Used to be quite posh and sloany.

Second Peter Jones top floor. I used to like Ziani's in Radnor Walk (Italian), but haven't been in ages, so don't know if it's still good.