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.