London vacation rental
 

A friend and her teenage children ( 19 & 17 ) will be in London January 2nd week and I'm trying to help them find a centrally located apartment. They've found a couple of places near Canary Wharf and Brick Lane, but am not too sure that would be a good place. Ideally they'd like to be on the Piccadilly Line, their budget isn't very high, around 800 GBP/week. I look forward to your suggestions, any local rental agencies they could contact, apart from VRBO/Homeaway? Thanks in advance!

Canary Wharf is not at all central and Brick Lane is only slightly better. I would not stay in either area.

Look at these - well within their budget and near the Tower of London.

http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~hamlet_uk/

Thanks janis, knew you'd come up with something, you're the best!

I also found this apartment near Euston tube on both the VRBO and Owner's Direct sites, http://www.vrbo.com/1038922ha
Rate quoted is 100 quid per night, owner also says if booking is made within 24 hours of first email inquiry he'll give the family 2-4-1 tickets to the London Eye. Is this legit?!

Janis, the Hamlet looks ideal, thanks again:)

Check out www.daysoutguide.co.uk for all kinds of 2for1 deals when you buy a paper transit ticket rather than an oyster card

Yes of course jamikins, what I meant was that this apartment owner was offering free 2-4-1 tickets if you booked the place within 24 hours of contacting him!

Love that -- a 1 bedroom that sleeps <u>seven</u>! (Of course there isn't room for seven people to sit or 'be' except when in bed)

Looks OK for 3 and the kitchen and bathroom look nice - If I'd was staying there I'd probably spend most of my time in the bathroom because it looks the most roomy/comfortable part f the flat >)

The title of the listing is misleading a bit - it is near Euston/King Cross, not very near Oxford Street and especially not the West End.

One thing that confuses a bit - there are photos of two different bathrooms but the description says 1 bathroom. The pushing of the London Pass does rub me the wrong way - but that has nothing to do w/ the flat itself.

Yes, I too found the bit about the London Pass a little questionable, but the apartment per say seems to be ok for 3 people. A bit more central than staying near Tower Bridge, will ask my friend to decide. Thanks for all the help!

Of the two apartments suggested the one near Euston is far more convenient for the West End and Oxford street, Covent Garden etc. maybe a 5-10 min. Tube ride or a 15-20 min walk to those locations. St Katherine's Dock is pleasant enough but that area tends to be very quiet at night and is a long way from most tourist sights apart from the Tower.

>>St Katherine's Dock is pleasant enough but that area tends to be very quiet at night and is a long way from most tourist sights apart from the Tower.<<

You may not have stayed there recently. There are at least 12 different restaurants/pubs/cafes w/i the Docks complex. Not at all quiet -- except the actual flats ARE quiet so the best of both worlds. Lots of food/beverage options but no street noise at all (since there are no 'streets').

As for convenience - Euston os closer to the British Museum/Library and the Marina is close to the Tower/Bridge and river.

Re time to the west end/other areas - Tower Hill to Westminster (for Big Ben/the Abbey/etc) takes 10 minutes by tube. Euston to Westminster takes 13 minutes. Some areas are more convenient from one some are more convenient from the other.

Does anybody have suggestions for a hotel close to Heathrow airport Terminal 5 - I will be there May 3 and have a flight to Los Angeles at 10am. Thank you for any suggestions.

pcobbpowers: see my post on the other thread where you posted the question

Just a helpful hint . . . it is usually better to start a new thread of your own rather than asking on a thread about an entirely different topic or tacking on a years old thread

(vacation rentals in central London is total apples / oranges w/ a one nighter at LHR)

The same owner has a one bedroom apartment near Victoria which looks suitable too, I'd put the location on par with the one near the British museum. www.homeaway.co.uk/p1020728

BTW janis, its the same bathroom in both pictures, with and without flash I believe.

Oh - you are right about the bathrooms.

re the Victoria one . . . (Boy they really like to cram in beds :) - another 1 bdrm sleeping 7)

That really looks like a bare bones place but w/ a nice kitchen. Would not be comfortable for me personally. There is some confusions about the precise location. The map (zoomed in) shows the flat in Chantry House -- but the bldg photo is not of Chantry House (which is across the street from Victoria. Then it says he 'chose Pimlico' but if the rest of the description is accurate, the flat is obviously in Victoria. But wherever it is exactly it does sound a very convenient location. I'm trying to place the bldg (I often stay in Victoria and Pimlico and it does look familiar but I can't remember it right now)

Yes, the guy has so many cots everywhere there's barely room to walk! I was also wondering about the Pimlico bit when he says the apartment is minutes away from Victoria. Anyway, let my friend decide, I think I've done my bit!