Two more London neighbourhoods to ask you about, please.
 

Hello my babies.
In my search for London accommodation, aside from the Bethnal Green possibility, I now have two more locations to ask you about. I'm giving you as much information as I've got. I've looked them both up on several street maps and on the websites you've provided but personal opinion is what I need from you. Both apartments are quite suitable and in our price range. Here are the locations:

#1 - WC1, Bloomsbury, near Queen's Square, Slade School of Art, Egyptian Museum of Archeology, Bloomsbury Theatre; tube stops Russell Square and Holborn; between Regents Park and Hampstead Heath.

#2 - W14 9HR, West Kensington, Comeragh Road at Verekers Road; near London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts, Barons Court Theatre; south of Hammersmith Road, south of Talgarth Road; tube stop at Barons Court.

Thanks in advance for your help.

>>I want to live in a neighbourhood as close in type to where I live at home -- shops, bookstores, restaurants, nice main street for taking walks.<<

I'd go with Door #1 WC1

Wow, zeppole, you're fast! If I understand it correctly, Bloomsbury is the 'university neighbourhood' which is very much like other neighbourhoods we've lived in, so it's a pretty good bet. Know anything about #2?

In no universe, parallel, imagined or dreamt up by Tony Blair, is WC1 "between Regents Park and Hampstead Heath"

Which said, this IMHO, is a complete no-brainer.

WC1's in London. W14 is practically in the Atlantic Ocean.

Just get the full 7-character postcode to check it really exists. And find out what other nonsense the advertiser's making up

I am not quite understanding this "between Regents Park and Hampstead Heath" for #1. That suggests a more northerly neighborhood than the tube stops suggest, which are both very central.

I see flanneruk and I had the same thought.

Apart from neighborhood ambience, I think what is key is what you want to do in London, perhaps especially in the evenings. For most visitors to London, the W14 apartment would be a bit out. Personally I happen to be a British Museum Freak, and could actually spend all my time there, and I also enjoy H. Heath and I'm a great fan of Marylebone (a good food neighborhood), so that's part of my bias -- (If you take the apt in Bloombury, be sure to visit Daunt's bookstore in marylebone).

But if you are going to be at the Barons Ct. Theatre every night, or have some other reason to want be in W14, I certainly don't know the street ambience or restaurant and shop scene well enough to diss it.

Of concern to me when renting an apartment is to find out the quiet factor, and not wanting any surprises in that regard (like, ambulance driveway under bedroom window)...

Bloomsbury is not between (nor anywhere near) Regents Park and Hampstead Heath. Are you confusing two different listings?

Queen Sq (not Queen's Sq - it makes a difference) is very close to Russell Sq, Coram's Fields and the British Museum.

#2 is between West Kensington and Barons Court tube stations.

Other things being about equal, I'd choose #1 w/o question.

Perhaps she meant between Regent's Park and Hampstead Rd.

I didn't see the other posts -- I was off looking if there was some Queen Square near hampstead -- as the others say "between Regents Park and Hampstead heath" is plain nutty . . . .

zeppole - "<i>Perhaps she meant between Regent's Park and Hampstead Rd.</i>"

nope, that makes no sense either. WC1 is simply not near those places.

I think the poster is not pretending to be an expert on London neighborhoods. When I lived in Hampstead Village I used to amuse myself walking to Regent's Park. It's not exactly the Atlantic Ocean. But I rather think it is Hampstead Rd. he or she meant to type.

Well, let's see: The Hampstead Road runs between Regent's Park and the Eustion Station. Train station, not tube station.

Anyway, I think the poster has given enough other coordinates to locate the property in Bloomsbury, no?

I'm sure he or she will be back to clarify. Even if it's in Swiss Cottage, seems like W14 is not a fave.

zeppole: I think we all understand where #1 is. Queen Sq is right there in the middle of WC1 near Southampton Row. That much is clear. We just don't know where the "between Regents Park and Hampstead heath" bit came from. Its not relevant -- as long as the property is on/near Queen Square -- just curious.

Well, hold on, Janis, I'm sure she's coming back.

Here I am. Sorry, I think I was getting #1 confused with another listing. And yes, janisj, it is Queen Square (not Queen's Square).

I'm getting the locations from Google Map, so I'm not being mislead by the advertiser. Here's the map for #1:
http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

And here's the map for #2:
http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

This is the map given on the #2 website:
http://tinyurl.com/kmrtgj

The reason I mentioned those schools and theatres is because those are the local sites mentioned on the google maps and I thought that would help you locate them in your mind.

Sorry for the mis-information -- have patience with me.

Shoot! I thought those google websites would take you right there! I'll try again.

Well, I can't get the map to do it. In any case, if you want to see what I'm looking at, go to google maps.

For #1, type in WC1, Queen Square, London

For #2, type in W14 9HR, Comeragh Road, London

That should do it.

You have to use the Link at the upper right of Google Maps to get a working link. Then, because it is so long, it's best if you use a service like tinyurl.com to shorten the URL so it will work well in Fodors.

But just typing in the addresses, like you said, works fine too.

Is it this place?

http://www.sabbaticalhomes.co.uk/Pro...0-%20P182.html

Ah! Will, THANK YOU! I'm leaving the office in a few minutes but if I have to I'll post those two links later.

gtg: As I mentioned "<i>Are you confusing two different listings?</i>" Phew - now that we have that straightened out. :)

Just a hint if you are researching other places -- all we really need is the 2 or 3 character post code (W1, WC1, SW7, etc) and street name (<u>precise</u> full street name. No shortcuts since there are many roads w/ almost identical names) - or - the full postal code. Then we can help you -- don't need the "such and such theatre/museum or even tube stop.

I don't know. I didn't have all that much trouble. I don't know that anybody else did either. Has any one changed their mind about preferring #1?

"<i>Has any one changed their mind about preferring #1?</i>" not likely . . .

Queen Sq is where it is and Comeragh Rd is where it is. No comparison.

My point was if gtg wants to check re other places she doesn't have to go to all the trouble of typing in several nearby sites/tube stations, etc. All we need is the street/post code. The rest we can handle.

Yes, well I can see why you put that W14 apartment in the mix. It's pretty to look at. I enjoy Holland Park, but the other location is really in the thick of things.

I'm very tall and so is my husband so the bed in the WC1 wouldn't work for us I don't think.

Again, a lot depends on how you are going to be spending your time -- and how much you'll be spending in the apartment, since there's a considerable difference in square footage and from the photos, perhaps light.

zeppole: #2 isn't near Holland Park -- if that's what you meant.

gtg: the arrow on the flat's map you linked doesn't point to Comeragh Road at Verekers Road -- it points to Gunterstone Rd a few blocks away (also not near Holland Park)

janis, I just walk more than you -- and probably most people, so if goddesstogo doesn't go that far either, you are being a tremendous help to her in tidying all this up.

Funny, the links disappeared.

It's all of an 18 minute walk to Holland Park-- or give another 10 if you're at the wrong end of the street

http://www.londontown.com/NearByEven...r-VEREKER-ROAD

By the way, goddesstogo, I've been meaning to give you this site. It's a great resource for getting some clues about a local neighborhood -- including how close Holland Park is or isn't, plus a lot of eateries, services, etc.

http://notfortourists.com/search.asp...No&bookOnly=No

Hi, sorry, I had to delete the links because I'd inadvertently posted them with my login.

If you want to see the apartments, go to www.sabbaticalhomes.com.

#1 is posting 27289
#2 is posting 39379

janis, the googlemap isn't as accurate as the one provided with the posting (not all postings provide maps). I see that #2 is between Hammersmith and Talgarth Roads, not south of Talgarth.

We walk a lot so a good 'walking neighbourhood' is important.

(zeppole, aren't all beds the same length? I understand about full, queen and king, but length?)

Yes, but when you're really tall, no bed is really long enough, so you have to be able to bend and scrunch a bit -- and that bed wouldn't be wide enough for us. But you haven't invited us to stay! (Although I did not that the 2d one is looking for exchanges in Italy, where I live!)

I still think the first choice gives you the most fun walking.

gtg: "<i>I see that #2 is between Hammersmith and Talgarth Roads, not south of Talgarth.</i>" That's why I said the map was weird. Comeragh Rd is <u>definitely</u> south of Talgarth Rd.

Plug W14 9HR into google and you'll see what I mean. So - either the map provided on the website is wrong -- or -- the place is not on Comeragh rd at W14 9HR

I'm very tempted by the Bloomsbury neighbourhood (#1) even though #2 looks like the nicer apartment.

It's an interesting website, isn't it? It's fun to google the names of the owners.

Thanks for those websites, zeppole, especially NFT. I'm not inviting you to sleep over but if you come to London, we can have a GTG!

Anyone else? Neighbourhood 1 or 2?

I'm pretty sure we'll have other choices as well, so I may be asking you about a few more locations.

thanks, goddesstogo, have a great stay wherever you end up!

janis,
I have to assume that the apartment is on Comeragh since that's where he says it is. The possibility exists that he posted that map to show the street and that the orange arrow is just where you and I are assuming it points to the address. He would have had to type in Gunterstone Road for the arrow to show up there and why would he do that? If he wanted to lie about the address he'd have to make it consistent in both places, so I have to assume the map is in error.

Don't want to be a misery but no. 1 is not available from the end of Sept until the beginning of January if I am reading the info. correctly and no. 2 is looking for 15 months preferably exchange and the info hasn't been updated in a long time.

So on the general issue Bloomsbury is a preferable area but as you can see you don't get a lot of comfort, I suspect the kitchen would be quite small and oldfashioned, ditto bathroom but probably OK for a few weeks. However, I was looking in estate agents windows in that area yesterday and there are flats to rent for under £300, whether they would be interested in less than 6 months is another matter.

You need to think whether you will want to cook much and whether you expect to entertain anyone else for a meal, this will help in refining your search. Queen Square seems very quiet but without knowing the precise location if you are at the south end you might be bothered by ambulances responding to an emergency.

No.1 seemed to have radiators but a prominent gas fire as in that photograph of the sitting room is always a concern for me.

PS if you choose the Bloomsbury area there is a bus 168 to Hampstead Heath, well the South End Green corner of Hampstead Heath. c. 35 mins.

gtg: That is why in future you need to tell us the postcode/street names for any flats you are considering. (or better yet, give us the url link to the place) It is very (VERY) common for some landlords to misrepresent where their places are.

Often Earls Court is called "South Kensington", West Kensington called "Earls Court" and so forth. I've seen many websites w/ misleading maps.