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.