2 sisters / 2 cousins need apartment London

I sent you a private mail message.

Julie, not sure if you are interested but I just got back from London last night and my family stayed in StayCity apartments in Hayes, near Heathrow. It is half your budget a night and has pull out sofa that separates as 2 beds and full queen in the bedroom. Originally booked for 2 nights but ended up staying all 8. With a full kitchen we saved a bundle eating breakfast and making our lunches to take touring. You have to catch the train, (1 or 2 stops to Ealing Broadway tube) or just take it all the way in to Paddington but we found it very easy commute. It is a gritty working class neighborhood but its full of market/stores reasonable pubs and train station is literally right out the gated doors of this grouping of apartments. Of course when we travel to Europe I make even Rick Steves look like a he is just hanging with rich people, so not sure if its your cup of tea. Back door experience.

Brad,

Staycity is a good tip. Unfortunately their Central London facility is full during our time. As to staying at Heathrow, I am reluctant to spend 1+ hours a day on a commute. There is no coming back to the apartment and resting before going back out when travel time is approximately 30 minutes. The website certainly makes the apartment look inviting, I'll confer with my travelmates.

Where were you going to stay before extending your Hayes apartment nights? I'll gladly look at below budget opportunities.

Julie

I'd check out the London School of Economics. They rent spare dorm rooms and apartments to tourists. Just be aware that their website sometimes will indicate no availability, when there really is something available. It has to do with different browsers. So feel free to contact them directly.

Here's their websites
www.lsevacations.co.uk
www.lsetopfloor.co.uk
They have multiple locations in central London, all with access to tube stations and/or bus stops. We haven't used them, but I have read excellent things about them from others.

Not sure if it's in your price range, but you could also check out Citadens aparthotels. They also have several central London locations. We used their Covent Garden/High Holborn location many years ago when we took our kids. Had a 1 bedroom with a pull out sofa in the living room. Worked well for us.

http://www.citadines.com/en/propertylisting.html?City=London

Here are some resources we regularly give to folks interested in renting houses and apartments. VRBO is usually a good plce to start.

Holiday-Rentals.com lists thousands of vacation rentals by owner in Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Florida & worldwide. Book villas, apartments, cottages, ski chalets, golf holidays and bed & breakfast direct with the owners for great value! http://www.holiday-rentals.com
Apartment rentals: http://www.vrbo.com/ (vacation rentals by owner)
www.homeaway.com .
www.homeatfirst.com
http://www.rentavilla.com/ Seattle based company that rents properties in Italy, France, and Portugal. This “local” Seattle company offers rentals to a more “upscale” clientele; in other words, its properties are more expensive. Their reputation is excellent!
www.castlescottages-flats.com - rents castles and cottages in England, Ireland, France, Spain and Portugal
www.holidayapartments.co.uk - Europe apartments
www.europeanescapes.com - Europe apartments and villas

Cross-Pollinate is an online booking agency representing B&Bs and apartments in a handful of European cities, including London. Cross-Pollinate handpicks its listings, selectively presenting each one as if recommending it to a friend. Search their website for a listing you like, then submit your reservation online. If the place is available, you’ll be charged a small deposit and emailed the location and check-in details. Policies vary from owner to owner, but in most cases you’ll pay the balance on arrival in cash. London listings range from a Chelsea B&B room for two for £100 per night to a two-bedroom Marble Arch apartment sleeping four for £280 per night. Minimum stays vary from one to five nights (US tel. 800-270-1190, UK tel. 020/3514-0083, www.cross-pollinate.com, info@cross-pollinate.com).

Coach House Rentals offers a range of hand-selected apartments around the city, nearly all of them in real homes. As with any apartment rental, these can be an especially smart option if you’re traveling as a group of four or more. Generally speaking, the more central the apartment, the more you pay (around £200/night for place in Pimlico, £425/night right by Westminster Abbey, £120-150/night farther afield). Each comes with a packet of neighborhood info, a “starter pack” of breakfast snacks, and usually either cable Internet access or Wi-Fi. A staff member meets you when you first arrive, and someone’s always available over the phone (5-night minimum, £90 fee on top of quoted rental, tel. 020/8133-8332, http://rentals.chslondon.com, rentals@chslondon.com).

I hope this helps some.

All of the tips have been helpful. I have not found the "perfect" apartment or setting for us but the information all of you have shared has me started on the right track.

Thanks, I'll keep looking for any more hints from you,

Update: I finally selected an apartment in Bayswater area through airbnb.com. I wanted to stay under 75USD per night per person.... upon reflection with time required on tube to get to central London I should have upped the per night budget. I'll report back on the accommodations after we've been to London.

I found vrbo and homeaway etc. above our price range for the time we are in London.

Again, my thanks for your tips.

Julie

Hi Julie,

Good choice! You'll be happy in Bayswater; you're very centrally located and have Hyde Park as your front garden. :) Depending on exactly where you are, your closest tube stops will be either Bayswater or Queensway; Bayswater is on the Circle from Paddington and can get you directly to South Kensington for the museums, Victoria for trains to the south (Gatwick and Brighton), and Westminster for the biggies - Parliament, London Eye, Westminster Abbey, South Bank. Queensway is on the Central line and can take you right to the heart of fabulous shopping on Oxford St.

If you walk west along Westbourne Grove, there are some very exclusive shops and lovely cafes - there's an Ottolenghi that's well worth a coffee and more. A little bit further along takes you to Portobello Market; if you're interested in antiques, fun souvenirs, or street food, it's a fabulous place, but do go early as on a Saturday it becomes completely rammed by late morning.
Have a brilliant time!

@ julie,

Getting around London is efficient and cool with the underground.

From Bayswater you can walk into central london too if you want. It will take some time,but if the weathers great, it would be a great walk.

if i remember its on the Circle line so you can get around and make transfers easliy.

I havent rode it around london yet, maybe this sept.

happy trails.

Thanks Everyone for the additional tips about getting around London. I know we will have a fabulous time your input helps form the foundation for the success of this adventure.

Julie

Depending to where you are in the Bayswater neighborhood you can actually say you have three tube stops to access, Nottinghill Gate, Bayswater and Queensway. Loads of busses along Bayswater and Westbourne Grove as well. Nice walk over to Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park. As you are budget travelers make certain to make use of the Pret a Mangers, and Sainsburys for pre made sandwiches and pieces of fruit for picnics. Believe you'll find both on Queensway. There is also a nice traditional pub (at least it was there 2 years ago), The Prince Edward on Prince's Square. It's near the Vancouver Studio Apartments. Nice spot for a pint following a long day of sight seeing. Have a wonderful time in a great city!

Claudia, thanks for the "pint" tips. By using google maps I found the sandwich and tube stops you mentioned, they all appear to be 3-10 minutes from the flat. Plus I am in reasonable (for me) walking distance of Paddington making access to/from Heathrow easier. Now, I need to locate a grocer and coffee shop and all will be in good form for the basic "needs" for a week in London.

Julie

Julie,
There is a Marks and Spencer with a food hall inside the Whiteleys Center on Queensway. I believe it is at the north end of the center, closer to Westbourne Grove Road. You can google it to see if that is convenient for you.
I envy you! I stayed in this area last summer and loved it. Bit touristy-tacky right around the Bayswater tube station, but cross the street, and you are in Hyde Park. It's another world. If you enjoy bike riding, there is a bike rental spot just inside the gates at the Queensway entrance to the park. Fun and cheap.
Keep your wits about you when you come up out of the tube at Bayswater. Super, super touristy-busy.
Ann

Julie there's a Starbucks on nearly every corner in London. Okay that's an exaggeration but if your a fan they are plentiful. There's one on Queensway. Personally, I prefer Costa Coffee and Cafe Neros which are also plentiful. You'll be fine. I also recall a cafe nearly right across from the Bayswater tube that had good coffee. As far as groceries, staples the Marks and Spencer's is great and besides having pre made sandwiches at Sainsbury you'll find groceries there, its a market. Cafe Diana has been a go to breakfast spot over the years, although it seemed to less well managed on my last visit two years ago. Pricier as well. Nice spot though so might be worth a look see.

There's a brand new shiny Sainsburys that opened last week at the corner of Queensway and Westbourne Grove. There's also a very nice Waitrose at Porchester Terrace.

Incidentally, if you're a Monty Python fan, the Mr Creosote scene from the Meaning of Life was filmed in Porchester Hall. But it's only waffer theen!

If you want to learn more about your adopted neighbourhood, look at www.visitbayswater.com There are coupons and offers that may be of use.

We were in London a few weeks ago and stayed in the Balham neighborhood in an apartment on Fernlea Road. 3 min walk to tube & train. It was the perfect location, Balham is a quiet and friendly residential neighborhood, 3-4 min walk to train, tube, grocery store, bakeries, pharmacy, restaurants, cute little shops, post office, and a big park. Balham Station has train & tube service into London, about a 10 minute ride, and one came through Balham about every 3-5 minutes. We preferred the train to Victoria station then walked straight out the train station to the red double decker buses out front for our transportation to sightseeing locations. It was a great way to see the city.
We rented our apartment from Julie Madison at HolidayRentalsLondon.com (a.k.a. London Short Let Solutions). She has multiple apartments in Balham, you should check out her website to find one that fits your needs. She's an excellent hostess, very nice and attentive, she will meet you when you arrive or you can do self check-in. The apartments are very nice and reasonable for London. Comfy beds, washer/dryer, and free Wi-Fi.
Have a great trip!
Cheri

Claudia & Mincepie, Love those coffee & grocer tips you left for me.... I am confident the Bayswater flat will work well for us.

Ann, thanks for the reminder to be heads up about the tourist jam at Bayswater Tube .... Your comment reminded me of my first walk through St Marks Square in Venice. Elbows, shoulders, tourist to tourist squeeze and my friend turns and says to me, "mind your pocketbook!" Indeed when one is hip to shoulder in tourist frenzy being heads up never hurts.

Happy Travels All,
Julie

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Don't forget for fresh produce you might like shopping at the Notting Hill Farmer's Market. http://www.lfm.org.uk/markets/notting-hill/ You should be close enough to walk.