Hi,
My husband and I are taking our 4 children to London for 10 days next year. I am trying to decide between 2 VRBOs to stay in. They are both priced well, have good reviews and look lovely. One is in the Brick Lane area close to Whitechapel tube station. The other is close to the Ealing Common Station. What are your opinions on these areas (best for families, easier access to the city center, prettier area etc.)
They're both easy for central London, though Brick Lane is nearer. However, Ealing is a nicer place to stay and is particularly handy for Kew Gardens, Richmond and Richmond Park. Brick Lane is a bit scruffy and the cutty houses are nowhere near as good as their reputation would have you believe.
That should say 'curry houses'!
to my knowledge, Brick Lane has always been "a bit scruffy", which is an understatement.
If you are at the top of Brick Lane, in the leather district, have a beigel and salt beef up on the left. Scruffy but yum.
Brick Lane area, close to Whitechapel Tube... Its Whitechapel and they are trying to upsell it by mentioning Brick Lane... I'd avoid this one. East London is very different from Tourist London.
Definately visit Brick Lane, it's wonderful on a nice day, but don't stay in Whitechapel. A lot of housing estates in that area, never stay on those.
Ealing Common is ok, but a long way from Tourist London and nothing of note to do locally.
Sorry to be unhelpful, but i wouldn't choose either.
There can be nice places in good locations even in dodgy areas and having addresses would let us make a more accurate judgment, rather than an area average generalisation.
Hi Stefanie,
How old are the kids and what are their interests? Do you have any "must do" items on your agenda?
How wonderful that you are making this family trip.
Cheers,
Jill
I agree with Mike....visit Brick Lane, don't stay there.
My wife and I always stay in Bayswater, an area just north of Hyde Park with a large mixed-ethnic population. Lots of choices in places to eat and good access to two tube lines. Contact Vancouver Studios on Prince's Square about their apartments for rent.
Neither, although i'd lean towards Ealing. I would rather stay in Bayswater or Kensington. The South Kensington Museums are great for kids: Natural History (no Dippy!) and the Science Museums.
I've had 2 visits to London. One was an extended stay with friends in Islington, fairly central but to be honest the most I remember about that trip was the tube: the smell, the heat, the noise, the claustrophobia, the wind, the transfers, the announcements about delays due to the "non-availability of staff."
The second time I stayed only a few nights but right on the river with a fabulous view and dozens of things to do within walking distance.
Suggest a shorter stay in a prime location if funds are the issue. You'll come out ahead.
I always recommend that people stay near a stop on the Circle Line (yellow on the tube map) or Central Line (red on the map). Those two lines, particularly the Circle Line, give you easy access to many, of not most, places you might want to visit if you are first-time tourists in London. Check out Baywater and South Kensington areas.
Bayswater. Not Baywater. Grrrrrrrrr.
