Hello. I am trying to decide between a few Airbnbs in the London area for October. Based on the flats/price (this is for the entire flat), I've narrowed it down between Brixton, Telegraph Hill or Crystal Palace Triangle. I'll be in London for 10 days and will be doing some day trips as well as checking out the London sights. I'll be traveling solo too, if that matters.
Curious if one of those areas is better than others. Any experience or advice is appreciated. Thanks!
Christy
We always stay out by Kensington Palace or a short distance away--Bayswater area.
The Tube runs two directions there, and it's easy to get anywhere in town fast.
The local pub scene is pretty good in this somewhat yuppie area of London.
Brixton - rapidly gentrifying. Traditionally a big Afro-Caribbean area. Good for food markets, street food, inventive & diverse restaurants. At the end of the very fast Victoria tube line so good links into central London.
I had to look up Telegraph Hill. It's an area that young people are increasingly moving to to find affordable housing. It's green & fairly attractive, up & coming, but it's not on the tube line. Join the commuters on the train into the centre.
Crystal Palace is a long-established neighbourhood for young families. Like Telegraph Hill it's a little way out of central London but well-connected by train (not tube). Southern Trains go into Victoria station.
What these last two both share is that they're high up with some great views of London and a sense of space. But you'll need to check commuter times carefully.
This is from four years ago but you'll note that both Brixton and Telegraph Hill are being talked up as "up-and-coming." http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/property/advice/propertymarket/10389140/London-property-the-capitals-hippest-new-zones.html
And this gives you a good guide to Crystal Palace - it's got a very nice neighbourhood feel.
https://www.timeout.com/london/things-to-do/crystal-palace-area-guide
I'd also search for an AirBnb option in Bayswater, my favorite neighborhood. Vibrant, good public transport.
I'm going to PM some Airbnb options, places I've stayed solo over the past few visits.
My husband and I just stayed two different times within the past two months (our trip was from mid May to mid June) in the same Airbnb near Paddington, and the Bayswater and Queensway tube stations. We loved our location since we arrived to Paddington from Heathrow on the Heathrow Express. Plus we could easily purchase Travel Cards at the train stations and get Oyster cards as well as top up at Paddington (and other stations too). And we had other travel in England and we left from Paddington. The location was excellent for transportation and sight seeing.
Although the Patio Studio near Bayswater and Paddington may well be booked through the summer they may have some recommendations of other Airbnb's nearby they know are good.
These hosts were probably the top hosts we have ever used and we have used some good ones. I found when I began searching Airbnb's in London in November 2016 daunting. It took me months to go through all the listings. I knew what to look for and finding a host who doesn't cancel, and one who has absolutely top ratings plus at a reasonable price was a long process. I was so comfortable booking this listing for the first part of our London stay that I also booked the remainder of our trip with these hosts. They had guests for four days previously booked so we made a trip to see friends in Wales, and returned to this listing. The second stay did not disappoint.
We have now stayed in a total of 22 Airbnb's starting with our first and only in 2014 to now 2017 after our trip. So we are pretty clear in what we look for as a couple in an Airbnb. The place we stayed in London would be great for one person, or two people and fine for four people who are related. (No they didn't ask me to do this, but I believe in sharing this type of information for those looking for an Airbnb.) My husband and I always try to book Airbnb now.
Good luck, Sonja
I am only vaguely familiar with London and I applaud you for looking outside the tried-and-true (and trite) areas of West London, but I can't imagine staying in those places you mentioned just because literally no major sites are within walking distance and you're going to have to finagle more complicated bus to tube or train to tube connections every day.
I agree with Tom in MN: Don't stay so far out from the city center. You'll waste valuable time and money on the commute into central London. I like to stay near Paddington and close to Bayswater and Queensway tube stops, but I agree that Pimlico or other neighborhoods near Victoria Station are a good choice.
Thanks for everyone's reply. I actually wound up getting an Airbnb on the Isle of Dogs, which I am very excited about. Have a great day! Christy
