London B&B vs. self-catering apartments

Tripadvisor London Forum has a helpful "sticky" on the dos and don'ts for short term rentals in London. Sorry about the length of the link. http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g186338-i17-k1014578-Dos_and_Don_ts_for_short_term_flat_rental_in_London-London_England.html

A great deal depends on the length of your stay and the location. Transporation can add (or save) money if you are too far from central London. Depending on when you are going, you might want to check on University lodging. Many of the colleges/universities in London rent dorm rooms when they are not being used by students. They often have a kitchenett or access to a "common" kitchen on the same floor. Do a search on this site (see the sticky at the top of each section about advanced searches) or on TripAdvisor. Many of the schools have great locations.

Toni's post jogged my memory! The London School of Economics has some accom all year round as well as summer lets. They have rooms, studios and larger apartments at reasonable, for their location, costs. http://www.lsetopfloor.co.uk/default.htm

It would generally be cheaper to stay in a flat, but it really depends on whether you plan to eat a few meals in the flat, which is the major way to bring costs down. We do stay in B & B´s and like them, but prefer flats as you have more space, you can do some self catering and have more privacy. For us that is generally only breakfast, coffee, drinks etc, maybe one dinner. It also gives you the flexibility to return to your own place anytime which suits you. We always feel more part of the neighbourhood in a flat. The advantage of a B & B is that you do get the huge breakfast (if you want) and the owners will generally be a mine of helpful information. You also get to meet other people, which can be an advantage or disadvantage. In London, for me it would mainly come down to location - I would stay in the location which suited me better and was more central. Also the length of stay - for a very short visit, a B & B may win over a flat. Re flats - check out reviews on tripadviser and slow travel. E-mail any questions - any reputable agency or owner will be very responsive. Check the photos carefully, check the overall size (London apartments can be very tiny), check that the address exists (google earth or streetview), likely traffic noise, check where the nearest tube station is as I have seen some be very economical with the truth on that one. If you do not know the neighbourhoods well, post a specific question - many will know.

Thanks so much for the advice, everyone :) I've decided to go with a B&B for this trip, and rent a flat when I return to London with my siblings. I'm flying out next week and I'm just bursting with excitement already.

Our rule is- if we need more than 1hotel room, we rent. This really applies when we're traveling with our kids and want some space from each other or are going to be somewhere for a week. An apt is usually the same or less than 2rooms and we gain a kitchen and living room. Sometimes even a washer/dryer. We've rented from numerous people on vrbo.com both in Europe and US, and never had a problem. You by renting a place you can sometimes get a more authentic home - we had a houseboat once in Amsterdam. My teens would say the downside is you're not going to meet as many people in an apt as you would in a B&B. Hope that helps.