Parking is very limited in the area, but really is not necessary as we are so close to all forms of public transport.
Having lived in the property for nearly fifteen years, we feel very lucky to be in such a prime location - on a quiet side street just a few minutes stroll from public transport, tourist attractions, restaurants and night life. We are very happy to use our home as a holiday rental and hope other people can benefit from staying in such a lovely, comfortable flat.
Our flat is up one flight of stairs and is well maintained, spacious and bright with all modern appliances. We have also left a bread maker, rice cooker, food blender for those who want to do a little cooking themselves.
Around the corner is Whitecross Street Market that has food stalls during the week cooking up Indian, Thai, Mexican, Brazillian, Spanish, Italian cuisine to name a few. There are also some very nice cake stalls. On the street itself, there are two very nice cafes, (Fix and Comptoir Gourmand), great restaurants include Pham Sushi, Cozzo, The Iskele, and Carnivale an intimate vegetarian-food only affair.
Jamie Oliver has two restaurants nearby, Fifteen, in Old Street (booking necessary) is a ten minute walk and Jamie's Italian in Bank is less than 20 minutes' walk, but only open weekdays. He has another branch in Angel which is a short bus ride or 1 tube stop away or 25 minutes' walk that is open every day and is extremely child-friendly.
John Torrode's Smiths of Smithfields is less than 15 minutes' walk away. It's opposite London's world famous Smithfields wholesale meat market and serves the freshest steaks, burgers in town as well as a wide variety of breakfast/lunch options.
Brick Lane - for those that like a curry (mainly Bangladeshi restaurants) is 20 minutes' walk away.
The Artillery Arms is a cosy pub around the corner catering towards workers after work or to the locals. Sunday evening is Quiz Night and it shows most of the main sporting events. If you are looking for a more up tempo nightlife, then the bars in Old Street, Shoreditch, Hoxton Square areas are just 15 minutes' walk away. Nightclubs such as Mother, 333, Plastic People and Club Aquarium with its swimming pool (!) are 10-15 minutes' walk away.
Anyone with children, there is a nice playground just off Whitecross Street (Fortune Street Park). Also there is a popular storytime session at the Barbican Library around the corner on Monday mornings for toddlers and Friday mornings for babies up to the age of 18 months.
There is no shortage of places to visit that are walking distance:
- The Museum of London is less than a 15 minute walk
- The Barbican Arts Centre is around the corner
- St Paul's Cathedral is a 20 minute walk
- The Tate Modern is a 30 minute walk (past St Paul's and crossing the Thames River over the Millennium Bridge)
- One New Change shopping centre (opened at the end of 2010) opposite St Paul's has the usual high street shops under one roof with lots of restaurants and a terrace with some good views
- Spitalfields Market has an array of restaurants as well as clothes, food, antique, art stalls. It is a 20 minute walk
- Petticoat Lane Market around the corner from Spitalfields is open on a Sunday and sells clothes, shoes, household utensils and goods plus much more. Combining this with Spitalfields Market makes for a great Sunday
- The London Financial areas (also known as the City of London) of Moorgate and Bank is a 10-15 minute walk away. It is bustling during the week and very quiet at the weekend. As well as the Stock Exchange, Mansion House, Bank of England, the Royal Exchange, Monument Tower, there are numerous restaurants, cafes and shops.
- The Tower of London is also 30 minutes' walk away (but also easily accessible by underground from Barbican or Moorgate underground stations).
Other London Tourist Attractions can be reached by bus or underground such as:
- Madame Tussauds is a quick five tube stops away from Barbican station or a 25 minute bus ride getting off at Baker Street.
- London Zoo is also the same tube and bus stop as Madame Tussauds with a lovely stroll through Regents Park
- The Natural History Museum/Science Museum/V&A Museum are based in South Kensington and can be reached easily in under 30 minutes by taking the tube from Old Street or Barbican to King's Cross and then changing to the Piccadilly line
- Buckingham Palace can also be reached in under 20 minutes by taking the tube from Old Street or Barbican to King's Cross and then changing to the Piccadilly line to Green Park or Hyde Park Corner or the Victoria Line to Victoria Station
- The London Eye/Southbank area can be reached in under 20 minutes by taking the tube from Old Street to Bank and then changing to the Waterloo&City line. If the W&C line is not working, then Old Street to Elephant & Castle changing to the Bakerloo Line for Waterloo Station
- The British Museum can be reached by catching the number 55 bus from Old Street station (20 mins journey)
- Trafalgar Square (with Nelson's Column, National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery) can be reached in 15-20 minutes by taking the tube from Old Street or Barbican to King's Cross and then changing to the Piccadilly Line for Leicester Square station or bus route 23 from Liverpool Street (30 mins)
Covent Garden/China Town/Theatreland can all be reached in under 20 minutes by catching the tube from Old Street or Barbican and changing at King's Cross on the Picadilly line to Leicester Square/Covent Garden
Waitrose supermarket, open daily, is around the corner and has everything you need should you wish to eat in. They have a fresh meat, fish, cheese and deli counter.
Check in time - after 3pm
Check out time - 10am
Earlier check in and later check out times could be arranged with our Property Management contact depending on whether there is another guest staying in the flat before/after for an extra fee.
