NOTE: There is a minimum stay of four nights, unless you completely fill an empty slot between other guests.
This is a bright and comfortable one-bedroom apartment, in an unbeatable location: many of the things you'll want to do are just an easy stroll away. It sleeps up to six people, with bedroom, lounge, designer kitchen, designer bathroom, and wifi Internet.
MORE ON LOCATION ...
The apartment is perfect for visitors who want to be in the very centre of London, with everything in easy walking distance. It’s right inbetween Covent Garden and Soho: a 200 yards walk takes you to either. So both Covent Garden piazza and Soho’s lively Old Compton Street are at your doorstep, all teeming with people and fun day and night. Very many other places are close by; for example, the following are within five-20 minutes' easy walk: Big Ben & Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, British Museum, National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus, River Thames, Southbank, St. James's Park, and 10 Downing Street. You’re also within a ten minute stroll to most of London’s theatres.
Many visitors are surprised to learn that London has been one of the world’s gastronomic capitals for some years. You are surrounded by restaurants covering an enormous variety of cuisines, and fitting every pocket. Feel like a splurge? Many of London's finest restaurants are within five minutes' walk, such as Sheekey's, The Ivy, L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon, and Rule's (founded in 1800, and London's oldest restaurant).
For shopping the location is hard to beat. The trendy boutiques of Covent Garden are a stone’s throw away. Within a 15 minute easy stroll you are at the big department stores of Oxford Street, the exclusive shops of Jermyn Street, and yet more trendy boutiques on Carnaby Street.
If you don’t feel like walking, public transportation is very easy. Cabs are everywhere, and if you order, they normally show up within five minutes. The tube and bus links are equally convenient and I think a lot more fun. Trafalgar Square nearby is the main hub for London buses: travelling at the front of a bus, on the top floor of a double-decker, is great. Tottenham Court Road tube station is two minutes’ walk away, connecting to Heathrow airport and the rest of London. All the main line stations are close by, including the Eurostar terminal.
MORE ON THE PROPERTY ...
The open plan lounge has big windows that let in a lot of light. It has a large sofa, which converts into a very solid and comfortable queen sized bed. There are antique wooden captains’ chairs, which came from a Victorian wine bar which my family used to run. The TV has a large number of British and international channels. Free wifi keeps you in contact with the big wide world. There’s a phone for people to call you, and you can make outgoing 800 calls. Oh, and the walls have pictures and paintings of my family over the last two hundred years, many of them who worked in the wine bar.
The polished granite breakfast bar seats six on stylish bar stools, and separates the kitchen from the lounge.
I cook a lot, so the kitchen is spacious and fully equipped, with a fridge, freezer, dishwasher, induction hob/stove, full sized electric oven, microwave, toaster, and a full range of cooking utensils. The cutlery/silverware, plates, and glasses are of good quality. A very wide range of cooking supplies (eg, spices, herbs, oils, vinegars, butter, wine, coca-cola, coffee) are provided, I ask you to replace or pay for things you've used.
To clean dirty clothes, there’s an efficient combined washer/dryer. A large supermarket is nearby, close to Tottenham Court Road tube station, open seven days. London’s best organic farmers’ market, Marylebone Farmers’ Market, is a 15 minute walk.
The bright and airy bedroom contains a double bed. Two chests of drawers provide plenty of space for your clothes. There are hangers for things that need hanging, and a trouser press for trousers that need pressing.
The designer bathroom is accessed via the main bedroom, and has heated towel rails, sink, toilet, shower, and a large tub to luxuriate in if you feel like a good long soak. There are various other knick-knacks too, like heated mirrors that don’t get steamed up when you take a shower.
There is carpeted underfloor heating throughout, which feels nice on your feet in winter.
For fifteen pounds per person per night, up to four additional guests can be accommodated: two on the comfortable sofa bed in the lounge, and two on inflatable mattresses. It’s a little crowded with six people, but shouldn’t be a problem if you’re all friends or family. During the day, most guests put the mattresses on top of each other. It’s easy to fold up the sofa bed, but most people don’t do this because they are out having fun. The typical arrangement for six people is:
* Two adults go in the main bed in the bedroom.
* One mattress goes alongside the main bed.
* Two adults go in the king size sofabed in the lounge.
* One mattress goes at the foot of the sofabed.
Despite being in the very heart of London, the flat is quiet, and I often sleep with the windows open at night. The street gets very little traffic. All but the lightest of sleepers will get an undisturbed night’s rest, and without any need for earplugs.
SAVINGS FROM BEING IN THE CENTRE ...
The cost of public transport is very high, and you'll save a lot of money (as well as time) by staying in the centre. An off peak day ticket (for use after 09:30) on the London Underground (which stops running at midnight) is now £7.40 for Zones 1, 2, 3 and 4 and £8.50 if you are in Zones 5 or 6. Cabs after midnight quickly become very expensive.
MINIMUM STAY USUALLY FOUR NIGHTS ...
There is a minimum stay of four nights. If there is an empty slot of 1, 2, or 3 nights between bookings, I will accept a shorter reservation that completely fills the empty slot.
AND NOW FOR THE SMALL PRINT ...
The flat is on a mezzanine level. Access for most people is no problem at all, but it’s not suitable for disabled people or for wheelchair access. To get to the flat, you take an elevator from the lobby, walk along a short corridor, and then down short 14 steps.
To get to the toilet/bathroom from the lounge, you pass through the bedroom. This informality is fine for family and friends, but could be slightly uncomfortable for, say, two couples who don’t know each other very well.
The beds are firmer rather than softer. I like them this way, and they say firmer beds are healthier.
IN SHORT ...
A modern and stylish place in the very centre of London, with tons of things to do at your doorstep. I hope you'll come and stay!
