Reviews For London Holiday apartment - Property 5174

Holiday Rental Location: World, Europe, United Kingdom, England, London
Stylish Bloomsbury apartment near Eurostar, central London
Stylish Bloomsbury apartment near Eurostar, central London
1 bedroom, sitting room, dining kitchen, sleeps up to 4
This lovely four-star self-catering apartment (sleeps up to 4) is right in the heart of Bloomsbury, and is in easy walking distance of the new St Pancras International Eurostar station, the West End, ...
 5/5

Very homely and cosy feeling....

Nutt   Malaysia.
Date Submitted: October 02, 2009   Date of Stay: September 2009
I liked the place as soon as arrived to load my luggages. The owner agreed to the arrangement for me to load my bags, grab the keys, then come back after 4pm.

The flat is really cosy. The room is not too small like the hotel rooms and the living room, is just nice to sit and rest after a day of shopping. I came to notice that most of these rental places have small TV, but then again, we hardly watch TV so i guess it was fine.

Full equiped kitchen. With pots and pans, cutleries, plates, bowls and etc....and big Fridge. Very thoughtful.

Bathroom, yes, can get smelly, strange that the smells come from the sink's hole and not the wc. But just gv it a spray, then its fine.

Location is great !!! Near to Kings Cross, hop on bus # 10, 30 or 390 to Oxford Street, up to Marble Arch and Knightsbridge...we even walked to Oxford actually, since the day was pleasant enough. The other side, less than 5mins walk, is Brunswick, where there is Waitrose for groceries shopping. Also a Halal Store as well. Either way, if you are coming from King's Cross or Russel Square, there would be a little mart for you to grab something before going back to the flat.

My inlaws came and visited us and they themselves were impressed with the flat ( hint* this does not mean you should increase your rates ;p )

Dealing with the owner also was great. Easy to deal with, and I really enjoyed my stay there. My only regret is not for staying longer as I really like the place.

I hope to be going back soon and if the owner says ok, then i would like to stay there again :)

Recommended for: Families with Teenagers, Age 55+, Families with Young Children, Girls Getaway, Tourists without a Car, Sightseeing, Romantic Getaway

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 4/5

Perfect Location to Call Home
Girl-traveler   Philadelphia.
Date Submitted: August 26, 2009   Date of Stay: August 2009
My mother and I stayed here in the beginning of August. The location can't be beat. If you're coming in from Gatwick, forget the Express to Victoria; just take the local train to St. Pancras Station--it's 1/3 the price and about the same time and then it's just a 5 minute walk to the flat. The flat itself was very nice, though the damp mildew-y smell is something to get used to. We only had one afternoon of rain, but given that this is a garden flat and an old building, not sure what can be done about it. It can also feel a bit dark unless you open the blinds, but then you feel somewhat exposed as it's just below street level. It was nice to be able to buy food for breakfast and not have to go searching for food every morning. The shower is great and it was wonderful to be able to wash clothes since this was our third week of travel, though it would have been nice if a little laundry soap could be provided so we didn't have to go out a buy a whole box for just one or two small loads of laundry. I'm sure people wouldn't take it because whose going to pack an open box of laundry in their suitcase?? The only 2 "issues" I had was that I had specified a time when I would arrive and got a confirmation that that would be a good time, but when I arrived, I had to wait more than an hour for the flat to be cleaned. The other thing was the instructions for the oven were nowhere to be found, though the info booklet said where they should be. I would update the info book, especially since people seemed to have spilled tea or something on it and it's looking very worn and, well, icky. Also, a hair dryer would be good.

My mom and I had a great time pretending that this was our lovely little London flat and enjoyed our neighborhood immensely. I have lived in London in the past, so it was a way to visit the city again without feeling like a tourist stuck in a hotel. The internet place down the block was nice, though they close at 8pm and on Sunday's. And the Indian place next to it was also good. I recommend this place as a nice alternative to a hotel.

Recommended for: Age 55+, Tourists without a Car, Sightseeing, Romantic Getaway

Owners Response: Excellent feedback. I'll get the laundry soap and update the flat guide. I hadn't realised the oven instructions had gone. There's normally a hair dryer in one of the drawers, but possibly it went walkies with a previous guest. There are internet places open longer hours and on Sundays on Marchmont St and near St Pancras station (5 mins walk).

To clarify, the building is built into a slope. The front of the flat (the sitting room) is at lower ground floor level (window is level with street, set back behind railings and ivy). It gets the sun in the afternoon. The back of the flat (bedroom, bathroom and kitchen) is at normal ground floor height and looks out onto the courtyard. It gets the sun in the mornings... depending on the weather.

I've checked about the mildew smell with a subsequent guest, but it wasn't a problem for them. The bathroom can get a bit smelly if you don't leave the extractor on. The cleaner is going to give it another good scrub with bleach and I'm getting a plumber to check just in case. I will also ask the building caretaker to check the drains aren't blocked.

Our normal check-in time is 4pm (check out is 11am). People can drop bags and get keys earlier if it's pre-arranged, but we still need until 4pm to get the flat ready. Normally the cleaner has it done by then, but sometimes it can take a bit longer if the flat has been left in a mess.
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 4/5

quietly located near St.Pancras
Novel approach   Dorset UK.
Date Submitted: March 17, 2009   Date of Stay: March 2009
This flat is about 5/6 minutes walk from St.Pancras and about 15/20 minutes walk from The British Museum. There's a large shopping centre, the Brunswick (with a Waitrose etc) within 5 mins walk. Also a little supermarket within 2 mins. The flat's in a quiet street in a large 1912 block set around a quadrangle, with a security system to let you in the front door. Just outside the door to the flat are the stone steps to all floors. The living room faces the street and is set slightly below the pavement; the bedroom faces the rear and is on ground level. The kitchen had a cooker, fridge, freezer, microwave and washing machine but no dishwasher. A modern bathroom had plenty of hot water. The heating was good. On the sixth day the flush of the loo failed but the owner had it fixed the same day. Bedding was provided for my extra visitors. The double bed in the main bedroom has a very firm mattress; there's also a pull-down double bed in the living room. Plenty of hanging space for clothes in both rooms - and lots of hangers provided. I would have much appreciated some milk and teabags and perhaps a pack of biscuits or something similar on arrival - just to be able to sit down with a cup of tea before having to go out again to shop for food. But that was just a minor point. I would recommend the flat to a friend while pointing out that this is the north end of Bloomsbury (Russell Sq about 10 mins walk). You can however pick up the Tube at St.Pancras and that gets you to the West End, Covent Garden etc in a matter of minutes. Nice flat overall, reasonably priced. Good value for London. For activities I would recommend 'London Walks' - they do historical walks all over London, you can find them on the web through Google. Each walk costs £7 and you dont have to book. If you love theatre, try the backstage tour at Royal Covent Garden - amazing (£9, pre-book online). We saw the Royal Ballet in rehearsal - unforgettable. The Royal Opera House does a very reasonable light lunch upstairs and hardly anyone knows it's there - a haven of peace right in Covent Garden! Also at Covent Garden dont miss the Actors Church. You can also get free lunchtime lectures at the British Museum (book ahead). For a super (bit expensive but worth it) meal try Pattersons Restaurant in Mill Street, or The Landau at Langhams. Would recommend Pasta Brown for a cheaper lunch. For something different in the shopping line, try Blackout (near New Oxford Street) for amazing vintage clothing.

Recommended for: Families with Teenagers, Age 55+, Families with Young Children, Tourists without a Car, Sightseeing

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 4/5

Value and location
Pip_In_London   Melbourne, Australia.
Date Submitted: March 04, 2009   Date of Stay: February 2009
The apartment is extremely well located for central london and St Pancras International (I was able to get the Eurostar to Paris and back in a day, with only a short walk home after). It took me five minutes to walk to King's Cross St Pancras, possibly six minutes to Russell Square, no more than ten to the British Museum and half an hour to Covent Garden, but you're well served by the underground if you prefer. It's a ground floor apartment, but the street is very quiet. It's cosy, but as you have a sitting room and kitchen, it's more room than you'd get in a hotel at the same price point. I stayed on my own, so it was the right size for me, or for a couple. You can fit another two people into the sitting room if you're on a tight budget, but that would be very close living indeed. If you need to stay in on a rainy afternoon, there's a stereo, tv and dvd, as well as a fair selection of cds and books, which makes it feel more homey. (And there's a washer/dryer in the kitchen.) And if you can't find something to read in the apartment, there are a number of bookshops, new and secondhand, nearby. There's a large supermarket, Waitrose, five minutes away, as well as smaller shops for provisions. There's plenty of places to eat nearby, and the information booklet in the apartment gives some suggestions. The cosy patisserie on Judd St is good for morning coffee and a croissant, or Valencia provides a really cheap English breakfast of beans, egg, sausage, bacon and chips which you can wash down with a cup of tea. I stayed in February, a coolish time, and the heating is very good and can be adjusted. I don't know what it would be like in summer. Bottom line: excellent value and position. If you want something more spacious you'll need to spend more or go somewhat further out from central London, but you're still doing better than a hotel in an apartment like this (unless you go in for that front desk thing).

Recommended for: Age 55+, Families with Young Children, Tourists without a Car, Sightseeing

Owners Response: There's also the Norfolk Arms on the corner of Sandwich St, a great gastro pub with outside tables in the summer. The new Brunswick centre (5 mins walk) has some great eateries too.

Thanks to the limestone and wood floors, the flat stays cool in the summer - unless it's an exceptionally hot one (if only!). Just to clarify in case you misinterpret about the sitting room - it's 4mx3,5m, so plenty of space for 4 people to sit in. With the double bed pulled down (out of the wall, not a sofa bed), it's obviously cramped for 4, but not for the 2 sleeping in there.
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 4/5

Great location, nice neighborhood
Armen   Connecticut, USA.
Date Submitted: February 03, 2009   Date of Stay: January 2009
This is an excellent location if you want to walk to places in central London. Half hour walk to the West End, Covent Garden, Royal Opera and theatres. Also convenient to the South Bank. Convenient tube and rail connections (Kings Cross, Euston and St. Pancras). Lots of nice shops and restaurants nearby with the convenience of the Brunswick Square shopping centre (Cinema, shops and Waitrose supermarket). The flat is on a quiet street but everything you need is nearby. Comfortable full-size bed, kitchen with plenty of utensils, etc. Good for couples or singles, but has an extra pull-down bed in living room. Would stay again if traveling without my family.

Recommended for: Age 55+, Tourists without a Car, Sightseeing

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 5/5

An enjoyable stay in London
AES   Rochester, NY.
Date Submitted: January 09, 2009   Date of Stay: December 2008
we enjoyed our few days in this very comfortable, warm flat. It was convenient to everything we needed and well equipped. We shall definitely stay there again if it is free when next we visit London.

Recommended for: Age 55+, Tourists without a Car, Sightseeing, Romantic Getaway

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 5/5

great location and set up
ta ta   Minneapolis.
Date Submitted: August 13, 2008   Date of Stay: July 2008
we liked everything except that I had trouble with allergies due to damp and mildew (it is a gerden level flat, and it was very wet in London when we were there). Otherwise, great location, very comfortable and roomy, nice little kitchen, even a washer/dryer. By a little neighborhood with markets,restaurants, book stores and a couple of fun pubs. 5 minutes to the tube.

Recommended for: Age 55+, Girls Getaway, Tourists without a Car, Sightseeing, Romantic Getaway

Owners Response: I'm glad you liked the flat and found it comfortable. I'm very sorry you had problems with your allergies. We've had the flat damp proofed and a ventilation system installed in the bathroom, so damp levels shouldn't be any higher than normal for a building of its age. I will investigate to see if there's anything more we can do in case we have allergy sufferers staying in future.
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 4/5

A great place to stay in London
RWhitecook   Wales.
Date Submitted: June 19, 2008   Date of Stay: January 2008
a lovely apartment, well presented and spotlessly clean. Close to euston station, for both mainline and underground trains. You could quite easily self cater here for the duration of your visit. there are a number of supermarkets close by, with quite a large shopping centre which has a waitrose supermarket as well as restaurants and other useful shops. The information guide was handy and we tried a couple of the local restaurants which were excellent.(the gastropub and the fish and chip restaurant). We were able to walk to the British museum. it will sleep 4 but the second bed is in the living room/. we would stay here again if it was available.

Recommended for: Age 55+, Tourists without a Car, Sightseeing, Romantic Getaway

Did you find this review helpful?  Yes   No Helpful votes: 6/6
Reviews are the subjective opinions of Holiday-Rentals travellers and not of Holiday-Rentals Limited.