Great space and location

Guest: Linda (US)
Date of Stay: 09/10/11 Review Submitted: 09/25/11

This was such a great space for our group of three couples. There was plenty of room for us to spread out and the living room was large enough for us all to hang out comfortably together. It was very convenient to the tube and bus. There was a corner shop to pick up quick food items and magazines and a Tesco nearby for groceries. Paul Rhodes is a fabulous cafe with fresh bread, pastries, coffee and tea on the corner and it became a favorite stop for us. The concern we had about the flat was the mildew, which we could smell in the living room, probably coming through from the adjacent bathroom, as well as the bedroom off the kitchen. It is difficult in a below ground home, I'm sure. I agree with the previous reviewer that the kitchen cupboards showed signs of of disrepair and the flooring in the bedrooms had laminate that would give in places when you walked on it. Upgraded pillows with extra linens would make a huge comfort difference in the bedrooms. In general, it does not have high end features, but it is very comfortable for a group. Taking care of the mildew and adding new pillows would go miles toward improving the overall rating. The owner was extremely professional and easy to work with!

Recommended for:Tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Great Location

Guest: kokomarie (Minneapolis area)
Date of Stay: 09/18/10 Review Submitted: 09/16/11

This could be the perfect VBRO in London with a little TLC. Most furnishings are very worn. The queen size beds are double beds at best. Linens were adequate. Flooring in LR was buckled due to an apparent water leak that had occurred previously. Entire flat could use a good cleaning - especially under the furniture. Note that there is only one shower - plus a tub in another bathroom. The 3rd bath consists of a sink and stool in the laundry room. Kitchen was well-furnished with utensils and appliances, including coffee maker, toaster, microwave. Because this is a "garden" apt. (i.e., below grade), there is some noise from the Tube, which runs nearby, but we never felt it was a huge issue. The computer is dated, internet slow, and the printer did not work, but the kids loved having it available. The location is perfect and everything you need is within a short walking distance - Tube station, Tesco (groceries), liquor store, bakery (Paul Rhodes), and it is less than a mile from the largest Whole Foods in the world - easily within walking distance, or a very short Tube ride. Lots of restaurants, from coffee to fast food to pubs to upscale dining are nearby. Within reasonable walking distance to Kensington Palace/Hyde Park - or right on the bus line if you have an Oyster card (don't stay in London without one!) We took advantage of their optional car service (additional, but reasonable cost) to and from Heathrow, which was punctual and hassle-free. If you are looking for luxury, look elsewhere, but for a serviceable, centrally located, reasonably spacious flat for up to 6 people, this could work for you.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, tourists without a car, sightseeing, families with young children.

Very good location; However, less than desirable flat...would not recommend to friends and family.

Guest: jmr (Minneapolis, MN)
Date of Stay: 03/26/11 Review Submitted: 04/09/11

We booked late/near our departure date so we decided to go with this flat even though it was a lower level/beneath street level flat. And all the reviews (~14) gave high marks. We typically look for above street floor rentals…not this time unfortunately. We would rate high marks in respect to its location to the Tube stop (Notting Hill Gate) and close proximity to coffee shops, restaurants, food stores, etc. However, the flat itself was less than satisfactory. There was a distinct water/moisture smell in parts of the flat due to either the fact it was beneath ground surface or they recently had a water problem/leak. The flooring throughout the flat was either tile (in the kitchen and bathrooms) or laminated wood floor. In the majority of areas with the laminated flooring, the adhesive holding the floor no longer adhered to the sub-floor. Hence, as you walked along parts of the floor it “gave.” My guess is due to the moisture issues. Most of the furniture was worn, reminding me of camp/cabin furniture that you no longer want in your house…but good enough for the summer cabin. Hope you don’t have a bad back given the beds. And couches lost their firmness/comfort years ago. The description and pictures on the VRBO site are less than accurate…some of the bathroom grout is black/moldy, kitchen cabinets have some broken drawers and doors, one of the kitchen chairs was broken and could not be used, etc. And no way is this a 3 bath flat. Its two bath (one having a shower and the other having a bathtub)…you might consider the “third” bathroom a half bath at best. It’s a toilet in the laundry area. And duck as you enter that area…the door leading into the laundry area is approximately 5 feet high. We also had an ant problem in the kitchen. We could not leave food on the kitchen counters due to the problem. This was mentioned toward the later part of our stay and the landlord was going to have someone come in the Monday after we departed to look at the issue. Lastly, given that it’s a lower level flat you will hear the subway/tube trains as they pass nearby…starting early in the morning and until they stop around midnight…not as quiet as indicated in the description. Again, great location, but the flat itself is less than desirable.

Recommended for:

Great London Apartment

Guest: MMDNBCVA (Orange County California)
Date of Stay: 03/13/10 Review Submitted: 05/28/10

My family, a party of eight adults aged 18-58, stayed here the week of March 13-20th, 2010. It was a wonderful experience. Sarab is a good host, brought extra blankets and towels for our large group, and returned our deposit the last day we were there. I would definitely stay either here or at one of his other apartments if I return to London simply because he is such a great landlord. This apartment is perfect for a stay in London. Sleeping and shower accommodations were very comfortable for our large party. We really enjoyed having the kitchen and living room to relax in at the end of a day of sightseeing. There is a full kitchen with dishes and utensils. We packed the refrigerator with our beverages and snacks from the local Tesco, so we were never without necessities. We could wake up to our own coffee in the morning and sit around the front rooms together planning our day. There are actually three bathrooms, which made it nice with 8 adults getting ready in the morning. We used his computer and had a couple of laptops with us, so everyone had their own internet access- he has wireless internet in the apartment. That was nice for finding a pizza delivery restaurant the first night we were in London and were too tired to go out. The Notting Hill Gate tube station is within easy walking distance, even for the 58 year old in our party. On the way to the station, you’ll pass a McDonalds, KFC, Starbucks, and other cafes and markets. The Tesco grocery store is along this street, and we stopped by there almost every night to replenish our supplies. There is also a currency exchange store on this block if you need to exchange your foreign cash for British pounds or vice versa. Another great convenience is a Boots pharmacy along the way as you walk from the apartment to the tube station. The neighborhood is very quiet and safe. We all agreed this apartment was far superior to a hotel, both in price and accommodations. And it was fun experiencing life as a Londoner!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, tourists without a car, girls getaway, sightseeing, families with young children.

A Real Find!

Guest: LesGirls (New York, NY, USA)
Date of Stay: 05/11/10 Review Submitted: 05/26/10

This is an excellent property for a large family or group of unrelated adults. We were a group of four adults, we each had our own bedroom, and three out of four had en suite bathrooms. In addition, the kitchen and living room are large and comfortable. The owner was responsive to our needs, and the Notting Hill location is terrific. (Note: Travelers with disabilities should be aware that this is a basement apartment and requires climbing a steep flight of stairs.)

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, tourists without a car, girls getaway.

Can you say "Eyjafjallajokull"?

Guest: R C M (Tallahassee, Florida USA)
Date of Stay: 04/14/10 Review Submitted: 05/02/10

Volcanic ash closed airports from Heathrow to Schipol and beyond, but our stay at the apartment was not affected. Well, we did have to stay an extra day due to airline cancellations, etc., but Sarab was able to continue our booking, and was willing to help us find other lodgings if we were held up further. The sunny weather each day of our week-long-stay enhanced the whole experience of staying in Linden Gardens; the apartment was roomy and comfortable for 3 adults. The location - so near the Notting Hill Tube Stop; Kensington Gardens: a number of wonderful restaurants; the Portobello Road markets - made for a great vacation. We ate breakfast every morning at Cafe Diana, and made our way around the neighborhood for dinner: the Indian food at Mahal, Chinese food at Seventeen, Kebab from the take-away right around the corner, and Pub Grub fare at The Sun in Splendour. We caught the Tube or a bus or walked our way to the sights, even lounging on the grass in Hyde Park one afternoon. We would stay in this apartment again. The bathrooms and kitchen were great; it was useful to have a computer in the apartment, as we monitored the airports-reopening-news. The beds were comfortable, and it was convenient to be able to wash clothes some afternooons. We loved the neighborhood, too.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, tourists without a car, adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, sightseeing, families with young children.

Guest: Joy Renee1 (Boston, MA)
Date of Stay: 06/29/09 Review Submitted: 06/29/09

Location, Location, Location. What a quaint neighborhood just around the corner from the Underground, buses and cabs. So easy to get anywhere. Banks, stores and restaurants, not to mention the famous markets of Portobello Road all close by. The apartment was spacious with room for the 7 of us and plenty of common spaces. We had some missing luggage and the telephone for local calls came in handy. Sarab was very accommodating and responsive to requests. Perfect for our first trip to London.

Recommended for:

Guest: Regina8 (San Francisco, CA)
Date of Stay: 06/25/09 Review Submitted: 06/25/09

My husband and I stayed at Linden Gardens with our two young children and his brother for a week in May 09. Sarab has been a wonderful host for our stay in his apartment at Linden Gardens. The apartment is very spacious, well equipped and perfectly located at Notting Hill. It's a perfect place for large party, especially with young kids since there's plenty of room for them to run around. (They even have highchair and crib.) Sarab has made himself avaiable to answer our questions during our stay and was very responsive. We were having problem with the shower, but Sarab was able to get it fixed timely. My overall experience is very positive. I would not hesitate to go back and stay there.

Recommended for:

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 01/10/08 Review Submitted: 01/10/08

We have just returned from our great Christmas Holiday in London. The apartment was just wonderful. The beds are comfortable and warm, the kitchen was well equipped and functional. We were able to celebrate Christmas Day with our whole family (17 of us!!) in the apartment without falling over each other. There were 5 adults and 2 children staying in the flat and it was more than adequate in terms of space and comfort. Most importantly, however, was the graciousness of the owner, Sarab Monib. He made a special trip to the flat so that we could retrieve a bag we had left inside. The location is great, easy walking from tube or bus and plenty of stores and restaurants close by. I would stay there again in a heart beat.

Recommended for:

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/28/07 Review Submitted: 08/28/07

The apartment is spacious and extremely well located. We are a famiily of four and it was wonderful to have space to lounge and a great kitchen for light meals. Internet access was a huge plus along with the tube access within a few minute walk. We were able to reach all of our destinations using the tube including in and out of the airport. Notting Hill is a great location and we would stay here again.

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