Vacation Rentals by Owner

Great location, very comfortable

Guest: Su and George (Oakland, California)
Date of Stay: 10/17/11 Review Submitted: 11/02/11

We spent 10 nights here in late October. The setting was fantastic, the location great, and the accommodations complete. We had everything we needed to settle in and feel right at home: full kitchen with all the cooking utensils and equipment; very comfortable beds; more than enough bath linens and shampoos / soaps. That there was a washer and dryer made packing light possible. Secure building. The double paned windows meant for quiet times in a busy, central location. That the windows open was a huge plus as we like to sleep with fresh air. Easy walk from Holborn tube stop upon arrival from Heathrow. Loads of things to see and do - theatre, museums, transit, Sainsbury grocery, pubs! - all within easy walking distant. And lastly, having a balcony to gaze on the west end, and the hustle bustle of the road below (and the current and fascinating Tottenham Court expansion construction) was a huge plus! Upon arrival Si made sure we understood all the workings of the apartment. Would definitely recommend this for first time London visitors, or the seasoned travelers, like ourselves.

Owner response:Super review - thankyou! For those who are interested about the expansion: London Underground is rebuilding the Tube station to relieve congestion, with a ticket hall nearly 6 times the current size, step free access and improved interchange. A new Crossrail station is being constructed, with services starting in 2017 providing 24 trains an hour. A new plazza is being created outside Centre Point. It will be great when done, as getting from Heathrow by tube train will be direct to the apartment in around 30 minutes - half the current time!

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

A Fantastic Week in London

Guest: CA my heart (California)
Date of Stay: 04/07/11 Review Submitted: 04/19/11

I just returned from a fantastic trip to London with 3 friends. We are 4 moms who have traveled to London twice before. We were looking for a convenient location we could relax and spend a more leisurely holiday and we found it at Centre Point Apartments. The location was excellent for walking to many locations and very convenient to Covent Garden and Tottenham Court Tube Stations. The pictures are a great representation of the actual flat. I highly recommend Centre Point Apartments to anyone who is looking for a flat in London. Location: Conveniently within walking distance to everything listed in the details section Neighborhood: Busy City environment. Lots of pedestrian traffic. Huge construction job across the street. A few blocks away, lively pubs. Places to eat of all ethnicity and a Sainsbury. The Intrepid Fox next door looks like Hell or Middle Earth in a Pub, but it actually is the “In Tepid” Fox. The establishment does not allow beverages outside after 2100 and the patrons weren’t noisy at all. The Accommodations: Clean, neat, modern and efficient. The lower level has an efficiency kitchen stocked with dishes for 8 and modern appliances. The washer and dryer are NOT in the kitchen, but a nice quiet dishwasher is. The living area is spacious with a deck looking out over the activity of St Giles. Upstairs there are 2 bedrooms with comfortable beds and plenty of storage. The master has a TV. 1.5 bathrooms worked fine for 4 women to get ready simultaneously. Lots of towels, paper goods, soap, body wash and shampoo were provided and 2 blow dryers! Hot water: The hot water tank heats and re fills between the hours of 0530 – 0930. Make sure to take all showers before 0930. There is a provision for additional hot water. WIFI: This was a must. It did cut in and out a few times we think it had to do with local area traffic. Temperature: We had gorgeous weather. Our first afternoon out, we left all the drapes open and came back to an oven. The rest of the week, we closed the heavy drapes in all of the rooms and the flat was always comfortable on our return. Safety: We are 4 middle aged women who felt completely safe walking in the neighborhood, even late at night. But as with all travel, it is important to be aware of one’s surroundings at all times. As said before we had a fantastic time and the Centre Point Apartments was part of what made it so. Thank you Si.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Excellent Accommodation in Great Location

Guest: fmax (ontario, canada)
Date of Stay: 04/04/11 Review Submitted: 05/01/11

The great reviews prompted me to look at this location further and I actually had a friend check out the area as I wasn't sure about whether the construction I had read about would have an impact. I'm glad to say it didn't. Stayed for 3 nights with 3 girlfriends and couldn't fault the accommodation. The rooms were spacious with a tv in both. The bathroom shower had good water pressure and soaps, shampoos etc were provided. I would definitely recommend it and stay there again.

Owner response:Thank you for checking it out beforehand! So many people ask me about the Crossrail construction and are worried - but I can honestly say not a single guest has complained about it, left early or cancelled their stay in over 2 years since it started, and the noisiest work is complete. Tottenham Court Road tube station remains open, and will have a enlarged ticket hall 6 times bigger than at present, the new Crossrail line will run straight from Heathrow Airport in approx 40 minutes and there will be platform to street level elevators and escalators - great for luggage/families and the less-abled. A fantastic renovation and covenience for all our guests. The improvements will be going on for a while yet, so the view is not that great (it never was fantastically pretty, being rooftops of central London!), but then again I'm afraid work is going on ALL over London ... Leicester Square is currently boarded up in the centre, which spoils photo opportunities for guests, as are many other places, as both the property continues and London carries out lots of maintenence in readiness for the Olympics Games. Tourism is the strongest I've known since I moved to London 15 years ago, and what with the Royal Wedding last week, the Queens Golden Jubilee and the Olympics shortly, I can see the apartment continuing to be fully booked well in advance. The enquiries to availability this year has been 7:1, so my humble apologies to all those potential guests who wanted to book that I had to disappoint this year. I hate turning away good business and wish I had more flats to offer!!!

Recommended for:Girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Would definitely stay here again!

Guest: CJ (Los Angeles, California)
Date of Stay: 11/15/10 Review Submitted: 12/02/10

I usually stay in expensive hotels during visits to London, but this time I opted to try an apartment instead. I am so glad I did! The building feels very secure, and the apartment itself looks exactly as in the pictures. The location is great -- right near Tottenham Court tube station and a short walk to many wonderful restaurants in Soho (my favorite is an Indian place named Imli on Wardour). It is also very close to a Sainsbury's for groceries (which was, conveniently, next door to a Barclay's ATM). The flat itself was clean and well-maintained; the beds and pillows were comfy; the TV worked great and had lots of channels; the apt. had nice views from the windows and plenty of hot water; the shower had good water pressure; the internet connection for our laptop worked perfect; and the temp. inside was nice even though it was so cold outside (we stayed in mid November)! The apt. was also well-stocked with supplies. It was too chilly to take advantage of the balcony, but it's still a nice option to have. I stayed here with a friend of mine and the 2 bed/1.5 bath configuration is perfect for having your own space after a long day of sight-seeing. Kitchen was great -- one small thing worth mentioning is bring your own coffee filters for the coffeemaker. We were unable to find any (and they also don't sell them at Sainsbury's), so we just gave up. The fridge is a great size and we did cook dinner in one night, and the UK oven was easy enough to figure out. The kitchen was very clean and well-kept. I have to really say thank you to Si, who manages the place, for answering all of my many, many questions prior to booking and then being so welcoming upon arrival following 15+ hours of traveling. Would definitely recommend this property to friends and relatives and hope to make it back here again someday!!

Owner response:Great comments, so thankyou! Regarding the coffee filters ... I am pretty sure that the coffee machines we now have in the apartment do not need paper filters, as a filter "basket" insert comes with the new machines. It takes a bit of getting used to, as several guests have been caught out. If you put a paper filter in as well, the water passes through too slowly (it is effectively then being filtered twice), and ends up flooding the worktop.

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

Best Location in London

Guest: Ganga & Family (Dallas, Texas, USA)
Date of Stay: 05/31/10 Review Submitted: 08/16/10

We visited London for a week and stayed here for 4 days. The apartment is excellent in amenities, size and mainly location. We used the metro a lot to get around and it took us 5 to 7 minutes to reach any attraction from this apartment. Supermarkets are located in an arm's throw from this place. Restaurants to suit all budgets are within walkable distance. There is enough cookware to cook for a large family. We were a group of three adults and one pre-teen and we found the kitchen well equipped to cook per our requirements. The laundry facilities are in the building and have secure access. Si James, is the best. Thank you so very much Si, for your patience, kindness and continuous help in making our stay in London memorable. We have recommended this apartment to all our friends who are making plans to visit London.

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

Guest: Sharon and Family1 (new york city, usa)
Date of Stay: 03/13/10 Review Submitted: 03/13/10

We have just spent a terrific week at this apt in London. The apt itself was great, very comfortable with everything u need for a weeks stay or longer. The location was excellent! The tube was one minute away but we found so much within walking distance we did not use it as much as we thought. The supermarket was 5 minutes walk from the apt and with 2 young teenagers we found ourselves there more than at local resturants! Si was warm and engaging and had loads of very good tips! Although the apt building is under renovation and the view was blocked we were extemely pleased with Si's accomodation for this inconvience and felt the blocked view did NOT in any way alter our opinion of the great location and apt. We hope to return!

Owner response:Sharon, thank you for your kind comments and for inviting me to share a glass of wine with you. I'm so glad you enjoyed the apartment - you were great guests! Please do return when the external works and clean down is finished (after the end of July 2010), so you can experience it at its best (probably since it was first built 50 years ago!). Until then we will offer apartments here at a big discount to compensate people for temporary loss of the balcony and window vistas, etc. Kind regards, Si.

Recommended for:

Guest: rebeca beteta puerta (madrid,spain)
Date of Stay: 01/15/10 Review Submitted: 01/15/10

the best apartment i've ever stayed!my parents and i spent 1 week in this wonderful apartment,very close to every london sightseeing places.very big, very well appointed, very clean and comfortable!!!and thank you very much simon for your patience with us (we don't speak english very well) and for all the great information you gave us about london!hope to stay there again anytime!!

Owner response:Thanks for the great feedback and being such great guests. Yes please come back again soon!

Recommended for:

Guest: L J Wickstrom (California, USA)
Date of Stay: 10/20/09 Review Submitted: 10/19/09

“A Well-located and very well appointed apartment in Centre Point House, an excellent accommodation. Located next door to the beautiful St. Giles Church near Covent Garden, the apartment is close to so much. The apartment is spacious and very well appointed: plenty of good seating, with good reading lights, good beds, very nice linens, and a well-equipped kitchen and dining area that made our meals in a pleasure. Si James was very helpful and informative about the apartment and about local shopping and banking. The apartment made a huge contribution to our comfort and enjoyment of our stay in London.”

Recommended for:

Guest: Jon and Chris (Newport,WA,USA)
Date of Stay: 08/01/09 Review Submitted: 08/01/09

Our family very much enjoyed our stay here! It was exactly what we were hoping for in a London flat. Simon was very nice and very informative (thanks for the suggestion of Savoir Faire, it was wonderful). The flat was clean and well kept, and the size was perfect; it was terrific to be able to spread out on two floors. We enjoyed being so near Oxford Street and all of the hustle and bustle of the city. The supermarket was an easy walk, even when carrying enough food for our two boys and us. It is close to the tube station – a very central tube station at that. All of the London sites we wanted to see were within two tube stops. There is a lot of construction in the area, but the apartment is soundproofed well and therefore did not bother us at all. We will definitely stay here again when we return to London. Thanks you!

Owner response:Thanks for being great guests and looking after the apartment. Savoir Faire right near the British Museum and approx 3 minutes walk from the flat is our top-rated restaurant by our guests, so its good to know its still on form. The construction will continue for a while and make Tottenham Court Road tube ultra modern and accessible as a whole new line called Crossrail is added to London's underground network. On the whole construction noise isn't too bad, and is daytime, but we added secondary glazing in all rooms to ensure our guests were comfortable. It also keeps the flats much warmer in winter. Please come again!

Recommended for:

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 02/01/09 Review Submitted: 01/31/09

My partner and I brought our mothers to London for a week in January, 2009, and stayed in one of these apartments. We got just the apartment we were led to think we would get--no unpleasant surprises. Si was very easy going, gracious and helpful. The location is great, and having an apartment was so much nicer than being confined to a couple hotel rooms, which would have cost much more. The grocery stores were a very easy walk from the apartment and the tube station extremely close (especially after we learned to come up out of the Tottenham Court tube stop at New Oxford Street South exit). We plan to recommend this place to our friends. The only quibble we'd have is that only half of the laundry machines were working, causing a bit of delay. There is a fair amount of construction nearby but the apartment was well soundproofed and we were never awakened or disturbed by any noise. (BTW, if you want to come into London in a Taxi, the taxi from the stand at Heathrow, charging the metered rate, ended up costing 65 pounds at a slow time of night--on the return, we reserved a taxi from Bloomsbury cars for 49 pounds and the service was great.)

Recommended for:

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/01/08 Review Submitted: 08/26/08

We just returned from our ten-day stay here and would higly recommend it to other travelers. First of all, Simon is so friendly and helpful; he does an excellent job in managing this property. The location can't be beat. The tube stop is right there, but pretty much everything you come to London to see is also right there. We saved lots of money on taxis and tube because we walked everywhere. The very fun neighborhood is also very safe; we strolled home late from dinner and theatre many nights. Endless choices for delicious yet reasonably priced dinners. Full-service grocery store just a few steps away too. Given the current exchange rate, this is a big plus. The rooms are spacious, light and airy, very clean, quiet, and well supplied. Super comfy beds! The laundry facilities allowed us to pack light and carry-on our luggage. And what a pleasure to enjoy that first morning coffee on the balcony as the city wakes up!

Recommended for:

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Pav (Bronx, NY, USA)
Date of Stay: 07/01/07 Review Submitted: 07/29/07

We have just returned from a 15 night stay here and have nothing but positive comments. Simon was the perfect host, being a phone call away if needed. The apartment was beautiful and contained many amenities, including internet access and many channels on the cable TV (which kept our two teens busy when we were not out exploring London). You are truly in the center of London with this location and we would return to this 'base' for any future extended stays in London. Thank you Simon, for a truly great vacation!

Owner response:Thank you for your comments Eric. It was a delight to meet you and your family and thank you so much for looking after the apartment so well!

Recommended for:

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/01/06 Review Submitted: 07/24/06

Just got back from 2 weeks in the U.K. and spent the first week in the apt. in London. Everything was just great and Simon was wonderful! The location was perfect. Our only complaint was the weather was TOO HOT! Thankfully, there were 3 fans in the apt. so we slept fine. I would definitely book this apt. again.

Owner response:Nancy and Family were great tenants/rentors and I would definitely be happy to welcome them back and recommend them to other landlords/owners! Simon James

Recommended for:

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 04/01/04 Review Submitted: 04/19/04

Had a lovely week staying here. The location is perfect--could walk to many theaters. Very spacious for a family of four--appreciated that the bedrooms were upstairs and there is a full bath plus a half bath. Modern and comfortable with a lovely view off the terrace. Simon is great and was a pleasure to deal with both before our trip and during. We would definitely stay there again on a future trip.

Recommended for:

Guest: M Reed
Date of Stay: 10/11/02 Review Submitted: 10/10/02

Accessible and convenient location, clean and well-lit communal areas. I would recommend to others in the US. I left a couple of cards for restaurants I felt were very good in the Apartment Manual.

Recommended for:

Guest: A N
Date of Stay: 10/11/02 Review Submitted: 10/10/02

Location is perfect! The building feels safe and secure with very clean and nice communal areas which are kept clean. Kitchen was well-equipped and very efficiently laid out. Lounge was very comfortable and the cable television was great! We used the balcony often and it was very nice. Had a super stay!

Recommended for:

Guest: Clint and Brandon
Date of Stay: 10/11/02 Review Submitted: 10/10/02

Dear Simon: We both wanted to say Thank You for everything this weekend. We loved the accommodations and your great hospitality. You really helped us to have a great weekend. When we come back we will definitely be coming back here and recommending this to all of our friends. Thank You.

Recommended for:

Guest: Keith + Kathy Luhrman
Date of Stay: 10/11/02 Review Submitted: 10/10/02

Dear Simon We had a fabulous time! Everything went just fine and we hope to come back!

Recommended for:

Guest: P N, 2002
Date of Stay: 10/11/02 Review Submitted: 10/10/02

Central location - great for many things! Really enjoyed the apartment space. Have stayed in many hotels in London, until we found this space. Much larger. Great location for theatre, dining, shopping, nightlife, tube. Could not imagine a better location or space. Price wise very comporable with London hotel rooms. This apartment is one of the things we have on our ‘must do’ list for London.

Recommended for:

Guest: Mark + Linda Vides
Date of Stay: 10/11/02 Review Submitted: 10/10/02

Dear SimonWe didn’t fill out your Guest Comments form as we didn’t think anything needed changing! We are back every year and the flat is very, very convenient for us.

Recommended for:

Guest: Mr T Read
Date of Stay: 10/11/02 Review Submitted: 10/10/02

Location is great – very convenient. Kitchen well equipped for our needs and having the 80-channel cable television was great for the kids, A to Z and free tour guides were helpful. The free weekly maid service was good and Simon was very helpful.

Recommended for:

Guest: Karen Moranski
Date of Stay: 10/11/02 Review Submitted: 10/10/02

Location is terrific! So near the tube, the British Library, Covent Garden, Oxford Street/Regent Street. The laundry machines work well and are very easy to use and the kitchen facilities were nice – we cooked a lot. The sofas were lovely for naps and it was nice to have the balcony. We highly recommend this central property. The location with its proximity to restaurants (we recommend Rodos right across the street), museums, shopping, etc makes this a lovely place to stay. Thanks, Simon. It was lovely to work with you.

Recommended for:

Guest: L Hardy
Date of Stay: 10/11/02 Review Submitted: 10/10/02

Overall, very nice – great location (close to all the action) but still feel safe, comfortable and professional service.

Recommended for:

Guest: R Jahnle, 2002
Date of Stay: 10/11/02 Review Submitted: 10/10/02

Excellent location – close to underground and easy walk to Covent Garden (amenities). London is HUGE – it is helpful to have a comfortable apartment to come back to between visits for rest, especially if you have a large family.

Recommended for:

Guest: Anonymous Guest Comments
Date of Stay: 10/11/02 Review Submitted: 10/10/02

Location – best in London !!!

Recommended for:

Guest: Anonymous Guest
Date of Stay: 10/11/02 Review Submitted: 10/10/02

Excellent central location! The maid service mid-week was very nice – really freshened the place up. Kitchen was wonderful! Very efficient and well-equipped with a great view. It was nice having the sleeping area upstairs from the living area – with 4 guests we were able to have privacy when needed yet plenty of social space as well. We were pleased with the apartment. The location was so convenient and the view was fabulous. We were able to walk to many great restaurants and bars in Soho and Covent Garden (Il Forno, Rodos Greek Restaurant, First Out Café)

Recommended for:

Guest: Rent Villas client: 5-Star Rating
Date of Stay: 06/01/02 Review Submitted: 05/31/02

Rent Villas 5-Star Rating/Review for stay June 2002. Overall: We were very pleased with the flat. The manager, Simon, was very accommodating and gave us a thorough orientation including nearby grocery stores, internet cafes, and recommended restaurants. Enjoyed Most: There were several things. First and foremost was the location. A tube stop is right outside the building and most of the cafes, bars, theaters, and shops in Soho and Covent Garden are within easy walking distance. Second, the view from our seventh floor balcony and the kitchen window was great. We were there during the Golden Jubilee and were able to watch the fireworks at Buckingham Palace across the rooftops of the West End. The flat was comfortable (beds, sofas, etc.) and the kitchen was efficient and well-equipped. The two story layout of the flat worked beautifully for the two couples in our party. Unpleasant Surprises: You have to go out of the flat and downstairs one flight to use the laundry. But it was so nice to have free laundry facilities, we didn't mind. Surrounding Area: This flat is in the center of the entertainment/theater district. We could walk to fifty different cafes, bars, restaurants. The British Museum was three blocks away. Nearby Events or Locales: Soho Square is a neat little park about a block from the flat. It is a great place to hang out or have a picnic. Tips or Restaurants: We enjoyed Rodos Greek Restaurant right across from our building entrance. We also enjoyed the Farmhouse Table (Mediterannean) about two blocks away in the Covent Garden area.Owners Reply: Thanks for your wonderful feedback – it was great to have you with us at the highlight of the Golden Jubilee celebrations. As a footnote to your recommendations, I just thought I’d mention that London streets are usually very short, so a ‘block’ here can be a small distance compared to a ‘block’ in the USA!

Recommended for:

Guest: S H
Date of Stay: 05/01/02 Review Submitted: 04/30/02

Couldn’t be better for reaching anywhere quickly! Interesting nightlife in the immediate area. Kitchen was nicely set up, charming balcony, very pleasant and comfortable bed. A lovely flat in the best imaginable location, had a super time here! Couldn’t have asked for more.

Recommended for:

Guest: Ron and Pam Scott
Date of Stay: 04/11/02 Review Submitted: 04/10/02

Very suitable for our requirements – close to everything! Security system for the building is good. Lounge very comfortable and good to have answering machine for phone. Balcony had great views. We thoroughly enjoyed our 3-week stay in London. Your apartment is in a great location with superb access to transport, shopping, theatres and sites of interest. Your restaurant suggestions were great – we’d recommend the Rodos and Savoir Faire to others. Thank you for access to your London guide books – this was most useful. We look forward to staying here again.

Recommended for: