Location: Kensington & Chelsea, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe (10 Minutes to City Center. 40 Minutes by Car from Heathrow.) View Map
Accommodations: House, 3 Bedrooms + Convertible bed(s), 1 Bath (Sleeps 6-8)
A unique and superbly furnished, 1720 sqf/160 sqm two story lateral loft style house. Sun filled, southwest facing and tucked away down a long private ivy clad path off St Marks Road in famous Notting Hill. This is a family home, owned by an Anglo-American family where we live part of the year with our 5 year old son. The house has been decorated by the interior designer owner and artist husband with a mixture of family antiques and beautiful furnishings and textiles collected on our worldwide travels, all to a very high standard.
The secure gated entrance leads off the street through an iron gate with a digicode lock. There is only one other house in this secluded and secure compound.
Coming into the house you step into a large, wide, light filled loft style space open on 3 sides. There are unobstructed views out over St Marks Park. Although overlooking the park, the house is raised thereby affording privacy from the park.
The main room houses all the communal living activities in true loft style. To the right is a spacious kitchen with all mod construction. Stainless steel kitchen appliances: dishwasher, American style fridge freezer, gas stove and Miele washer/dryer. Next to the kitchen is a dining area with a large table seating 8 including a Stokke Tripp Trapp high chair with optional baby set. Free wifi and landline calls to many countries.
There is a Bose IPod dock, broadband, WiFi internet, satellite, B&O TV and multi region (plays all regions) DVD player and a pay as you go cell phone for your use if you wish. Free landline calls to many countries including free cell numbers to the USA.
There are two seating areas with large comfy sofas within the main room. One, in the middle of the room, is ideal as a play area for children. Second seating area is next to a gas fireplace with wonderful views across St Marks Park and beyond. There are literally no other buildings obstructing this view. Dramatic London skyline sunsets await you from these windows. Wooden floors throughout.
A short flight of stairs leads up to a spacious dramatic vaulted ceiling hallway. Colourful Moroccan carpets cover the wooden floors. All the sunny bedrooms and bathroom are located off this central hallway. There are 3 double bedrooms and 1 large spacious family bathroom.
The spacious family bathroom has large roll top/cast iron bath tub with shower and very high quality nickel finished fittings, WC and sink. This bathroom was remodeled last year (2008) A large velux window over the bath gives you a blue sky view.
All the bedrooms and bathroom have large velux pivot opening windows allowing fantastic natural light into the rooms and which can be controlled with pull down sunscreens if need be. There is ample closet and drawer space provided.
The house backs onto St. Marks Park, which as of 2008 has a fantastic new playground, including an amazing water feature playground for children (photos of which on our house site below which will be up and running in a matter of days) The tennis courts can be reserved by previous arrangement. In the busiest summer weeks, with the windows open upstairs and downstairs, one hears the distant noise of people enjoying themselves in the park. The park is always secured and closed at dusk. There is also a drop in playground which operates from 2-4pm for preschoolers.
St Marks Road is an 8 minute amble into the heart of the vibrant markets of Portobello (worlds largest antiques market) and Golborne Road. Full of wonderful European and ethni restaurants, food stalls and coffee shops, the markets take place Friday, Saturday and Sundays.
There is a bus stop outside the house with well connected bus routes into the West End, Oxford Street and the new world class Westfield shopping center (5 min. away by bus). Ladbroke Grove tube station (Hammersmith and City lines) is a 5 minute walk from the house as is our private health club with pool with guest passes available on request.
Paddington Station is a few minutes by taxi or bus, and has the non-stop Heathrow Express which takes twenty minutes to get to the terminals.
By arrangement a private car or van can be sent to meet you at any of London’s four airports.
We are a short bus ride or 20 minute walk away to the restful and refreshing city parks, Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, from where one can visit Kensington Palace which house Diana’s apartments as well the Diana memorial fountain. Other major capital landmark attractions (Buckingham Palace, Harrods, The Crown Jewels, Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum etc.) are just a short distance away. The house is located in central London and is in The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, an area which comprises the neighborhoods of Notting Hill, Knightsbridge, Kensington and Chelsea and is right in the heart of London!
Holland Park is another lovely woodsy hilly local park to Notting Hill and Holland Park neighborhoods and has a great play area for children also hosting fantastic summer children’s programs (see Just for Kids page on our site link which will be active very shortly). There is also an open air summer opera program.
World class designer shopping awaits you on nearby Westbourne Grove and Ledbury Road. Another great shopping street is the colourful All Saints Road directly off Portobello Road with quirky boutiques and restaurants.
By previous arrangement £50 ($75.00) worth of groceries can be waiting for you in the American Westinghouse fridge, as per your previously communicated list and organic if desired. Babysitting services for both day and evening are also available.
Please click the link to our personal house website below which offers more photographs and details of the house including useful links to further information about the area and activities available.
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Washer: Miele washer
- Dryer: Miele dryer
- Linens Provided: 100% Egyptian Cotton 200 and 400 thread count bed linen and 100% Egyptian Cotton 650 gram towels
- Gas Fireplace
- Beds
- King Bed: SuperKing 6 foot x 6.6" /185 cm Pocket Spring Mattress on Sprung Divan base.
- Queen Bed: 5 foot by 6.6"/150 cm pocket spring mattress (or can be two singles/twin of 75cm/2.6" wide
- Twin/Single Bed (2) : 3 foot by 6.6" /90cm wide pocket spring mattress
- Convertible Bed: The Original Aerobed® inflatable Kingsize Aero Bed - Raised. (features a bed height of 18" base and mattress)
- Crib: babyDan Travel Cot
- Entertainment
- Cable/Satellite TV: SKY
- DVD
- CD Player
- Stereo System
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen: high quality stainless steel stovetop,dishwasher, oven, fridge and name brand (Cuisinart) appliances.
- Cooking Utensils Provided: All batterie de cuisine is very high standard i.e All Clad and Le Creuset pots and pans
- Refrigerator: American style fridge freezer
- Dishwasher
- Microwave: this can be brought in if needed.
- Outdoor Features
- Charcoal BBQ Grill: portable GRILLETTO BBQ with snuff out pouch.
- Deck/Patio: there is a small outside area to BBQ and sit outside with two teak deck chairs.
- Communications
- Telephone
- Free Long Distance: Free long distance calls to the USA to BOTH cell and landline numbers. Free landline calls to most major worldwide destinations. Free local and national calls NOT including UK cell phone numbers.
- Cell Phone: Pay as you go/top up cell phone available.
- Broadband Internet: high speed DSL broadband
- WiFi (Wireless Internet): Passcode will be provided upon entry into property
- Other Amenities
- 180 degree park view, gated property with private path, Zipcar self rental car hire, parked outside the house (available to rent by hour/day), Bus stop 50 yards outside front door, Supervised playground next door.
- Suitability
- Kid Friendly: The house backs onto St Marks Park with a wealth of green space and playgrounds. There is a selection of toys in the house which are available for your children to play with. Please see our Just for Kids link on our website link below for further local activities.
- Smoking Not Allowed: you can smoke outside on the patio only.
- Activities (on site and nearby)
- Golf
- Tennis
- Zoo/Wildlife Park
- Shopping
- Sightseeing
- Restaurants
- Kayaking
- Sailing
- Boating
- Waterskiing
- Swimming
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Rock Climbing
- Fitness Center/Gym
- Health/Beauty Spa
- Racquetball
- Basketball Court
- Antiquing
- Cinemas/Movie Theaters
- Live Theatre
- Museums
- Horseback Riding
- Hot Air Ballooning
- Other Activities
- park and supervised playground, water feature playground, indoor climbing wall (largest in UK), skateboard park.
Rate Details (In Pounds Sterling)
Jun 27-Sep 04 - £2190/week - 4 night min.
Oct 23-Nov 07 - £2190/week - one week min.
Dec 19-Jan 02 - £2490/week
Apr 02-May 03 - £2190/week
Additional nights on pro rata basis £315-£360 per night.
4 night min.
Please ask for availability for Thanksgiving which may be available.
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Credit Cards Accepted:
Map & Owner's Profile
Year Purchased: 2008
The Unique Benefits at this House
Because the house is only on two floors, it is very easy to move about from one area to the other and keep an eye on the children. Lateral loft style space in London is very hard to come by and is very unique. The light quality in the house is outstanding due to being open on three sides and having unobstructed views, a rare thing in London. Most London houses are terraced and have rooms that can be on the dark side as they are sandwiched between other houses. The house is also very quiet due to being set back 100 feet off the street. One gets the feeling of being in the country in London!
scumptious prepared food, wine shops, unique book shops, coffee shops, vegetable and fruit market of Portobello
To rival Sloane Street and Bond Street. Wonderful boutiques, restaurants and coffee bars.
Owner's Map of Kensington & Chelsea
We are an Anglo American family who spend school vacations with family in Santa Barbara, California and the Isle of Mull, Scotland.
Property Photos
- main loft room view from kitchen area to sitting areas - London Vacation House with Fireplace and Park View
- spacious kitchen/ dining area - London Vacation House with Fireplace and Park View
- entrance gate off street and pathway to front door - London Vacation House with Fireplace and Park View
- main sitting area
- park view from sitting room windows
- dramatic vaulted ceiling upstairs hallway
- master bedroom with super king bed
- master bedroom with super king bed
- bedroom 2 detail of twin/single bed
- bedroom two with two comfortable single/twin beds
- spacious family bathroom with cast iron tub
- bedroom three queen size bed or can be made into two small singles
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Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #246294
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This listing was first published here in 2009.
Date last modified - November 04, 2009
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Liz Hare , Aliso Viejo, California
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