Take your pick from serviced apartments in London
A serviced apartment fuses some of the frills of a traditional hotel with all of the extra space, freedom and flexibility of your own home away from home. A serviced apartment in London means living like a local in the throbbing English capital, enjoying privacy and comfort in some of the most happening corners of town. This guide runs through the best areas to look for flat stays, along with booking tips for those keen to bag their pad.
Types of serviced apartments in London
The apartment rentals in London come in all shapes and sizes. From the opulent to the simple, they cover a range of budgets and traveller types. Read on for more information.
Cheap serviced apartments in London
You might find that a flat rental in the English capital is a budget-friendly option. That’s not only because they regularly come in cheaper than classic hotels, especially those in more out-of-town boroughs, such as far East London and Watford, but also because you’ll end up saving on the cost of dining out with help from a self-catering kitchen. The wallet-friendly stays in this category tend to be simple and clean affairs, with compact lounges and studio-style layouts.
Luxury London flats to rent
In the land of Knightsbridge and Chelsea, it should hardly come as a surprise that many serviced flats in London channel jetsetter vibes. Adorned with plush Victorian and Edwardian features, they can have dangling chandeliers in their lounges, slick kitchen spaces and even terraces that overlook the skyline of the metropolis.
Serviced apartments in London for families
A rarer option in the mix of apartments in London, though nonetheless available, is a flat that can cater to bigger groups of travellers. They come with several bedrooms, enlarged kitchens and even private gardens – if you’re willing to head out to East London or North London, where space isn’t at such a premium.
Areas to consider when booking serviced apartments in London
London’s a vast cityscape, ranging from the Gothic turrets of Westminster to the steel-clad skyscrapers of the South Bank and beyond. This guide looks at just a few of the places where serviced apartment stays in the capital are a great choice.
Serviced apartments by London Bridge
High-rise blocks and UFO-like architecture adorn the banks of the Thames by London Bridge. The Shard towers overhead here, while the stalls of Borough Market brim with French cheeses, Cornish fish, artisan Belgian chocolates – the list goes on. The result is an area that’s great for business travellers and sightseers alike.
An apartment in East London
East London signifies a whole patchwork of areas where you can find serviced apartments. Some of the best are the hipster hub of Dalston, with its Turkic mezze eateries and fair-trade coffeehouses, and the business district of Canary Wharf, which has some seriously luxurious flats to pick from.
Discover Fitzrovia
Elegant rows of Georgian townhouses hide the serviced apartments of Fitzrovia. But the handsome architecture is just the start of the appeal in this central neighborhood. The bustling shopping precincts of Oxford Street await on one side, while ZSL London Zoo and the green spaces of Regent’s Park sit tantalizingly on the other.
How to get a great deal on serviced apartments in London
If you’re trying to keep costs low on that city break to Big Ben and St Paul’s, be sure to read on for some handy hints that could help unveil some bargain serviced stays in London.
Book as early as you can
The quest to find cheap flats in London is one that needs to start in advance of heading for the city. With so many people flocking to see the bucket-list sights and monuments of the metropolis – it’s one of the most-visited places on the planet – you can always expect high demand for rentals. That makes it important to seek out deals before they’ve started selling out, particularly if you want to save some pounds for your cocktails in the Shard.
Look away from Central London
The City of London, London Bridge and Westminster are popular haunts for business travelers, while Soho and the West End are always bustling with theatregoers. The upshot is that areas in the heart of the capital can often be in the most demand of all, leaving the outer boroughs the best bargains. Heading away from central also means getting to delve into more off-radar neighborhoods, like Stoke Newington and its ethnic eats or Hackney and its ale-sloshing pubs.
Come in the winter
Avoid the Christmas and New Year rush to the capital’s shopping streets and fireworks displays and you could be in with a bargain during the winter months. Fewer travellers overall tend to come in search of Big Ben between November and March, making it more likely you’ll get rates to suit the budget.