Calling all Londoners!

[DMD]

Was hoping some Londoners and experienced travelers could shed some light on a few things.

One of my friends will be traveling to London soon on a business trip and has had some difficulty making reasonable accommodation arrangments - the plan was to stay for 1-2 months and to have a location easily accessible to transport, of course, in a safe neighborhood.

I don't know all the specifics but does anyone have any advice on the following:

- reliable sites/companies that arrange or offer accommodations (i.e., rooms, apts, etc.)
- what are considered "safe neigbhorhoods"?

Thanks!

 

[Twilight_Elena]

Accommodation isn't easy to find, IME, in London. It all depends on where her business is, but usually anything in Zone 1 is convenient enough. I've heard good things about Barbican (we have a family friend living there), but from what I understand it can be pretty expensive. Islington is very popular amongst younger people (that's where I live! ). South Kensington is pretty posh and that means expensive, I suppose.
Unfortunately I mostly know about student accommodation.

 

[DMD]

Accommodation isn't easy to find, IME, in London. It all depends on where her business is, but usually anything in Zone 1 is convenient enough. I've heard good things about Barbican (we have a family friend living there), but from what I understand it can be pretty expensive. Islington is very popular amongst younger people (that's where I live! ). South Kensington is pretty posh and that means expensive, I suppose.
Unfortunately I mostly know about student accommodation.

Thanks! I'll pass it on.

BTW - what does Zone 1 mean?

 

[Pacion]

Thanks! I'll pass it on.

BTW - what does Zone 1 mean?

London, is divided into a number of "zones". There are six of them. Zone 1 is like an 'inner circle' which is mainly Central London. I say 'inner circle' but the shape isn't itself. There is then another 'circle' around Zone 1 which makes up Zone 2. Outside of this second 'circle' is another circle, which makes up Zone 3, and so on, until you get to Zone 6.

DMD, PM me with what information you can obtain from your friend, and then I may be able to help. Specifically, the following information would be helpful.

- what is her rough budget for accomodation
- does she know in which areas her business/meetings will be?
(alot of areas are close to transport but ideally, if one can avoid having to travel an hour to get to where one needs to be, that is the best!)
- what are her 'minimum' requirements? ie. just a bed?
- roughly when is she looking to come over ie. which months
- would she be happy with a youth hostel/student accomodation (sometimes available in the summer, which is why I asked which months is she looking to come over)

DMD, the problem with London as TE said is that accomodation is very expensive, especially if coming from overseas. There can also be a disparity between what you are accustomed to and paying for in your own country and what you experience in London (smaller, perhaps not as good condition, more expensive).

The other problem is that when trying to rent a flat, the rent is more for a short let (under six months) versus a long let (over six months). For instance, a studio flat in Central London (living room and bedroom are in one, if lucky the kitchen is separate, bathroom separate) may cost circa £190-£250 per week, for a six months let. For less than six months, you may find that same studio may cost £300 -£350 a week!

An additional cost your friend will need to bear in mind is the 'Council tax'. This is set by the local governments and based on a historic value of the property. The conservative held areas tend to be less expensive than the labour/socialist run areas and is not indicative to whether an area is 'safe' or not. This could add an extra £50-£110 a month to her accomodation costs.

Okay, I have highlighted some of the 'problems'. I prefer to think in terms of solutions. Therefore, if you/your friend sends me as much info as possible, I may then be able to provide some possible solutions.

Pacion