Expert: David Stewart White - 5/29/2004

Question
Hi David.  I checked out the website for your book.  To be honest I haven't bought it but I've added it to my rapidly growing travel book wish list.  I was hoping you might have some info on accommodation in or around London.  We're from Australia and are after self catering accommodation for myself, my husband and our 2 year old daughter for a week in December.  We will have spent 4 months in Scotland and so will have our own car with us.  Looking at websites this limits our options in London because they don't provide car parking, but we're happy to stay out of London.  Do you have any personal favorite areas or accommodation?  

Thanks for your help and for all the info on your website.

Lisa

Answer
Hi Lisa,

My general advice would be to virtually abandon your car while visiting London.  Driving in the central city can be a nightmare, and the same goes for much of the metro London area, especially during rush hours.  

That said, and given your preference for staying outside of the city, I would then advise that you stay within the area served by the London Underground and suburban rail network--specifically within London Transport travel zones 1-6 to reduce the time and expense of daily commuting into and out of the city for sightseeing.  You can find the zone maps on www.thetube.com.  There are also some terrific maps on the website showing information about the areas surrounding London Underground stops.

Within the immediate London area, there are some nice spots like Hampstead, Greenwich, Richmond, and many more suburban areas.  Each is fairly convenient to downtown London by rail.

Regarding letting a flat for a week, I have some sources that you can explore.  The first is someone who has a lot of knowledge in the area of self-catering cottages (and flats) throughout the UK.  Try contacting Jeanne Mills at:

     admin@gtunlimited.com

Jeanne and her husband run a service that deals exclusively with vacation rentals in the UK.  While many of their properties are outside of London, she may be able to help or provide some guidance.

I have also heard good things about Nick Price (an agent) and his rentals:

    http://www.priceapts.co.uk/

I hope this information is helpful.

Dave White