Always wanted to visit London? There’s no better time than during the 2012 Summer Olympics! From July 27th to August 12th, London will host the Olympic Games for the third time in history. The biggest sporting event in the world is a great reason to come and visit this bustling city! If you’re having problems finding accommodation this close to the start of the Olympics, we’ve still got vacation rentals available all over the city for the summer. You can check out the whole list of our vacation rentals in London, and see below for a sample selection of apartments for the Olympic period.

We have a 1 bedroom apartment in Canary Wharf (LN-1179) available for rent by the week, which can sleep 2 people. This makes it an attractive option if you’re on a bit of a budget, since the weekly rent split two ways comes to a daily rate of about £70 per person per night. For this price, you get a modern apartment in a high rise with on-site gym, a 24 hour concierge, and a private balcony providing spectacular views of the Thames, Docklands and the O2 Arena.

The Stadium is part of the main site of the Olympics: the newly constructed Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Eastern London. Here you will also find the Olympic Village, the Aquatics Centre, as well as Britain’s new observation tower and largest piece of public art: the ArcelorMittal Orbit. During the Olympic Games, this is definitely the place to be! Public transport to the city center is also conveniently close by, so you won’t have to miss any of the Olympic events at other locations.

Image of one of the bedrooms in our Limehouse vacation rental apartment
The two bedrooms of the vacation rental in Limehouse have a contemporary design
Another apartment with a convenient location is our 2-bedroom vacation rental in the Limehouse area near Canary Wharf. This apartment is located on the edge of the Limehouse basin, from which you have beautiful views of the Canary Wharf skyscrapers over the water. There is a Docklands Light Rail station right down the street from the apartment, where you can take a northeast-bound train to the Olympic Park or a westbound train to the City of London and the other Olympic sites.

This apartment also lends itself for a family vacation: the two modern bedrooms both contain a double bed, and there is a sofa bed in the living room. Furthermore, it is possible to rent a travel cot and a high chair, and the apartment is secured with window guards. Lastly, there is a Tesco Express on the block for convenient grocery shopping, so you can make good use of the fully equipped kitchen! To find out more about attractions in the East London area, check out this blog post about East London beyond the Olympics.

For a location closer to the many attractions in the city center of London, we have a top-rated 1-bedroom apartment in the Lambeth area of London (LN-1175). The apartment has a comfortable living room where you can feel at home after a long day of exploring the city, as well as a fully-equipped kitchen, bedroom with king-sized bed and a tasteful bathroom. The apartment is located in a building with a communal garden where you can relax and offer views of the London Eye, River Thames & Houses of Parliament!

The southern bank of the River Thames is just one block away, and the Jubilee Gardens, London Eye and County Hall can all be found just 700 meters (0.4 miles) away from the apartment. Even closer is Waterloo Underground Station, where you can catch the Jubilee, Northern, Bakerloo and Waterloo & City subway lines. Starting at £1107 for a week during the Olympics, this apartment can be your perfect base for a London Olympics adventure.

A picture of the Kensington London 1-bedroom apartment’s living room
The cozy living room of the 1-bedroom apartment in Kensington London
If you’re more of a fan of historical architecture opposed to modern buildings, we have two apartments available in a chic period townhouse in the affluent Kensington neighborhood. Both apartments feature elegant furniture, hardwood floors and a decorative fireplace in the living room. We currently have a travel deal for the 1-bedroom vacation rental, which means you can get a discount even during the Olympics period! The 2-bedroom vacation rental has a very classic feel with a period living room, modern kitchen and bathroom, and two comfortable bedrooms. This apartment is a great option if want to stay for the entire duration of all the Olympic festivities, as it can be rented by the month.

The townhouse is just a couple of blocks away from one of the most famous Royal Parks: Kensington Gardens, where you will also find Kensington Palace. Right next to the Gardens is another famous London landmark: Hyde Park. This is one of the Olympic venues, and will feature the Marathon Swimming 10km and the swimming element of the Triathlon!

A picture of the Kensington 2-bedroom apartment’s elegant living room
The living room of the 2-bedroom rental in Kensington, London boasts hardwood floors and a decorative fireplace
Whether you want to stay in a modern building right on the edge of the Olympic Park or choose a period townhouse close to Kensington Palace, you still have plenty of options to experience the 2012 Olympics in style! Best of all, by staying in an apartment you will have the chance to mix it up with the locals and see all the amazing things London has to offer up close. We hope you’ve enjoyed this little list of homes away from home during the London Olympics.

Are you planning to visit London for the 2012 Olympics?