New York Habitat Blog

Some people love them. Some people almost can’t stand to look at them. Either way, we at New York Habitat think you should at least try them. We’re talking about the full English breakfast, also known as a “fry up”—and with good reason. Stay at a New York Habitat vacation rental in London and we’ll help you find a full English almost right outside your door. Whether or not you clean your plate is entirely up to you.

A full English Breakfast

A full English breakfast is itself an institution—as are many of the places that serve them. Heartier than an afternoon tea, it is said to be the perfect cure for a hangover, is often served all day in cafés throughout the city, and is perhaps one of the best culinary bargains to be found in London. In fact, you may barely need to eat for the rest of the day.

The typical ingredients of a traditional full English breakfast are fried bacon, fried eggs, fried tomatoes, fried bread or toast with butter, fried sausages and baked beans (see? some things aren’t fried!). It’s usually served with a mug of not so strong tea that many places will refill for free. And you can get all that for about £3.75.

There are also vegetarian variations, which cut out the bacon and sausages and sometimes replace them with fried mushrooms. Or you can opt for the “full” full English, which can include black pudding (not a dessert at all—actually, more sausage) and fried mashed potatoes or hash browns.

Benjy’s in Earl’s Court offers a satisfying fry up in traditional “caff” surroundings, plus it has great business cards with a photo of the food that can be used as a souvenir bookmark. Since you’ll want to walk off your breakfast, it’s about twenty minutes on foot from the museums on Cromwell Road. The Ideal Café on Ebury Bridge Road is also a favorite with locals, and isn’t a far stroll from Buckingham Palace. Poppie’s Diner in Wapping serves a traditional English breakfast among American kitsch and is a nice walk to Tower Bridge.

London Accommodation in West Brompton (LN-607)

To burn off your breakfast, we recommend staying in a centrally located New York Habitat vacation accommodation, such as:      

• A lovely 1-bedroom rental flat in Bermondsey, Southwark (LN-811) just off Tower Bridge Road on the third floor of a converted wharf building with elevator. This accommodation on a quiet street comes with two double beds, a laundry/dryer, a balcony and free calls to landlines in the U.S. and U.K.
• A spacious 2-bedroom rental accommodation in Kensingston-Chelsea, West Brompton (LN-607) on the ground floor of a private gated development. This flat comes complete with one queen and one double bed, two baths, a laundry/dryer and a parking space.
• A light-filled 1-bedroom vacation accommodation in South Kensington, Kensington-Chelsea (LN-62) on the first floor of a period building overlooking a quiet communal garden. This flat features a queen bed, laundry/dryer, high ceiling, bay windows, parquet floors and balconettes.
   

Enjoy a full English breakfast and a fully furnished New York Habitat rental flat! Let us know some of your favorite traditional foods in London with a comment below.

Most Londoners today don’t have the time to take a leisurely afternoon tea. They grab a ‘cuppa’ on the go or duck into one of the city’s many chain coffee shops. But proper afternoon tea is such an English institution that it would be a shame for visitors not to experience it at least once while they’re there. So New York Habitat has compiled a short list of tea rooms for you to enjoy—and you can always put the kettle on in your own private New York Habitat apartment in London. 

London Accommoadtion Notting Hill (LN-259)

One of the most charming, quintessentially British spaces for afternoon tea is a café called Still Too Few. This tea room is attached to the basement of an antiques shop on Westbourne Grove. It’s the perfect place to take a break from browsing the stalls on Portobello Road or the shops at Ladbroke Grove and tuck into tea, sandwiches, scones and homemade cakes (which are offered à la carte).    

The Orangery behind Kensington Palace in Hyde Park offers afternoon tea in an opulent setting, which was once the site of Queen Anne’s sun room. For a real retro treat, order the Debutante’s Tea (still served the way it was in 1958), go regal with the Champagne Tea, or stick to the original Orangery Tea, which is still enough to cause quite a sugar rush. No worries—you can always walk it off in the park afterwards!

Of course, there’s always the wonderful and reliable standby: The St. James’s Restaurant in the Fortnum and Mason department store, straddling St. James’s Park, Green Park and Hyde Park. Loyal customers come here for the ambiance, the live piano music, the view over Piccadilly, and the splendid selections for afternoon tea.  

To stay a short distance from one of these top tea destinations, consider the following New York Habitat apartments:

• A light and airy 1-bedroom vacation rental in Notting Hill, Kensington-Chelsea (LN-403) with its own street-level entrance in a pretty Victorian building on a quiet, residential street. This newly refurbished accommodation comes with a double bed, a double sofa bed, laundry/dryer, high ceilings, wooden floors and large floor-to-ceiling windows to let the sun in. A recent client raved: “The apartment in London was really good indeed, nicely furnished, clean and very well-equipped.”

Twinings tea room

• A charming 1-bedroom rental accommodation in Notting Hill, Kensington-Chelsea (LN-259) on the ground floor of a walk-up building conveniently located on Portobello Road. This lovely flat has a double bed, double sofa bed, laundry/dryer, central heating and a small balcony overlooking the street.

• A comfortable, well-appointed 1-bedroom vacation accommodation in Notting Hill, Kensington-Chelsea (LN-151) on the upper ground floor of an end-period walk-up centrally located off Westbourne Grove. This flat offers a queen-sized bed, double sofa bed, laundry/dryer, open kitchen, once-a-week cleaning services, and an open gas log fireplace. Past clients have enthused: “We were very pleased with the apartment’s quality, cleanliness, space and proximity to central London transport systems.”

Enjoy the relaxing settings of London’s beloved tea rooms—and a New York Habitat vacation rental.

Leave a comment to let us know your favorite place for tea in London—and whether you take one lump or two!

The 1st half 2009 London Vacation Rental Market Report contains all of the most up-to date information about the London Vacation Rental Accommodation market. With 2009 being a difficult year for the travel industry the findings in this report include the details necessary to make informed decisions in the London real estate market.

London Vacation Rental Report 1st half 2009

This report contains information about the 1st half of 2009 and for comparison purposes it has data from the 1st half of 2007 and 2008 as well. Some of the key figures contained in the report include:

• Percent of rentals by neighborhood
• Range of prices by apartment type
• Percent of apartments rented by type
• Average, median and mode apartment prices
• And more

Some of the main conclusions in the report include:

• Despite a weak economy which has hurt the travel industry, New York Habitat’s business in the London Vacation Rental market has remained strong and continued to grow.
• Large rentals (2-bedrooms and larger) remain  popular products in London
• London has regaining popularity with American tourists as the British Pound fells compared to the U.S. Dollar.

New York Habitat looks forward to continuing their success in the London Vacation Rental Market. Major factors that will continue to influence the London vacation rental market are pound conversion rates and the world economy.

New York Habitat has created the London Furnished Apartment Rental Market Reports section on our website, where this and future reports will be available.  The next London Vacation Rental Market Report will be published in the winter of 2010 and contain details about the 2nd half of 2009.

Please let us know below what you think of this report and if you have any suggestions for future London Vacation Renal Market Reports.  You can also e-mail the London Market Report team at marketreport@nyhabitat.com

With Halloween near, there’s plenty to do in London for those seeking chills and thrills. From historical sights to hysterical amusement-style attractions, this ancient city, believed to be heavily haunted, has no shortage of scares. You’ll be glad that you rented a nearby New York Habitat vacation accommodation to make the walk home that much shorter.  

The London Bridge Experience, one of the most popular tourist destinations all year long, becomes especially creepy around Halloween, as medieval characters walk you through London’s dark past. (For the brave, a dual ticket can be purchased for that and the London Tombs, the former burial site for plague victims.)

London Accommodation: Studio in City -Islington (LN_446)

The nearby Tower of London, known for its ravens, is the site of past beheadings and torture, as well as the Bloody Tower, called so for the two princes who were murdered there by their uncle. Take a tour, if you dare.

The London Dungeon is a hit with tourists, combining gory gallows humor with special effects, live actors, instruments of torture, and amusement park-style rides. Don’t miss the basement—or the zombies who await you there.

The London Ghost Festival, run by London Paranormal, takes places from Oct. 23-31. One of its stops is the old Operating Theatre (as scary as the name sounds), where you’ll be searching for the White Lady, the hospital’s much-seen resident ghost.

Chills in the Chapel takes place at Union Chapel, a fittingly spooky backdrop for such appropriate film classics as “An American Werewolf in London.” (Tickets are free, but donations go toward the chapel’s restoration.)

For a nice stroll—or shamble—around town, there’s the London Zombie Walk on Oct. 31, starting and ending at pubs, and hitting a few in between (think “Shaun of the Dead”). Dress as the undead and join along on the search for brains (or really good fish and chips).

On top of all of that, there are the perennial favorites: the unnerving Jack the Ripper Walk, a tour of Fleet Street to see the haunts of the “Demon Barber” Sweeney Todd, and the Ghost Bus, a double-decker painted midnight black and giving tours that are part-sightseeing/part-ghost story.

For a safe place to spend the night, consider these New York Habitat rental accommodations: 

• A spacious studio in Bermondsey, Southwark (LN-689) on Tower Bridge Road. This contemporary flat comes fully equipped with a separate living room, laundry/dryer, a double bed, guest parking, track lighting and plenty of sunlight to keep vampires away.

• A contemporary studio in City-Islington (LN-128) just off Fleet Street, close to many sites and attractions, as well as one infamous barbershop! This flat is on the fifth floor of a modern elevator building and comes with a double bed, laundry/dryer, flat-screen TV, power shower, and a 24-hour doorman, which should make you feel that much safer.

• A stylish studio in City-Islington (LN-446), just off Tower Bridge Road. This newly converted flat is in the site of the former Sarson’s Brewery warehouse (so any “spirits” may have really liked the other kind of spirits), and has maintained such original features as wooden floors and exposed brick. It also comes with double bed, laundry/dryer, guest parking, power shower, and large windows with nice views, as well as great glass walkways and lifts within the building.

For some real Halloween haunts, head to London—and a New York Habitat vacation rental. Just be sure to lock the door behind you…

Leave a comment below to tell us which Halloween event would be the most likely to scare the living daylights out of you.

With so many museums and galleries, it’s always a good time for art in London—but there’s no better time than fall for art fairs. A conveniently located New York Habitat vacation rental is the perfect place for you to stay while you do your part to support the arts. 

London Accommodation :1-bedroom rental in shoreditch (LN-573)

The Frieze Art Fair in Regent’s Park is London’s biggest and sets the standard for all other art fairs in town. Running from October 15-18, Frieze will feature—along with local and international gallery stalls—a crash-landing sculpture, an in-house artist photographing visitors, and another artist making “knock-offs” of well-known works. Look for the huge tents in Regent’s Park for all the artistic action—but be warned that there is an admission fee.

Zoo is an art fair showcasing twenty-one different galleries and a dozen limited-edition print stalls, selling work that starts at a wallet-friendly £10. If you’re more interested in looking than buying, check out the central exhibit on psychedelia. Taking place from October 16-19 on Old Street, in the happening Shoreditch section of London, Zoo also has a champagne bar on hand.

Pavilion is an up-market art fair that focuses on interiors and design. Though there is an admission fee, the works on show span over 150 years of artistic design, so it’s well worth the price. Pavilion takes place from October 14-18 at Berkeley Square.

Finally, the Free Art Fair (from October 12-18 at the Barbican Centre) is just what it sounds like: All of the various art works on display are given away for free on the final day of the show. You must bring an entry form with you to take part in the lottery; if they call your name, you get to pick the piece you want. (See www.freeartfair.com for details.) This show is both a labor of love from the artists and a favorite of those who appreciate the idea of making art accessible to all. However, this year is rumored to be the last, so catch it while you can.

Barbican Arts Centre

For some affordable, well-designed places to stay amidst all the art fair frenzy, consider the following New York Habitat flats:     

• An eclectically decorated 1-bedroom rental accommodation in Shoreditch, Hackney (LN-573) near Old Street station. This funky second-floor flat has three double beds (including a sofa bed), so it can easily sleep six. Located in the site of a former furniture and frame factory built around the turn of the century, the apartment has maintained some original features (such as double warehouse doors), as well as adding modern amenities, like a balcony, laundry, and a dining table that seats fourteen!

• A spacious 1-bedroom vacation rental in Fitzrovia, Westminster (LN-775) on the second floor of a modern building with elevators, centrally located near Regent’s Park and Oxford Circus stations. This rental comes with a double bed, laundry, a large, lovely kitchen, and plenty of natural light.

• A bright and airy 2-bedroom vacation accommodation in Regent’s Park-Camden, Brent (LN-602) on the sixth floor of a period mansion block with elevators. This flat features both a king-sized and double bed, laundry/dryer, and a balcony—plus plenty of framed posters for film lovers. 

This fall in London, it’s easy to appreciate the arts—and the amazing apartments that New York Habitat has to offer. Let us know which art fair you’d most like to attend with a comment below.

Of all the attractions, activities, sightseeing and nightlife in London, theatre reigns supreme. From lavish West End productions to smaller, experimental shows, taking in at least one theatrical performance is a necessity for travelers to London—and while New York Habitat can’t get you the best seat in the house, we can definitely get you the best flats in the city.

Lyceum Theatre in London's West End

For big-name productions, spectacle and actors this autumn, consider getting tickets in advance for Breakfast at Tiffany’s (which immortalized Audrey Hepburn on screen), Billy Elliott, Shakespeare’s Othello or All’s Well That Ends Well, Inherit the Wind (with Kevin Spacey), the anticipated musical Oliver!, The Shawshank Redemption (based on Stephen King’s novella and made famous by the Hollywood film), Dirty Dancing (which does honor to the late Patrick Swayze) or countless other West End performances.

If you’re looking for titles that are perhaps a little less well known but come with loads of critical acclaim, you may want to catch Enron, Orphans (a favorite at the Edinburgh Festival), The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, Samuel Beckett’s masterful Endgame, An Inspector Calls, the quintessentially English Prick Up Your Ears, War Horse, The Fastest Clock in the Universe (which first starred a young Jude Law) or any of the other quality shows available at venues throughout the city.

For fringe theatre that often offers cheaper seats with the same high quality performances and more cutting-edge material, plan on seeing the politically relevant Not Black and White: Seize the Day, a Tennessee Williams’ triple bill at the New End Theatre, a “re-imaging” of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, The Cut Off Festival (finalists of which are voted upon by the audience), the eclectic Infinite Variety, Showstopper (which is an improvised musical written an hour beforehand) or a variety of other experimental shows at smaller venues around London.

Whichever bookings you decide to make, let New York Habitat help get you to the show on time with conveniently located, well appointed accommodations, such as:

• A sunny, contemporary studio in Bloomsbury, Westminster (LN-507) on the first floor of a mansion block with elevator. This vacation rental comes with a loft-style double bed, laundry/dryer, cute, well-equipped kitchen and large windows to “let the sun shine in.” Smoking is permitted.

London Accommodation: Studio in Bloomsbury (LN-507)

• A charming 2-bedroom rental accommodation in Bloomsbury, Westminster (LN-786) on the second floor of a mansion block overlooking a small garden square. There is a laundry/dryer and each bedroom has (large) single beds. This flat is conveniently located near the British Museum, Covent Garden, Chinatown, shopping and theatres, which feel about “39 Steps” away.

• A spacious and comfortable 1-bedroom vacation rental in Mayfair, Westminster (LN-797) on a quiet side street off Piccadilly Arcade. Located close to Green Park, theatre land and loads of nightlife, this flat has everything “As You Like It”: king-sized bed, decorative fireplace, laundry/dryer and use of the gym. 

Whether your taste in theatre is classical or contemporary, London has something for you—and the same is true for New York Habitat rental accommodations.

Let us know which London shows you’re interested in seeing with a comment below.

For centuries, London’s waterways have been the lifeblood of the city, the center of almost all activity—and these days it’s no different. The Thames River is teeming with life, and we don’t just mean the aquatic kind! Stay in a New York Habitat vacation accommodation near the water and dive into the action yourself.

Blackfriars Bridge on The Thames, London

On London’s South Bank, there’s no end of choices for visitors: river tours, the National Theatre, The Hayward Gallery, the British Film Institute, the Globe Theatre, Tate Modern, the London Eye, Movieum film museum and Borough Market are situated along the river, all within walking distance of one another. Even without stopping at all the attractions, this route alone makes for an amazing afternoon’s stroll or a romantic evening walk.

Further up the river lie London’s docklands, with narrow, picturesque, winding streets and ancient pubs. Spend some time in Limehouse (on the Docklands Light Rail) discovering Dickens’ old watering hole, The Grapes, across from the remains of Joseph Conrad’s favorite pub, The House They Left Behind (ironically, the public house is gone and only the sign has been left behind). For a modern take on traditional English food, dine at Gordon Ramsay’s pub, The Narrows, with its gorgeous river views, or head to the nearby Wapping Project, a stunning restaurant/bar/art space set in an old hydraulic power station.

Of course, the Thames isn’t the only celebrated waterway in London. Charming Regent’s Canal is also central to the city, though its colorful houseboats and abundant bank-side greenery make visitors feel transported to another time and place. One way to actually be transported is to take an afternoon cruise on the canal aboard an authentic houseboat, which takes passengers from Camden Lock past Regent’s Park, the London Zoo and the aptly named Little Venice.

London Accommodation: 2-bedroom in Tower Hamlets LN-375 photo

A houseboat may be a once-in-a-lifetime way to see the city, but for spacious, comfortable accommodations on dry land, check out these riverside rentals available from New York Habitat:

• An elegant, spacious 2-bedroom vacation accommodation in Tower Hamlets-Canary Wharf (LN-753) that comes with a balcony, community gardens, laundry/dryer, two bathrooms, an elevator and a doorman. The large windows not only let in loads of light, but also allow great views of the marina. 
• A 2-bedroom rental accommodation in Tower Hamlets-Canary Wharf (LN-375) on the third floor of a modern apartment block on Narrow Street, well-located near Limehouse Basin. This charming flat comes with a balcony with open-air seating.
• A 1-bedroom vacation rental in City-Islington (LN-731) on the fifth floor of an elevator building with 24-hour porter. This gorgeous apartment has views over King’s College library gardens and is less than a ten-minute walk to the river.

To get the most from your visit to London, be sure to make a trip to the bank—the banks of the water, that is—and for a great place to stay without breaking the bank, book a New York Habitat vacation rental.

Let us know your favorite waterside spot in London with a comment below.