New York Habitat Blog

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.

Summer is the time for festivals in London—and whether you’re a music lover,

View of Westminster

dance fanatic, film buff or beer aficionado, the city has something for everyone!  To check out all the festival fun around London this season, stay in a centrally located New York Habitat vacation rental and head out easily to wherever your heart desires.  From August 4-8 in Earl’s Court, the Great British Beer Festival is taking place, featuring over 450 different beers from all over the world. Pub food and games are also on hand, adding British flair to international flavor, so get your tickets early. For what is supposedly the biggest South Asian cultural festival outside of the Asian continent, go to the London Mela in Gunnersbury Park on August 16, where you can enjoy urban, classic and experimental music, as well as DJs, circus acts, dance, visual arts and a children’s play area, not to mention a huge selection of flavorful ethnic food. 

If fantasy and horror films are your idea of fun (as well as an appealing air-conditioned movie theatre), don’t miss the Film4 Frightfest taking place in Leicester Square from August 27-31. There’s a schedule of UK premieres,

London Accomodation 2 Bedroom Vacation Rental in Chelsea/ Kensington (LN-312)

genre classics, quizzes and competitions—as well as surprise and scary special guests. Smear on the fake blood and practice your zombie walk for this one! On August 30, Get Loaded in the Park, one of London’s most highly anticipated summer music concerts, comes to Clapham Common once again. Spotlighting headlining acts as well as up-and-coming artists, this one-day fest doesn’t disappoint. If you’re visiting London at this time, get your tickets for what’s sure to be a summer highlight. 

Of course, summer simply wouldn’t be summer in London without the annual Notting Hill Carnival, Europe’s biggest—and brightest…and most boisterous—street festival. With parades, floats, music stages, dance parties, street vendors and thousands of people in flashy costumes cramming the streets, the carnival offers most everything a reveler could want—except adequate public loos! Luckily, there are always coffee shops or pubs to duck into during the festivities. Or take a short break from the action at your nearby New York Habitat vacation rental, such as:       
          
· A spacious 2-bedroom rental accommodation in Knightsbridge, Kensington-Chelsea (LN-312) on a quiet, residential square a few steps away from world-famous Harrod’s. This fifth-floor apartment is on two levels (the bedrooms are upstairs), and it comes complete with a laundry/dryer, comfortable queen-sized beds, daily housekeeping and weekly linen service.

What do you like best about London’s festival season? Share your comments below.

By the time February is over, most of us have had our fill of Fashion Week and flawless models. In London, New York, Paris and Milan, there’s no escape—but there is an alternative! London’s Alternative Fashion Week takes place for five days at the end of April (this year, from the 20th to the 24th), giving us a respite from the more mainstream shows and a re-energized set of aesthetics to consider. Of course, if you really want to slip into something comfortable, we recommend a New York Habitat vacation rental in fashionable Shoreditch.

London Accommodation: studio in Shoreditch (LN-590) picture

London has always been known for its offbeat, cutting edge sense of style, and the Alternative Fashion Week shows seldom disappoint. Showcasing emerging new talent and innovative designs, the event emphasizes fashion-forward pieces that range from the utterly wearable to avant-garde styles that give us a glimpse of what the future of fashion may someday look like on city streets.

Don’t get the wrong impression, though—far from being intimidating, London’s Alternative Fashion Week aims to make fashion more approachable and affordable. Held under the glass roof of Spitalfields Market, an appropriately cool venue known for its one-of-a-kind yet reasonably priced street market finds, the lunchtime fashion shows are open to everyone. The event is perfect for people-watching—and often, the outfits of the attendees are as inspiring as those on stage.

The nearby neighborhood of Shoreditch offers the latest in art, design and music (often in one place, like the Old Truman Brewery or Whitechapel Art Gallery), and the food, clubs and community feel is unmatched. For a simply stunning place to stay, consider these New York Habitat choices:

• A gorgeous and airy 2-bedroom vacation rental in Shoreditch, Hackney (LN-696) with amazing street views. This accommodation is on the fourth floor of a modern apartment block with elevator and comes decked out with a terrace, an open plan kitchen, two king-sized beds, underfloor heating, a washer/dryer conveniently tucked away in a closet, and double glazed picture windows to cut out any street noise. Best of all, it’s above a Tesco supermarket, so breakfast and late-night snacks can be eaten in the comfort of your New York Habitat apartment.

London Apartment: studio vacation rental in Shoreditch (LN-489) photo

• A funky and eclectically furnished alcove studio in Hackney, Shoreditch (LN-489) well situated between Hoxton and Old Streets. This homey accommodation, on the first floor of a converted warehouse building, comes complete with a double bed and sofa, laundry/dryer, brick inlay, a turquoise painted kitchen, and tiled shower. All that—yet it had us at “converted warehouse”!

• A unique and artistically appointed alcove studio in Hackney, Shoreditch (LN-590) on vibrant Kingsland Road near Old Street station. This apartment, on the first floor of a walk-up building, is both fashionable and functional, with white walls and wood floors, high-design modern furnishings, a double bed and sofa, dining table for four, and washer/dryer to keep all of your alternative fashions fresh through your vacation.

Since affordability and accessibility are always in style, we suggest a stay in a New York Habitat vacation rental in Shoreditch, London.

Let us know some of your favorite up-and-coming London designers or some can’t-miss spots in Shoreditch with a comment below.

Late March sees the celebration of the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival at the British Film Institute on the South Bank—a perfect time for chilly nights still best spent indoors. To see a great selection of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered themed films from around the world, book your tickets in advance, stash all of your Cadbury candy treats in the cabinets of your nearby New York Habitat vacation accommodation…and don’t forget to turn off your cell phones.

London Accommodation: 2-bedroom rental in Westminster (LN-455)

The 23rd London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival features films by and about the LGBT community, with screenings that include everything from small-budget independent fare to showcases for big-name talent, the likes of Sean Penn, John Hurt and Catherine Deneuve. This well-attended repertoire is a mash-up of contemporary movies with gay and lesbian themes, alongside classics and more experimental work. (For a full listing of films, go to the British Film Institute Website.)

The opening night gala takes place on March 25, and the festival runs until April 8, with spectacular closing night festivities. This event is one of the largest of its kind, featuring dozens of domestic and international features, shorts and documentaries, as well as special events and guests, workshops and discussions, and a family day for children of LGBT parents.

Fortunately for those attending the festival, the BFI is an amazing space in which to experience cinema. Located on the South Bank of the Thames, this modern facility with unparalleled views of London boasts a lobby café, a sleek interior bar, and outdoor seating that you’ll want to snatch up on sunny days.

In addition to the BFI, the South Bank is loaded with things to see and do (the Tate Modern, London Eye, Hayward Gallery, Royal Festival Hall, Globe Theatre and Vinopolis, among them) and is a short distance from a fabulous selection of New York Habitat rental accommodations, including:

•    A charming, sweetly furnished 2-bedroom vacation rental in Westminster-Covent Garden (LN-401) near the Strand, within walking distance of the famous Piazza. The master bedroom of this third-floor apartment has a king-sized bed (rare for London), the second bedroom comes with a walk-in shower room, and the living room has a fireplace. What could be more romantic?

•    A very contemporary, uncluttered and crisply decorated 1-bedroom vacation accommodation in Westminster (LN-429), off the Strand. This apartment, in a period mansion building with elevator, has a double bed and plenty of sunlight, plus smoking is permitted.

•    This traditional and tastefully decorated 2-bedroom rental accommodation in Westminster (LN-455), just north of Oxford Street near Soho (London’s largest LGBT district), is in a fully renovated 1916 building that has retained its original detailing: wooden floors, brass fittings, chandelier, large windows, and a staircase lit by coach lamps. For those who prize their privacy, the apartment occupies its own floor, and includes a large lounge, designer kitchen with granite worktops, and bathroom with marble tile, full-size bathtub and walk-in shower. Past guests have said: “Our stay in London has been very positive. The apartment was very clean and everything very correct.”

Show some cinematic love by attending London’s LGBT film festivals—then bring the magic back home to your New York Habitat vacation accommodation.

If you have any favorite LGBT venues in London, let us know with a comment below.

For some, Paris is the place for lovers…but right around Valentine’s Day, London gives the City of Lights a run for its money in the romance department. Think London is all about wearing tweed, keeping a stiff upper lip and downing a room-temperature pint? Think again! This winter, England’s capitol is going Eastern Bloc with Smirnoff’s Black Winter Ice Lounge—a cool place to keep each other warm. So rent a stylish New York Habitat vacation accommodation nearby, put on a faux fur Russian hat and find out for yourself just what inspired the Beatles to write “Back in the USSR.”

London Accommodation: 1-bedroom in Tower Hamlets- Canary Wharf (LN-619)

Smirnoff’s Black Winter Ice Lounge is a luxurious, sexy seasonal space set up in the Plateau Restaurant in chic Canary Wharf. The rooftop lounge has a wall of windows, dazzling views of the Thames and the area’s architectural wonders, and Russian-inspired décor that will make you temporarily forget that St. Paul’s is not in St. Petersburg.

The lounge’s white chairs and soft lighting are a perfect complement to the wintry elements outside, and the “fur” blankets (as warm as the real thing) will have you cuddling up close to your traveling companion or squeezing onto a sofa with a few of your closest (or newest!) friends. Of course, you may want to throw off your fake bearskin and head to the bar for some Slavic snacks and vodka cocktails made exclusively for this event. Then again, there’s nothing wrong with simply snuggling up and soaking in the scenery.

The best part of it all? When you leave the lounge, you can trade the caviar for some fish and chips and the chilled glass of vodka for a warm cup of tea. This is London, after all! The way to make the most of it is to stay in a fully accommodated New York Habitat rental that can function as your own private lounge. Some suggestions are:

• A stunning 1-bedroom vacation rental in Tower Hamlets-Canary Wharf (LN-619), only a three-minute walk from the South Quay DLR—which is essential on those wintry nights. Part of a newly constructed, contemporary building development, this apartment is located in a garden setting with canal views on one side and glimpses of Greenwich on the other. Complete with ambiance lighting, double-glazed picture windows and polished wood floors, this accommodation may have you rethinking going out altogether!

London Accommodation 2-bedroom rental in Tower Hamlets- Canary Wharf (LN-625)

• An absolutely striking 2-bedroom vacation rental in Tower Hamlets-Canary Wharf (LN-625) in a stylish, serviced residence with river views (overlooking the iconic Millennium Dome), spacious rooms, a fully fitted kitchen for candlelit dinners, a bathtub for some serious unwinding and a stereo to show off those dance skills. Perfect for two couples.

• Can’t stand to be too far from each other? Stay in this amazing studio in Tower Hamlets-Canary Wharf (LN-610), where you’ll fall in love with all the little details: a pull-down double bed, fantastic furnishings, under-floor heating and a power shower.

Romance, Russia and New York Habitat vacation rentals—just three more reasons to fall in love with London this February.

Check out upcoming articles on London, the City of Love…and share your favorite romantic spots with a comment below. (Don’t worry—we promise not to tell everybody!)

Every February, many Americans engage in Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) celebrations. Londoners enjoy similar festivities, but they call it Pancake Day (Shrove Tuesday). In both cultures, this celebration marks the final day of indulging sweets and meats before 40 days of fasting. So instead of getting crazy on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, make your way to the UK, rent your own London accommodation and celebrate Pancake Day like a true Londoner. The celebration is held on Tuesday, 24 February.

London Accommodation 3-bedroom rental in Islington (LN-500)

In order to celebrate Pancake Day, you will need rich ingredients such as eggs, milk and sugar. Only buy them in small amounts, as you are to use them all up by the end of the day. A traditional pancake is a little thicker than a French crepe and can be served with a sweet topping such as maple syrup, Nutella or sugar with lemon. Once you have cooked up and devoured these tasty treats in your London apartment, it’s time to get out about London town and celebrate with the locals.

All around London, city dwellers and visiting tourists alike will be taking part in pancake races. The aim of the race is to run to the finish line while tossing a pancake in a frying pan. Some businesses even form teams and race for charity! Most of these races start between noon and 1 p.m. Take the Underground to Aldgate East or Liverpool Street for the Great Spitalfields Pancake Race, or head to Tower Hill to check out the Great Pancake Race opposite the Tower of London.

Ditch your traditional Mardi Gras celebrations and trade in beads for pancakes! Get close to all the racing action by staying in one of these New York Habitat vacation accommodations in London:

• A quaint 1-bedroom rental in Islington (LN-287) nestled opposite the Liverpool Street station on the Circle Line. A perk to renting with New York Habitat is having your own kitchen to cook the pancakes! This London vacation rental is also close to plenty of shops, restaurants and theaters in the West End.

London Apartment: 1-bedroom rental in Islington (LN-287)

• An exquisite 2-bedroom penthouse rental in Islington (LN-289) also situated just across from the Liverpool Street Undergound. There is plenty of space inside this luxurious London penthouse to invite lots of new friends over for Pancake Day celebrations. And it’s just steps away from the Great Spitalfields Pancake Race!

• A massive 3-bedroom rental in Southwark (LN-500) located off Tower Bridge Road, only a few minutes away from the sight of the Great Pancake Race. Plan a lengthy holiday with a few of your mates and enjoy your stay inside this London vacation rental. There are sleeping quarters for up to six people, and all guests are sure to be impressed with the apartment’s central location.

Where will you celebrate Pancake Day this year? Will you stay inside one of these lovely New York habitat accommodations or will you be roaming the streets of London looking for a Pancake Race? Feel free to comment below!