New York Habitat Blog

London Accommodation: 1-bedroom apartment in Williston (LN-586)

One of the most scenic and unique ways to see London is on the water—not from one of the ubiquitous tourist boats that take you up and down the Thames but from a colorful narrowboat cruising leisurely along Regents Canal, offering views of the city that cannot be seen from anywhere else. Fortunately, there are a few services in northern London that afford you this chance—and, of course, there are more than a few New York Habitat accommodations in the area to make your stay even more spectacular.

London’s waterways used to be the highways of the city, allowing transportation to some of the most famous and frequently visited sights. Boatmen would row passengers on long, narrow boats and “leg it” through tight tunnels, using their feet to propel off of low ceilings. Nowadays, these trips continue to take visitors past stunning views in style, including Lords’ Cricket Grounds, the London Zoo and Lord Snowdon’s aviary in Regent’s Park, the gardens in St. John’s Woods, the beauty and serenity of Maida Vale and celebrated Camden Locks.

As you relax, friendly tour guides/boat owners give interesting accounts of tunnels and decorative bridges in some of the oldest parts of London, tying up frequently for unrushed on-land excursions and onboard meals complete with afternoon tea and aperitifs. Cruising through the city’s center, you can scoff at automotive traffic, gaze up at the foot traffic comprised of London’s legions of international visitors and gain unparalleled access to and angles of landmarks that take on a whole new character when seen from the canal. In addition, boating through rural places like Regent’s Park, Browning’s Island and an original Victorian cemetery will give you a taste of the English countryside and all of its resplendent greenery without leaving the city limits. With the romance of the waterways, London takes on the feel of Venice while its own history seems even more alive and immediate.

London Accommodation: 1-bedroom apartment rental in Hempstead (LN-29)

Once the excursion is over, you can get your land legs back while enjoying dinner at a canal-side café in Maida Vale, a dockside pub in Camden or a pagoda-style restaurant in Cumberland Basin to continue the seafaring theme—plus all of these locations are close to your New York Habitat apartment in Camden-Brent.
To complement a canal cruise, we suggest staying in one of the following New York Habitat accommodations:

•    A classic and quiet one-bedroom rental in Hampstead, Camden-Brent (LN-29) located in a calm residential neighborhood near Finchley Road station. This sun-drenched, ground floor retreat comes with thoughtful, personal touches such as a patio, piano, small study and gas-operated fireplace.

•    A private and outdoorsy furnished studio in Willesden, Camden-Brent (LN-24) minutes from Willesden Green station. This ground floor rental comes complete with a queen-sized sofa bed, a terrace with outdoor seating, a garden and backyard, all near the extensive parklands of northern London. Client testimonials rave, “I would highly recommend this apartment” and “It was a great apartment and I would consider staying there again as well as recommending it to others who might be visiting London.”

•    A funky one-bedroom rental in Willesden, Camden-Brent (LN-586) that manages to recreate the colorful, bohemian feel of a houseboat or gypsy caravan. This lower ground floor apartment near Bakerloo station has a queen-sized bed, terrace and private garden, along with fabulous and fun decorative flourishes.

To see London in a whole new way, visit London Canal Cruises—and to make your time spent on dry land as enjoyable, stay in a scenic New York Habitat vacation accommodation in lovely Camden-Brent.

Please let us know the adventures you’ve had on any of London’s historic waterways by leaving a comment below.

In London, summer is the perfect time to forego high street fashion chains and head to outdoor markets for one-of-a-kind finds. This city certainly has a lot to choose from: the perennial favorite, Portobello Road; the edgier Spitafields Market; the sprawling stalls of Brixton and Brick Lane. But nothing compares to Camden Market for sheer size and cool surroundings—and a stay in a nearby New York Habitat flat is a sure way to feel like you’ve not only seen London but lived it…and you’ll have the packages to prove it!

Camden Lock Market London

Okay, so it’s easy to mistake Camden Markets for the site of an outdoor concert. They are crowded, especially on weekends—but that’s all part of the charm. Navigating, however, is quite another story.
Camden can appeal to shoppers of every stripe. For antiques, there’s Camden Passage Market, which is a lot like the V&A Museum without walls. For club gear, t-shirts, trainers and knock-offs—all of it pretty cheap, at least by British standards—head to The Camden Market, closest to Camden Town Tube stop, and Camden Canal Market, with the added bonus of a nice view and a few canal-side cafés when all that shopping becomes a bit overwhelming, which it inevitably will. Stables Market, farther from the Tube, has some of the most original offerings. Gathered near the back, by what used to be the horse hospital, are independent artists and craftspeople, as well as a two-floor antique mall and scattered food stands.

That brings us to one of Camden’s biggest draws, which you can smell from blocks off: Camden Lock Market’s food stalls, crammed with everything from Middle Eastern kebabs to Japanese dumplings, Caribbean patties and proper fish and chips. Sure, it’s also crammed with people—well-informed backpackers and budget travelers from the world over come for low-priced lunches loaded with flavor. You can stop here every day after stepping out of your New York Habitat accommodation and still never taste the same thing twice—and that sure beats sandwiches from Sainbury’s!

Of course, the streets of Camden that surround the marketplaces are just as lively, getting in on the action with CD and vinyl shops, old-school authentic pubs, laid-back coffee shops, outdoor eateries, live music venues galore and hidden gems of galleries. This part of London has an energetic, funky neighborhood feel that’s perfect for exploring and people-watching on summer afternoons. Keep your eyes open for local celebrities like Jodie Kidd, Kate Moss and Sienna Miller, shopping incognito for vintage originals.
Since Camden is such an eclectic area, we suggest equally hip New York Habitat rental accommodations that will set your stay apart from the usual ho-hum hotel chains.

• Located just north of Camden station, this 3-bedroom furnished vacation rental in Camden-Brent-Camden Town (LN-428) accommodates six in style. With a conceptually designed, goth-inspired interior, balcony and baby-friendly touches, such as a crib and high chair, the whole family will be thrilled to stay in such a unique setting—even teenagers!

London Accommodation: Studio in Camden Town (LN-508)

• An airy space that takes advantage of natural sunlight, this furnished studio in Camden-Brent-Camden Town (LN-508) is on the ground floor and looks out onto communal gardens, where you’ll want to sip your morning coffee. With modern décor, a fun, retro Murphy bed and only a ten-minute walk from Camden Markets, it’s the perfect place to set down your shopping bags.    

• With its crisp design and central location, this furnished studio in Camden-Brent-Primrose Hill (LN-487) is on the ground floor of a modern building, surrounded by multiplex and art-house cinemas, Primrose Hill Park (which, after a short climb, has a pretty view of London), local shops and London Zoo. It’s less than a ten-minute walk to both Chalk Farm and Swiss Cottage underground stations and only one stop away from the excitement of Camden. 

Make your trip unforgettable by staying in a New York Habitat rental near Camden Markets—one of London’s true originals.

Leave a comment below to let us know what treasures you found in Camden Town.