New York Habitat Blog

Photogenic and historical, London is one of the most filmed cities in the world. From the days of Britain’s own Ealing Studios to recent Hollywood blockbusters, the city has been the backdrop (or the star, depending on how you look at it) of many of the most-loved and iconic movies of all time.  So New York Habitat has decided to celebrate cinematic London by bringing you a Top Five list of areas—and accommodations—that will have you following in the footsteps of some famous on-screen faces, starting with legendary Liverpool Street.

London Accommodation: studio apartment in City-Islington (LN-286)

Located in London’s East End, Liverpool Street is home to many of the city’s treasures—for the purposes of our list, the most notable is Liverpool Street Station, which served as a setting for David Lynch’s 1980 Romantic masterpiece, The Elephant Man.

Fans of the film will recognize the station from the heartbreaking scene in which John Hurt, as John Merrick, sneaks back into London and tries to discreetly descend the staircase but is chased by an angry mob. Liverpool Street Station has undergone a massive reconstruction since the film was shot there and is now one of the most sparkling and airy of the Underground stops. But the building’s original, intricate wrought-iron latticework and cathedral-style brickwork around the windows and skylights still remain—and it is well worth seeing as an enduring testament to gothic architecture.

A stay in a New York Habitat vacation rental on Liverpool Street will also put you within walking distance of the ancient London Wall, a remnant of the city’s Roman past, as well as the gorgeously restored Leadenhall Market, a covered marketplace selling fresh food and produce that recaptures The Elephant Man’s bygone beauty.

London Accommodation: 1-bedroom in City-Islington (LN-287)

Also about ten minutes away from Liverpool Street is Bunhill Fields (originally “Bone Hill Fields”), a small, verdant cemetery where some of England’s most famous dissenters, such as William Blake and Daniel Defoe, are buried. Round that out with a short walk to Dennis Severs’ House, which recreates 18th century London life through a series of tableaus that visitors view by candle or firelight; dinner at Aurora, Sir Terence Conran’s restaurant located in a great Victorian dining hall; and a stop at Flittner’s, an old-fashioned British barbershop where they still give a traditional hot towel shave—and you’ll feel as if you stepped into Lynch’s vision of Victorian London.

Of course, one of the best ways to experience all that the Liverpool Street area has to offer is to stay in a conveniently located New York Habitat vacation rental. We recommend:

•    A stylish, executive studio apartment in City-Islington (LN-286) on Bishopgate opposite Liverpool Street Station. This rental is in a fully serviced block apartment with a full-time porter and daily cleaning service.

•    A warmly furnished 1-bedroom rental in City-Islington (LN-287) with laundry and dryer, double bed, hardwood floors and large picture windows that let in plenty of light and look out onto Liverpool Street.

•    A spacious and pristine 2-bedroom penthouse in City-Islington (LN-289), across from Liverpool Street Station. This apartment comprises a study area, stretches across two separate levels and can comfortably accommodate up to six people.

A stay in a New York Habitat vacation rental near Liverpool Street will let you live London the way you’ve seen it on the silver screen.

Let us know which London films you think should make our Top Five list!

The neighborhood of City in a section of London located centrally with in the confines of the larger city, which is defined by its Middle Ages wall, which was built to protect the city. The City section is not one of the most popular residential areas within the city but is one of the chief areas for tourism and business so finding a well located accommodation within City or near the neighborhood can make London a walk able city.

Central london View

The area of London, City:

The City of London houses the London Stock Exchange, as well as many other banking interested including the Bank of London. There are several high-rise buildings within the City of London including Tower 42, the Swiss Re Tower and Lloyds building, which houses Lloyds of London Insurance. In addition to having many business interests the City of London has the Barbican complex which was built during the 1970’s and 1980’s and housing, multiple performance venues and several restaurants.

Some of the top tourist sites in London are within the City neighborhood of London including The Museum of London which features historical exhibits about the city as well as remnants of the original wall surrounding the City of London, and the Tower of London located along the banks of the Thames River. Also popular in the City section of London are visits to the Bank of London.

Subway service in the area is excellent because of the central location. Almost every line is with in a short walk of the neighborhood and connections to other lines are generally just a few stops away. Service to Paris is available via the Eurostar, which departs from Waterloo station a one-stop trip from City.

The apartments:

Several options are available in and around London City including:

· A modern 1 Bedroom Accommodation in City – Islington (LN-447), located 10 minutes walk from London Bridge Station, providing easy access to North, East, South and West London without having to change lines.

· This bright Studio Furnished Apartment in City – Islington (LN-129) with a very nice roof-top terrace available to residents.
· Or this comfortable City - Islington Studio Apartment (LN-286) near the Liverpool Street tube station

When visiting London consider the City area for its convenience to offices and tourist attraction as well as its easy access to transportation networks. New York Habitat’s London Corporate Housing and Relocation service is the perfect option for finding a specific accommodation in the area.