New York Habitat Blog

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.

We here at New York Habitat have previously told you about some of the great UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the South of France and now we have two more to add to the list.  Earlier this month, UNESCO named about two dozen new entries to their list, including the Fortifications of Vauban, a group of twelve fortified sites along France’s borders, two of which are located in the South of France and near some great New York Habitat accommodations.

Gap South of France alps

Vauban was a famed engineer and architect who worked for Louis XIV, known for both building and improving fortresses and other fortifications on France’s border, as well as developing new way of attacking such buildings.  In total, he worked on over 300 different sites in France, but only 12 have made it onto UNESCO’s list.  The two in the South of France are located in the Alps, along the border between France and Italy.  The larger fortification site can be found in Briançon (also the highest city in Europe!) and includes city walls and numerous smaller forts within them, all available for exploration by the public.  The second site is in Mont-Dauphin, about thirty minutes south of Briançon.  This site has recently undergone restoration and there has been limited residential expansion in the region so the area within the city walls closely resembles life in the seventeenth century. 

New York Habitat has some great offerings near these newly-minted historic landmarks.  You can stay right in Briançon in this two bedroom ski chalet (PR-10) located in the famed Serre Chevalier ski resort.  This rustic cabin, with wood paneling and beamed ceilings, is a great place to stay in summer or winter (and ski season is just a few months away!).  The well-equipped kitchen and bath offer everything one could want.  Enjoy your morning coffee and some spectacular views of the Alps from the large deck.

If you’d prefer to stay in the larger city, the major town of Gap is not far from either Briançon or Mont-Dauphin.  This studio apartment (PR-306) is located right in the center of Gap.  It may be small but it is not lacking in amenities with its modern kitchen and bathroom, and even includes a laundry machine.  This bright and sunny space, thanks to its southern exposure, offers some amazing views, thanks to its sixth floor location (don’t worry, there’s an elevator!) and balcony.

Ski Chalet South of France accommodation (pr-10)

Whether you’re looking for new places to explore in the South of France, or are interested in historical tourism, a trip to see Vauban’s seventeenth century fortifications (with some great accommodations from New York Habitat) is well worth it. 

Read about other UNESCO World Heritage sites featured on our blog: Roam among the Ancient Romans in the South of France!

What do you think about UNESCO’s decision add Vauban’s architecture to their World Heritage list?  What landmarks in the South of France would you like to see added to the list?  Please share your opinions with us in our comments section.

Most visitors to London have the British Museum near the top of their list of things to see—and it certainly is an afternoon well spent. But many overlook the wonderment contained in the nearby Sir John Soane’s Museum, a curio cabinet of a house that holds the architect’s earthly treasures. No need to sacrifice one for the other—a stay in a New York Habitat rental accommodation in Bloomsbury or Fitzrovia will put you in walking distance of both, with time to spare for tea.

London Accommodation 3-bedroom in Fitzrovia LN-328

The area around Bloomsbury is among the loveliest in London, with plenty of public squares and narrow sidestreets down which to wander, as well as an increasing Eastern European influence. But its crowning jewel is the British Museum—especially after renovations that gave it a glass-ceilinged courtyard—so don’t expect to have the galleries all to yourself, especially on those not infrequent rainy afternoons. 

The main floor of the museum is by far the most popular due to the Great Court, the Egyptian/Grecian wings (which house the Rosetta Stone and the Elgin Marbles) and, of course, the gift shop. But the upper floors are where you’ll find anything British in the British Museum, and the Library Galleries are a stunning and overwhelming collection of manuscripts and music, as well as being one of the few quiet spots in the building (Marx even did some of his writing here).      

When, as the song goes, the British Museum has lost its charm, it’s time to head a couple of blocks over to Sir John Soane’s Museum, where the typical townhouse exterior belies the magnitude of what’s inside. The architect used to live here himself, and fashioned a labyrinthine home with convex mirrors to distort space, cut-out courtyards, skylights and narrow walkways crammed with every imaginable kind of sculpture (including his mummified dog) and overlooking—what else?—a sarcophagus of Seti I on the lower level, for which Soane outbid the British Museum.

Visitors are usually as impressed by the layout of the place itself as they are by all of the Hogarth paintings and historical pieces displayed throughout it. The overall effect is something between a videogame setting (where you’re stuck in an abandoned mansion without a map but with plenty of marauding zombies—trust us on this!) and a mad scientist’s laboratory if he collected sculpture as his specimens. Let’s call the style “English eccentric” for short.

London Accommodation: studio in Westminister (LN-386)

For a truly unforgettable experience, go to the Soane Museum during one of the candle-lit evening tours in which you wind your way toward the basement and its centerpiece sarcophagus. But for a truly unforgettable place to stay—minus the mummy—we suggest one of these conveniently located New York Habitat vacation rentals:

• A first-floor 3-bedroom furnished apartment in Westminster-Fitzrovia (LN-328) on a quiet mews near Goodge Street station. This contemporary accommodation has a balcony looking out on communal gardens, floor-to-ceiling windows in the kitchen and living room, and its own parking space.

• A spacious 3-bedroom rental accommodation in Westminster-Fitzrovia (LN-328) on the fifth floor of a modern apartment building, with elevator, that borders pretty Fitzroy Square. 

• For something smaller, we have a furnished studio in Westminster-Bloomsbury (LN-386) on the second floor of an apartment building, near Euston station, that employs a part-time doorman.  

Each of these New York Habitat accommodations will put you in the heart of London, near two of its most eclectic spaces. But the surrounding area is really a work of art in itself. 

What’s your favorite piece in the enormous collections of the British Museum? Have you ever been to Sir John Soane’s Museum or had a run-in with the reputed ghost in the girls’ room? Please let us know by leaving your comments below.

Mention a green oasis in the middle of Manhattan and most New Yorkers immediately think of Central Park. And rightfully so, the park has earned its reputation as the place to go for a bit of grass and space amid the city’s concrete walls and cramped cubicles. Just south of its very big brother is Bryant Park, tucked into an 8 acre lot on 42nd street. The park is buttressed by the Beaux-Art New York Public Library building and surrounded by the awe-inspiring towers of midtown Manhattan.

Bryant park in New York City

More than just an open green space, Bryant Park has a busy schedule of free events planned for the summer. Bryant Park is named after New York poet William Cullen Bryant and has a literary feel to it. Besides sharing its space with the library, the park is home to sculptures of Gertrude Stein, German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and, of course, Bryant. During the summer, students and intellectuals pour out of the library onto the main lawn to tap away on their computers or catch up on a novel—at lunch time the lawn fills with professionals from the nearby office buildings. In keeping with the literary tradition, the park holds outdoor readings with international authors all summer and houses an outdoor reading room for children. Virtually everyday the park has some sort of activity; from morning Tai Chi classes to screenings of live Yankee games at night. Bryant Park also has chess and backgammon tables, a functioning carrousel and a special area for Pétanque, the French game similar to the Italian Bocce. Also on site is the Bryant Park Grill and Café and four ‘Wichcraft sandwich and coffee kiosks. Bryant park is located only a few blocks from Grand Central Station, one of New York’s major transportation arteries and notable buildings.

New York Habitat has always had a love affair with New York’s smaller parks including Fort Tryon Park in Northern Manhattan, and Bryant Park happens to be steps from dozens of New York Habitat accommodations. This modern 1 bedroom apartment in Midtown East (NY-12109) is within 5 blocks of the literary park that could. This 1 bedroom loft apartment rental in Midtown East (NY-12330) sports big windows and a typical New York feel. This studio in Midtown East (NY 4364) may be a bit on the small side, but for a couple or solo traveler there is no better deal in the city.

Do you have a favorte tree to sit under in Bryant Park? Comment below!

At first glance, Canary Wharf may not be what most people associate with London. With the towering, glassy skyscrapers, indoor shopping malls and outdoor seating for the after-work dinner set, this part of the city looks and feels “new”—centuries removed from the usual images of Olde English abbeys and ancestral palaces. Well, New York Habitat would like to welcome you to 21st century London—and to our modern, conveniently equipped rental accommodations in contemporary Tower Hamlets, Canary Wharf.

Canary Wharf towers in London, England

The glittering skyline of this seemingly unbroken-in section of London, however, belies the Docklands’ long history as an important center for trade and shipping, particularly during the period of the British Empire. Its maritime role is hinted at in the names of local streets (Fisherman’s Way and East India Dock Road among them) and pubs still steeped in long-ago lore.

To experience an abridged version of British history for yourself, take the futuristic Docklands Light Railway from the architecturally forward-looking Canary Wharf region a few stops south to the grassy heaths of Mudchute City Farms (on the Isle of Dogs). Two stops later, you’ll see the naval splendor of the Cutty Sark and soak in the maritime atmosphere of Greenwich and the prime meridian.

Venture a few stops northwest of Canary Wharf for the former docking community of Shadwell and its traditional pie and mash shops; Limehouse, an historic neighborhood with a legacy of factory workers and Chinese immigrants (plus The House They Left Behind, Joseph Conrad’s old local); Westferry, which has the Hawksmoor church of St. Anne’s and its sister, St. George, whose clock comes from the same workshop as Big Ben’s; and Wapping, where the incredible, can’t-be-overstated Wapping Project, housed in a former hydraulic power station, exhibits art that vies with the must-be-seen interior.

Sadly, the Docklands are often overlooked by many tourists, which means they’re missing out on a huge part of the city’s history—and all that Canary Wharf and the surrounding areas have to offer today. Save the sixteen pounds for a double-decker bus tour of the usual sights and take the Docklands Light Railway instead. Even without getting out, you’ll get a great view of London’s layers from past to current cutting edge, all for the price of a Zone 2 ticket.

London accommodation 2-bedroom Canary Wharf (LN-379)

If this is your first time in London, Canary Wharf is the perfect spot to stay, uniquely located on the east side, yet only three Tube stops from London Bridge. If you’ve been to London before, this will feel like a fantastic new alternative—though it’s less than 15 minutes from familiar central London on the Underground. In either case, New York Habitat has unbeatable vacation rentals near the water…and what could be better in the summertime?

• An airy 2-bedroom furnished rental in Tower Hamlets, Canary Wharf (LN-379) off lively Westferry Road. This penthouse, with king-size beds and balcony, is part of Canary South, a luxurious new residential development of serviced apartments about a 5-minute walk from the Jubilee and DLR stations.

• A 2-bedroom furnished apartment in Tower Hamlets, Canary Wharf (LN-375) on the third floor of a modern building with elevator. This light and contemporary flat is all on one level, has a 28” flat screen TV, a balcony off the lounge area, and is less than a 3-minute walk from the nearest rail station.

• A spacious 2-bedroom furnished accommodation in Tower Hamlets, Canary Wharf (LN-511) off Millwall Inner Harbour. Situated on the 14th floor of a new development, this apartment has expansive views of the city and is a 3-minute walk from the DLR station.

London accommodation 2-bedroom Canary Wharf (LN-511)

From the area’s prominent past to its present fine dining with waterside views, the Docklands are a sure choice for a summer stay. Let New York Habitat set you up in Canary Wharf—and see a side of London that few know to look for.

If you’ve ever been to this part of east London, share your comments and experiences with us below.

There’s nothing like summer in London. It’s the time for free outdoor events, musical Proms, festivals and theatrical plays in the park. Londoners get a two-month break from umbrellas and all the tourists flock to Oxford Street for—well, no one quite knows why.

Since something is sure to be happening in any part of the city on any given day of the season, let a New York Habitat vacation rental put you where the action is.

Notting Hill London

One such area that teems with activity when the weather turns warm is Notting Hill. If you groaned just now, it means you’re not such a huge fan of romantic comedies. No worries! The real Notting Hill isn’t much like its movie counterpart. It’s diverse, multi-faceted and much more fun, especially in the summertime.

The big draw on weekends, of course, is Portobello Market. Outdoor markets are synonymous with London in the summer and even if crowds and shopping aren’t your scenes, there are three reasons you still have to see it: 1) the sheer size and scope of the thing; 2) the excellent pubs with outdoor gardens that line the way; 3) the farm fresh, £1-a-bag fruit and produce stands clustered at one end (go especially for the ripe peaches and authentic Cockney accents).

The streets surrounding Portobello are particularly good walking routes. Westbourne Grove boasts small boutiques and stately homes; Ladbroke Grove leads to Lisboa for Portuguese pastries and other multiethnic eateries; Kensington Church Street is home to Kandy’s (the best place for afternoon tea), as well as countless antiquarian bookshops, and will take you toward Hyde Park and High Street Kensington.

Late in the season, this same area hosts the Notting Hill carnage—oops, Carnival, a spirited and sprawling Caribbean festival that packs revelers shoulder to shoulder, street after street. It’s a London institution—and a great way to meet the locals—so it should be experienced at least once in your lifetime.

If all you’ve got are sunny afternoons to spend in London, New York Habitat has the perfect places for you to stay. Consider these convenient accommodations:

London Accommodation 2-bedroom Notting Hill (LN-38)

A 2-bedroom furnished vacation rental in Notting Hill, Kensington-Chelsea (LN-342) just off Ladbroke Grove. It’s on the ground floor of a period townhouse and comes with a garden terrace.

A 1-bedroom furnished vacation rental in Notting Hill, Kensington-Chelsea (LN-258) between Westbourne Park Road and Westbourne Grove. This renovated, airy apartment with archways is on the lower ground floor of a building from 1840. A customer who recently stayed here wrote: “I want to thank you for your excellent service.”

A 2-bedroom furnished vacation rental in Notting Hill, Kensington-Chelsea (LN-38) between Ladbroke Grove and Clarendon Road. This apartment is on the third and top floors of a period townhouse walk-up. It has its own private staircase, a balcony off the living room and bedroom windows overlooking a park.
New York may have Sex and the City, but nowhere tops London for Summer in the City!
Next week, New York Habitat will bring you another London “hot” spot for summer fun. In the meantime, if you’ve ever visited—or hoped to visit—Notting Hill, please leave us your comments below.

“Les Rencontes d’Arles” is an international event in the South of France. It is one of the older photography festival and one of the most important in the world.

These events were created in 1969 by photographers and people passionate about photography like Clergue, Lemagny, Rouquette and Dieuzaide who each organized summer several expositions, fairs and nights in the Antique Theater in order to showcase their photography, creations and new concepts in the world of art.

South of France accommodation: 4 bedroom rental in Beaucaire, Avignon Region (PR-821)

This year, expositions will take place from July 8th to September 14th. It is an occasion to discover the vision of art of many different people from around the South of France.

This year (the 39th) marks the return of two famous inhabitants of Arles : the famous designer Christian Lacroix and Maja Hoffmann, the women at the origin of a major project : a foundation of arts and culture in Arles. Christian Lacroix is this year’s artistic director and has invited some of his favorite photographers.

The program includes many exhibitions, awards, arts practices, seminars and night festivities.

Take part in that artistic events where you will find pictures and meet artists that will make you discover a different aspect of photography and the wonderful city of Arles!

Arles is one of the loveliest natural settings in Europe. It is located in the Camargue region that is famous for its landscapes, tradition with bulls and for its Roman and Romanesque heritage.

If you decide to discover the Camargue and the surrounding villages, stay in a 4 bedroom duplex villa rental in Arles (PR-760).

Arles is a cultural crossroad with its well-known music, literature, photography and theatre festivals. New York Habitat has a beautiful 2 bedroom apartment rental in Arles, Camargue (PR-815) that you could also consider.

Arles, South of France

As with many cities in Provence, in Arles the sun shines more than 300 days per year! This gives the region a special light year round. You can enjoy the sun in this 4 bedroom vacation rental in Beaucaire – Avignon region (PR-821) : an authentic southern French Mas.

The Saturday market is typical site in this region: it is one of the most beautiful in Provence but also one of the largest (it is more than 2 kilometers long!). You can find whatever you want: fruits, vegetables, spices, fish, meat, regional products and more. You can also linger with the local population and learn more about the local culture.

A trip the south of France is not complete without a visit to the Arles region and is made even better by enjoying the festivities surrounding the “Les rencontres d’Arles”.

If you have been to the events and want to share your experience please leave a comment below.