While we have traveled some and stayed in private homes managed by local agencies, this was the first time we used airbnb...and could not have been more delighted with the outcome. We started out with a sense of the areas we wanted to stay in but somehow our search expanded north and we just happened upon Hugh's listing. The pictures were lovely and drew us in completely...the garden shots actually don't do the garden justice but they were what clinched the deal for us (surprisingly, because we didn't spend one minute in the garden after all...a great disappointment to us but our week was filled to the brim of sightseeing).

We took the Picadilly train from Heathrow to Kings Cross, which took maybe 40 minutes? Simple walk from the station to the front door. Hugh met us when we arrived and showed us around the house (never had that happen before, that was lovely). Living space above, sleeping and toilet below. Kitchen was ready for cooking and a market just down the block could have had us sorted immediately but we opted to sample every restaurant in London instead. Living space was extremely comfortable.

The bed was AMAZINGLY comfortable and Hugh went out of his way to make space for us to unpack and settle in. The bath was surprisingly spacious, hot water on demand, and since I'm 6'3", I finally found a tub that fit me. That said, while it was fun the first couple of times to take a bath (something Americans do as a luxury rather than a form of personal hygiene), I was wishing for a shower by mid-week. But we knew the bath lacked a shower before we went, so we were prepared.

As far as the neighborhood goes, very cute old textile mills converted to lovely homes. On the north end of the street a fun little gay bar and at the southern end of the street SEVERAL pubs. We were worried about staying so far away from all the places we wanted to visit but we immediately found getting around London was probably as easy if not easier from Kings Cross than almost anywhere else. And in fact, had we not been staying at Hugh's, we probably would never have learned of, or ventured to, the British Library (just on the other side of Kings Cross St Pancras) which had the most amazing exhibit for the celebration of 800 years of Magna Carta.

All in all, Hugh's place was amazing and offered us a FANTASTIC memory for our first trip to London. If/when we get back to London, we hope his place will be free again.