Location: If you're in London to see the historic sights and museums, staying with Phyllis will save you time and money. Trafalgar Square, The National Portrait Gallery, Parliament, Buckingham Palace, Westiminster Abbey, Picadilly Circus, Leicester Square, The West End Theatres (along with many fabulous restaurants and pubs), Covent Garden, and St. Martin's in the Fields, are all within walking distance. (From 5 to 20 minutes depending on the venue.) so you'll save on transportation costs.
When you're ready to venture further, Charing Cross Station (which houses an Underground stop plus trains that will take you outside of the city) is around the corner (a 5 min. walk at most). Another couple of Underground lines can be accessed at the Embankment stop which is also a 5 min walk from Phyllis' home in the opposite direction of Charing Cross Station. The Thames is a block away (5 min.) where there is access to several boat tours and a bridge that takes you to the South Bank.
The Apartment: While being in the midst of all the action, Phyllis' apartment is extremely quiet and peaceful. It's located away from the main street, on a high floor, so it gets a lot of light but none of the city noise. (There is an elevator). If you rent the bedroom, the bed is a King which is often difficult to find when renting in Europe and there's plenty of storage space so you can completely unpack your cases and have convenient access to your belongings. The apartment is clean and nicely decorated. One of my favorite memories is sitting in the living room sipping my morning coffee while gazing out of the French doors to the terrace and the seeing the spire of St. Martins and the surrounding rooftops. Peaceful and lovely.
Phyllis: I have found a new friend! Phyllis is a warm, open, loving person who's excited about life and all it has to offer. We would look forward to coming home at night and sharing our experiences with her and we were often disappointed when she wasn't there. She is thoughtful and generous. When I told her how much I enjoyed getting up early and doing yoga in her living room, she showed me where she keeps, her yoga mat and told me to help myself. She makes you feel like family or better yet, a dear friend. For those of you who don't want to interact with your host very much, Phyllis has a very active life and isn't always in the apartment. When she is, however, you're getting an added bonus! If you want your privacy, she's very respectful of that but I recommend getting to know her. You will definitely learn something new about the world or maybe even yourself.