Location, location, location. If this is your focus, you will enjoy this flat. Two blocks from the Gloucester Road tube station make London accessible. You will enjoy the walk to and from Hyde Park. And there are plenty of shops, restaurants, pubs and local sights in the surrounding blocks.

In addition, our hosts, Nicole and Anthony, were most charming and responsive. They were available at our check in and had good suggestions regarding the immediate area. When we had difficulties (more about this later) they were available and well-intentioned.

However, there were a few shortfalls during our stay which made this flat less than ideal. Despite our booking four months in advance, we learned only a day or two before we arrived that the exterior of the building was undergoing major repairs. Scaffolding covered the front of the building, obscuring any view and compelling us to keep the shutters closed lest we become too friendly with the contractors.

The flat itself is pleasant enough, with a nice entry way, very high ceilings and attractive moldings on the walls and ceilings. However, there are a number of features that might be limiting during your stay:
•There is very little storage for clothing available to guests who are staying for more than a few days. There is a large armoire, with plenty of hanger space. It has only two drawers at the base. We ended up stacking clothes on the armoire floor.
•Despite the profusion of wires in the apartment there are very few outlets.
•The kitchen which has all the basic appliances and furnishings is tiny and barely fits one person. Though there are cabinets, there is limited food storage available to guests.
•The bathroom also is cramped and lacks an electrical outlet; getting into and out of the tub is something of an acrobatic challenge.
•The water heater is small, providing just enough hot water for two quick showers in the morning. Unfortunately we were without any hot water for three mornings of the 10 days were renting. The electrician diagnosed the heater as requiring replacement and the owners indicated their intention to do so.
•Finally, the bed is in a loft at the top of very steep and narrow ladder-like stairs which are tricky to navigate. Headroom at the top is modest.

The flat could be a nice place to stay in London. Our visit was marred by two issues likely to be fixed – the lack of hot water and the building façade work.

However, the cramped and difficult to access bathroom, kitchen and loft are more fundamental, and along with the multiple cords and wiring make this no more than a 3 star rental.