Short Version: If you’re looking for a place away from the tourists and craziness of London, but within a reasonable tube ride to the city center, you can’t go wrong with Jessica’s place. If her flat is available, book it.
Long Version: Jessica’s stylish flat is east of the center of London, in a neighborhood of working folks. Nothing touristy here. The pubs, restaurants, groceries and shops all cater to the locals, with very reasonable prices to match. The Canning Town tube station is a 15 minute walk down Barking Road. From there you can catch the Jubilee line or the DLR to wherever you want to go. If you want to skip the walk, multiple buses stop right in front of the building that will take you to the station.
Entry and check-in worked smoothly. There’s a code for the main door, and a lockbox for the keys to the flat.
It’s an amazing flat, decorated in a minimalist Bauhaus style. The listing description doesn’t do the place justice. Jessica’s stay is a studio, but it’s a really large studio, laid out on two levels separated by a wall-to-wall four step staircase. The flat is located in the back (quiet) part of the building. There are distinct areas for cooking, dining, lounging, working and sleeping. There’s a dedicated large desk for getting work done, and a second workstation on the bar adjacent to the kitchen. The entry-way boasts an open closet for hanging jackets and racks for shoes. A couch and chairs surround a coffee table, perfect for snuggling up with a good book. And even though the flat sleeps two, the dining table is large enough for four. With all that, there’s still a whole bunch of open space in the room. One thing to note, there are no closets or bureaus in the flat (other than the entry-way closet). No matter. Jessica supplies a rolling hanging rack and lots of hangers. This setup worked perfectly for us. We unpacked everything onto the rack, and repositioned it wherever we found it most convenient.
The bed was a bit on the hard side, which is our preference. There are four floor to ceiling windows adjacent to the bed. They let in lots of light, and open for fresh air. And, there are very effective shades if you want to sleep in. The bathroom is fully functional, with the added bonus of a large shower head, and a heated mirror (no fogging).
The internet speed was average, topping 24Mbs down and 8Mbs up. It did slow considerably in the evening. A video call at 6pm could become difficult.
The kitchen is fully equipped. Jessica supplies plenty of dishes and flatware, decent cookware, cutting boards and prep tools. There’s even a Nespresso machine and a blender. Under the counter you’ll find a washing machine and a refrigerator. There is no dishwasher, but with two guests, it’s not an issue. Also, the refrigerator doesn’t include a freezer. We found we didn’t need one due to the copious number of markets nearby.
The building entrance is located on a busy street sporting at least one grocery on every block. Fresh produce abounds, along with breads, meats, cheeses, spices and every genre of ethnic ingredient. If you don’t want to cook, you’ll find a wonderful Pie and Mash shop two doors down. Along with pubs there are Italian, Turkish, Vietnamese, Indian, Brazilian… and lots of fish, kebab and pizza places. You won’t starve, and you won’t pay tourist prices.
We stayed in Jessica’s place for a month and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Next time we’re in London, if the flat is available, we’ll stay there again. Recommendations don’t get stronger than that.