Niamh is a very passionate host and quick to respond to any messages or requests we had during our stay. The location of the apartment was close to Leyton station which is ideally situated on the Central Line so it was easy to get into the centre of town or to Stratford which was full of great places to eat and shop. Leyton is an up-and-coming area of London and from what we could see there were a mixture of family homes and rental properties but it did have a community feel and people said hello to you as you walked up the street which is unusual for London. There is a big cultural mix in the area - a lot of Arabs, Africans and East Europeans and lots of ethnic shops. There is a general store and pharmacy next door and a pub at the end of the road and a huge TK Maxx opposite the Tube station. I had quite a lot of communication with Niamh before our stay and she made us aware of the maintenance issues that one of the reviewers had highlighted and was concerned that we would be happy in her apartment. I’ve stayed in quite a lot of budget accommodation before and made it clear we knew we weren’t staying in the Ritz and that it was her home but we were grateful to know what to expect. There was a little bit of noise from the neighbours talking and children laughing but it was hot and they were usually inside by midnight so it wasn’t really a big issue. We were so tired from exploring London, we fell asleep quickly and if it had bothered me, I’d have just bought some earplugs. I’ve previously stayed in a hotel in the heart of Central London which was noisier with traffic going past all night long so this was much quieter and manageable. For a whole apartment just twenty minutes from the middle of Central London on the tube, it offered good value. When we asked a question or made a request, Niamh came and sorted it out as soon as she could on the same day. We were in touch with her by text and phone during our stay and her responses were always very prompt. Niamh had left us a few essentials which was unexpected and nice. We didn’t cook in the apartment though as we ate cheaply and well at the upstairs Food Court in Westfield most days on our way back. We settled in very quickly to the flat and got straight to getting to know Bill and Millie who are very sweet cats. They have their own little catio where they spend a lot of time but equally were both extremely friendly and easy to look after. Millie enjoys a brush and runs to you when you pick the brush up. It was nice to come back to the apartment and spend time with them both after a day...