The garden flat is lovely and clean, centrally heated, and well appointed with bathroom amenities (soaps, shampoos, hand cream, shaving cream, lovely towels, hair dryer, spare toothbrushes if you forgot yours, etc).
The flat is bright and sunny (when the sun shines!). There is a delightful garden in back, although it was too chilly for us to use it in March, we'd love to come back in warmer weather to enjoy our breakfast outdoors!
John and Mario provided a wonderful selection of breakfast foods to welcome us, including: milk, cereal, oatmeal, eggs, bread, fruit, coffee, tea and orange juice... so thoughtful! The kitchen has everything you'll need, including a stove, oven/microwave, electric kettle, coffee presses, coffee grinder, fridge, dishwasher (!), lots of bowls, plates, glasses, mugs, pots and pans, cutlery, sharp knives (!) and plenty of gadgets and utensils.
It's about 20 minutes walk to Angel/Islington or Shoreditch/Hoxton restaurants, pubs and cafés (and Angel tube station), or less than 10 minutes walk to Essex Road overground rail station, and restaurants on Essex Road. It's also a short bus ride to Underground stations Moorgate or Highbury/Islington. Very easy to get around London from this location! And an easy walk to the Regent's Canal, for a walk on the tow path (check out the canal restaurants along the quay going east from the flat). We walked to the Geffrye Museum (http://www.geffrye-museum.org.uk), and recommend you check out this interesting London gem, with gardens out back and a lovely cafe and shop.
There is a Coop grocery a few short blocks away, and some corner shops a block away.
We really appreciated having "our own" washer and dryer to run a wash!
The flat and neighborhood are very quiet, not near loud train lines nor rumbling traffic, so you can easily sleep (in) like a baby.
Many thanks to John and Mario for their thoughtfulness and attention to detail, and for their generosity. We'll come back!