Perfect location just across the Thames from central London just a few steps from the Vauxhall tube station. The blocks around the apartment have a great selection of restaurants and lots of hip straight and gay clubs under the arches of the elevated train tracks and streets nearby.
D sent easy instructions to take the local train from Gatwick to Vauxhall with one change of station which was really easy. We met at a coffee shop at the train/tube station and walked about 3 minutes to the apartment. We were about an hour early - and he was able to meet us within 15 minutes.
The apartment is very secure and everything you need. Great kitchen if you want to cook in, living room with cable TV plus another TV in the bedroom. Large bathroom with lots of hot water!
Plenty of easy to follow instructions for entry, heat settings, recycling and contact for any additional help.
We didm't use the kitchen much - found a breakfast place across the street filled with local workers, the 'no-frills' restaurant for Cyprus-style kebobs & fish and chips (and the wonderful waitress from Colombia who made you feel like part of the family within minutes) and the Indian restaurant with a 'buffet' that was really a sampler of more food than you could ever eat for a very good price on Sundays. We wanted to get to 'Dirty Burger' just to see what it was - but never got around to it... something to check out next time (has to be good, there was always a line!).
There are also 3 supermarkets in the area with good selection of food to take away.
Just across the street is a mini-cab company that we stopped by and found a very good flat rate to take us to London City Airport for the flight home - something to consider if you have luggage since the underground trains are really very very crowded even without luggage.
If you walk through the park outside the building, there are two or three traditional pubs and Vauxhall City Farm if you want to check out the animals. More restaurants on the other side of the train tracks as you walk towards the south bank promenade along the river. Walk about 15-20 minutes to the London Eye and all the touristy stuff... or continue along the river to the South Bank Theaters and on to the Tate Modern.
You can also take the tube two stops (or just walk) to the center of Brixton for their local markets, shopping and Caribbean neighborhood.
We only stayed 3 nights - but would have been very happy here for a week or a month...
So if you want an affordable alternative to central London in a local neighborhood without tourists - this is a great choice for your trip to London! We'll be back!