I stayed at Ashraf’s for a few days solo so that I could be closer to Brixton. It’s about a 15 minute walk or a 5 minute bus ride from the Airbnb to Brixton Station so I found that very convenient.
The apartment was cute, clean and comfortable. I had a couple of issues during my stay though. Ashraf was traveling during my time at his place so I had difficulty with check in. His neighbor helped with that but I wasn’t provided the correct contact info for the neighbor so I waited outside for close to an hour before I got help from a local with using a hotspot to contact someone from Airbnb for support in reaching Ashraf. I wish he would have been more responsive during this time as I was a solo female traveler and safety is obviously a concern of mine.
Also, the apartment has a smell of cigarettes. If you’re a smoker or if smoking doesn’t bother you, this is def something you can overlook. I am not a smoker so the tinge of cigarette ash I smelled throughout the apt took some getting used to. Thankfully, the bedroom had a door that led to a tiny balcony so I left that door open in the day to air out the place.
As for the bathroom, if you enjoy a warm/hot shower (no matter the duration—5 mins or 15 min), the smoke detector went off every time I showered. It was anxiety provoking as I’d have to run out wet to fan it down with a towel or press the reset button as to not disturb the neighbors. I highly suggest Ashraf check that out for future guests. I know for a fact I didn’t have the water on the hottest temperature but I guess the plus side is that I know if there were ever a fire while there, I’d have been alerted quickly!
The key fob entry into the apartment building tests patience. After you tap it on the sensor pad and it lights green, you have to wait about 7-10 seconds before the door opens up. And you have to be pulling it the whole time b/c it doesn’t automatically open. Coming home late nights made this part frustrating for me as I’d want to get inside quickly and safely.
Outside of these things, staying in that neighborhood was nice. There’s a cute vegan cafe down the road and it was really nice. They also sold herbs and teas. Oh, I’d recommend at least a bottle of water in the mini-fridge for guests. I know it isn’t an all-inclusive hotel but after traveling 9+ hours to get there, I could’ve surely used a sip of bottle water once I finished that arduous check in experience. Big thanks to Ashraf’s neighbor for exceptional service. He answered all my questions and more! If you’re looking for low key, off the main, cozy dwelling with basic amenities, this is the place for you.