It's best to do this in terms of pros and cons (mostly pros).
Pros:
- The flat looks EXACTLY as pictured.
- There were kitchen utensils and crockery etc. provided although I brought my own everything (pan, plate, cutlery) due to COVID-19.
- The wi-fi was solid/very consistent throughout which was great for work.
- Initial communication was good and helpful as the host is a quick responder.
- Instructions were very good, very easy to follow and required no follow-up questions.
- The lockbox instructions were especially very clear and it was easy to open/close and gain access to the building.
- The views were nice and the view at the back was lovely (how the other half live!).
- The rooms were nice in terms of layout and neatness especially the bedroom and the main living space.
- It was a peaceful street in a great location which is the reason why I chose to stay there. It did not disappoint.
- Tesco is just a few doors down as well as Sainsbury's (there is also a really big Sainsbury's in the area) and Holland Park, Notting Hill Gate & Kensington high street are a walk away for shops like Waitrose, M&S, Whole Foods. These are all nice areas to walk around.
I live in the next town in NW London so I know the area well and it remains one of my favourites.
- Great for a staycation (I live in London anyway but needed to be away from my house for a period of time due to building work/COVID-19)
Cons (and I feel bad about saying this because it was mostly great):
- I was very cold for most of my stay. So much so that I spent a lot of time in my fleece and under blankets. Apparently the knobs on the heaters were broken by a previous guest. I took pictures and sent them to Caz as I was worried i'd get the blame since it hadn't been mentioned. She explained the situation and said the engineer would come round. I sent a follow-up text asking when he would be there as I was 'working from home' so I needed to be prepared for it but unfortunately I didn't get a response/there was no further communication and the engineer never showed up. The heating is controlled by a thermostat which would come on for 5-10 minutes every few hours to heat the room then it would go cold again. The boiler was set to max already so it wasn't a boiler issue. I understand the thermostat acts as a sensor but it didn't seem to 'detect' me. When the thermostat did heat up the room, it was lovely. It would have been nice to have had more control over the heating as it's a big part of feeling at home and comfortable. I think an alternative like an electric heater would have been helpful. Please bear in mind that I stayed here in March 2021 (which is cold) so if you're here during summer it won't be an issue for you.
- During the time of Coronavirus it's really important for all surfaces to be wiped down with antibacterial wipes. As it's something that worries me, I wiped down the main surfaces - tables, bedframe etc. (as I would have anywhere I stayed during this time) which came away with dust/dirt suggesting they had not been cleaned for some time which was concerning. It was neat/tidy but not clean. It also looked as if the duvet and sheets hadn't been changed, just tidied, so I slept on top of a blanket under the duvet instead of directly on the sheets. God love that white blanket (provided by Caz). I took it everywhere with me even to sit on the sofa.
Overall, though, I do recommend this as a place to stay especially if you want to see the real London.