As a solo female traveler, I not only want to feel safe, I also want to feel welcome wherever I stay. And my experience with Gareth and Darren was nothing short of either of those things.
Both of them were warm and inviting straight on. They allowed me to make myself at home, whilst respecting that it was theirs. They cleared a shelf for me in the refrigerator, allowed me to use whatever I needed, and made some delicious meals that they were kind enough to share with me. It was as if I'd known them for years.
One thing they wanted to make sure of was that I could experience London in several different ways. They gave me direction on which sites to be sure to check out and where to go to find off beat items. Gareth even offered to help get me tickets to the theatre and various shows that were playing in London, and had I been there longer, I would definitely have taken him up on his offer! As it happened to be my birthday during my trip, Darren went above and beyond by taking me out to the Bar Wotever event with him and introducing me to some of their friends. That night was one of the most fun nights I have ever had; everyone was so friendly and the show was amazing! It was definitely a great way to ring in my birthday. On the day of my actual birthday, they even bought me a bouquet of flowers and some Wild Blueberry preserves that Darren had raved about. This kind gesture was really amazing.
All in all, I could not have asked for better hosts than Gareth and Darren. They are considerate, accommodating, respectful, lovely people, and most importantly, they care. They wanted to make sure my stay was memorable. And it really was :)