I stayed at Etsh’s place for a little less than 3 weeks and since during most of that time I was self-isolating and working from home, I spent a lot of time at the flat. It’s a really comfortable and luminous space, with a bedroom and a separate kitchen-living room, and a renovated bathroom (I particularly liked that). The furniture and kitchenware are a bit aged, but otherwise perfectly usable and they all served their purpose. I found the bed particularly comfortable, not only to sleep but also to do some reading, as the window is right above it and, being on the top floor, it gets plenty of light during the day.
There was an issue with the heating and hot water on my first day, but Etsh solved it in less than 24 hours and afterwards, everything worked perfectly and the flat was always warm (something to welcome in London during the winter).
Both the WiFi and the tv worked perfectly, and I had no issue with them during my whole stay.
The location is fantastic: it’s a five-minute walk to Hyde Park, 15-minute walk to either Kensington High Street or Marble Arch, and a 20 minute-walk from Notting Hill and Portobello Market. It also has three tube stations within walking distance (Queensway and Bayswater are really close, and Lancaster Gate is a bit further away but still close), and a good selection of supermarkets and stores nearby (there’s a small corner store in the same street, and Tesco’s, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose a few streets away). The neighbourhood is centric, quiet and nice.
A few tips for incoming visitors:
-the fire alarm is quite sensitive (as they usually are in London), so remember to crack the window open if you’re frying things.
-hot water pressure works perfectly but since the flat is on the top floor, sometimes you have to let the water run for a couple of minutes for it to turn completely hot.
-The flat is on the top floor of the building and there’s no lift, so beware of the stairs (poor Etsh offered to carry my big suitcase upstairs, I still feel bad for his back).
Finally, I’d like to say that Etsh is a great host! He’s kind, attentive, helpful, efficient, and really nice. He makes sure you’re enjoying your stay and you can count on him to help or solve any issue you might have. Being on my own, I felt really safe knowing he was one phone call or message away. Thanks for everything, Etsh!