I had a fantastic time at Brian's place. I've been to London a few times but this was the first time I understood the charm of living in the city. The apartment's set in the lovely quiet neighborhood of Little Venice, which is generously sprinkled with old buildings and blue plaques - the one for Alan Turing's birthplace isn't too far from the apartment. The Warwick Avenue station is very close, a five mins walk.

I didn't get a chance to meet Brian, but checking in and out was a breeze. I was able to pick up the keys from the local shop when I arrived. I met Charlie, Brian's roommate but had the place to myself for two nights out of three. The pictures do not do justice to what a great apartment this is, and it's tastefully decorated, lots of nice paintings and the books that line the shelves. I would have loved to ask Brian about all the cricket memorabilia and I also spotted a collection of Reader's Digest condensations on one shelf which I used to collect as a kid. There is a beautiful private park that one of the living room windows opens up to, and it's a lovely spot to have tea or just read. The room itself was very clean, the bed was very comfy, the private bathroom was great, and the linens were freshly laundered. There were a few stairs to go up, so packing lightly wouldn’t be a bad idea. It’s a great place to stay in London and to feel like a Londoner. I would highly, highly recommend it, and would love to stay here again.