I had the opportunity to stay with Mark for a little over 2 weeks when I moved from the US to London. Mark is very funny, easy going and extremely helpful when it comes to giving tips and notes about how to settle down in London. The flat might seem a little further away from the center but is quite well connected in terms of transportation, all kinds of bus/rail/train stops are very close and the area has most things I needed. There is a grocery store right downstairs and lots of cheap restaurants/brewery/coffee on Mare street and Broadway Market, great dining options. The rooms are close to a train track and I could hear some noise, but it's generally decently quiet from 11pm to 7am, so I could get 8 hours of sleep in.