London Hotel Tips by Manyana

Goswell Residence is an independent students dormitory, self-catering and close to many attractions. I lived here for nearly 3 months. I used to walk 5 days a week from here to Russell Square where my school is. It takes around 30 minutes walking.
Generally speaking, I really enjoyed my stay in this residence. I made lots of friends who are from everywhere. I just loved it.

Pros:
- Located in a quiet area, so you can study in peace
- Luandry machines are located in the basement and very affordable and easy to use.
- 10 min away from supermarket (Sainsbury's) and pubs and clubs.
- 30 min walking to British Museum and Russell Square.
- 20 min walking to King's Cross tube station.
- There are two small parks within walking distance, one right at the opposite side of the Goswell Road and the other is 5 min away.

Cons:
- Location itself is too quiet that it may sound dull and boring in evenings. If you walk alone, it might be unsafe since this area is known for drunk people to go around, though I have never seen any.
- Low level of security. There is CCTV in the building and at the main gate but that is all are undersupervised really. My bike got stolen under their nose and the security guard was just away or asleep.
- Prices vary and are not fixed. It depends if you book directly through Goswell Management or a travel agency. I recommend you book through Goswell Management, they are open for bargain as well. Just go to the residence directly.
- Rooms are small but fine to stay and study in.
- Central heating is really poor though each room is provided with an electric heater (radiator) but it is really bad and the building is generally very cold to walk around.

Price:
115-160 pounds per person/week (It depends if you are good at bargaining when you book via Goswell Management directly). This price covers all utilities but not the internet connection.

Most residents are students. But you can stay there in summer or so if you are a traveler as well. This is the advantage of being an independent residence.

Unique Qualities: - Laundary coin-operated machines
- CCTV
- All rooms are single with bathroom
- Two kitchens per floor, one kichen per 10 rooms (approximately), utensils and plates are provided.
- Weekly rooms clean up and bed linens are weekly changed upon request
- Internet access at each room at 15 pounds/month
- you can have an overnight guests free of charge unlike many dorms.

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Theme: Hostel
Comparison: more expensive than average

Phone: (44) 020 7549 9350
Address: Goswell Residence, 153-157 Goswell Road, EC1V 7ET, London, UK
Directions: Walk: from King's Cross tube station, walk towards Angel station, Pentonville Road, then take the right street branch i.e. Goswell Rd. Walk for 10 min and arrive at Goswell Residence
Bus: 4, 56, 43.
Tube: Northern Line (Angel station)
Website: http://www.premisys.net/goswell/home.htm
Other Contact: goswellroad@btconnect.com

I have lived here for nearly six months. It was within a walking distance to my college, so I could wake up anytime I want, forget to brush my teeth, and so to go to school,lol.

Kensington is considered to be a high-class residential and shopping area.This area is classified under 'the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea'. If you want to show off, just say you live in Kensington...something i used to hide and still do,lol.

This accommodation is totally self-catering, single flat. You got to set up all the amenities and services yourself.

Pros:
- Good central heating
- Hot water is always available for washing and shower
- Walking distance to Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park, restaurants and shops.

Cons:
- 4 floors with NO elevator. Be ready to have someone help you to get your heavy luggage upstairs, and have light luggage. No concierge as well.
- Not easy to make friends, probably because it is a high-class area OR it is a single-flat residence, no shared activities going on.
- the fire alarm often does not work properly. Many times it had given flase alarm, so disturbing.

Price:
It varies depending on which floor you choose. The upper you go, the cheaper it gets. The price range is 195-300 pounds/week inclusive of water and central heating only. Sometimes it varies what it's inclusive.

Unique Qualities: - One bed is provided, but you have to get your pillows, bed sheets...etc
- fitted-in kitchen, but you have to get your utensils
- washing machine and dryer
- bathroom
- wooden floor
- fridge, stove and oven
- general maintenance is provided for the building and the rubbish only. There is a rubbish room in the basement where it is collect once a week.
- Walking distance to Kensington High Street with all its fancy shops, as well as to Notting Hill with all its multi-cultural atmosphere and Portabello Road
- Walking distance to cinemas, pubs, clubs and restaurants and gyms.
- minimum stay: 6 months
- refundable deposit: 6 weeks
- holding deposit: 400 pounds, non-refundable
- admission fees: 65 pounds, non-refundable

Note: prices generally increase every year

Contact KF Properties for further information. This agency is the owner of this accommodation.

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Theme: Other
Comparison: most expensive

Address: 8 Vicarage Gate, Kensington, London
Directions: Walk: from Notting Hill OR High Street Kensington station, walk to Kensington Church street, arrive at Vicarage Gate
Bus: 27, 28, 328, 52, 10, 9
Tube: - District Line, Cicle Line (High Street Kensington station)
- Central Line (Notting Hill Gate station)
Website: www.kfproperties.co.uk

This hotel was the gate to salvation for me. My sister just showed up all of a sudden to find her sharing with me my holy mansion 'tiny room'! She was picky about sharing bathrooms with my other housemates and stuff. So i did a quick search for budget hotels that she could afford. Luckily we came across this hotel at a very reasonable price, especially for students who want to roam around London for a week or so.

It's much cheaper to book online. You'll be asked to be a deposit, usually less than 10% of the actual rate. Then you can pay the rest when you arrive. When you arrive, ring the bell, which i find it very traditional in every little hotel i've been too (ie 3 hotels,lol). the receptionist will release it for you. The entrance is secured with some sort of technology, apparently,lol.

The room is really good, tidy and clean. Housekeepers clean it up everyday if you like. The bathroom was small but ok, no tub though. The ventilation was a bit noisy, so make sure to turn off the toilet light, otherwise, no zzzzz.

Breakfast served every morning from 7:30 to 9 sharp! as the waitress would not allow you to eat. I'm not joking! when i came to have some cereals at 8:50, she just came to me and said, 'we're closing at 9'. so i said, 'can't i have anything?' and she just said, 'no'! of course i was late but i didn't know about the schedule...i deserve it anyway.

Our room costs, via online booking £60 for two persons per night inclusive of breakfast. It will cost up to £100 when you pay in cash upon arrival. So always book online.

It was a relief really!

Well, thanks to my sister who just pushed to get to know such a thing;)

Unique Qualities: -Located in the heart of London -Victoria- and very close to Central London by tube or bus.
- Close to all amenities, Sainbury's supermarket and Victoria restaurants
- Located in a series-of-hotel area, rarely vacant and very busy for budget travellers and over-night passbyers!
-Private bathroom for double room (it depends, in some cases, like triple rooms, you gotta share a bathroom which is located in between storeys, with other 4 people or so)
-TV
-Breakfast includes, cereals, toast, cheese, boiled egg per person and jam...more than enough for students and backpackers;)
- Daily housekeeping
- No phone in room
- No concierge obviously
- It accommodates 45 persons (single, double, twin, triple room + private, shared bathroom)
- Check in: 10:00, Check out: 12:00
- Student discount availabe upon a proof of student ID, any form accepted with a valid date and photo.

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Theme: Bed and Breakfast
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$20-40  » Currency Converter
Address: 31 Charlwood Street, Victoria, SW1V 2DU
Directions: From Victoria Tube Station, head south.
Take the bus 24 toward Pimlico.
Two bus stops, then press the button to get off.
From the bus stop, cross the road to the opposit side.
You'll see Sidney Hotel, turn right
Romanos is the second on your right.
Website: www.travelstay.com

The cheapest way to stay in London for a long period is to share a house with a landlord. Many britons let their houses to students and overseas visitors. Sometimes they live in the premises, others let it fully to tenants.

If the landlord lives in the premise, you gotta check several things before you sign a contract.
First, ask if the rent is inclusive of bills, ie, water, gas, council tax, electricity, broadband.
Second, check the heating system, if there's any leak, fire/smoke/robbery alarms
Third, rent is usually calculated per week, so 4 weeks does not mean 1 month. If you're asked to pay monthly, then you must be aware to pay for 30/31 days. This can be done like this...multiply the weekly rent by 12 months, then divide the yearly cost by 12 months again, this will equal your monthly rental. Usually minimum stay is 3 , 6, or 12 months.
Fourth, some landlords require holding deposit and damage deposit. The holding deposit is either to cover the days you're holding the room, or to hold the room while it's also included in the first month rent. The damage deposit is refundable and it comprises 4-6 weeks of the weekly rental, depending on how long you want to stay. For example, if the weekly rent is £100, then you'll pay £400/£600 as a damage deposit which you can receive back after you finish your rental period. Note some landlords usually deduct one week rent for general maintenance. Make sure that's mentioned in the contract, so sign.

Unique Qualities: Con'd...
Fifth, ask about the house rules, if overnight guests are allowed, if so any additional costs involved, if somking, drinking, playing musical instruments allowed...etc, if you can bring a TV as some ask you to pay your own TV licence which may cost up to £126 per year. So your landlord must have one already and you shouldn't pay for it.
Sixths, some landlords put some conditions that the tenant must be vegetarian, kosher/halal observant. So do ask about this too.
Seventh, some landlords have big families live in the premise, like 3 children or 2 teenagers. If you don't like this or do accept it, just make it clear and ask.
Eigth, some families serve meals, 1 or 2 included in the rent but usually not.
Ninth, single room, single occupant, shared bathroom and kitchen, usually costs, inclusive of all bills, around £65-£150 depending on the area, NOT more than that. Try to bargain as some are open to bargaining. The cheapest rate can be found in zone 1, 2 but not in nice areas, but you gotta look for them. The most expensive are scattered across London, they're the expensive ones. Usually you can apply for this kind of accommodation from websites where the landlords directly advertise for their property, or through a real estate agency who usually charge an admission fee ranging from £65-£100.
Tenth, you see I'm trying to make a list of the Ten Commandment here,lol

Pros:
- Affordable and cheapest rate in London
- Can save transportation costs if living in zone 1, 2
- Have a sense of Londoners'/Britons' lifestyle
- Can make good friends

Cons:
- No privacy
- Very small, over economic!
- Not luxurious

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Theme: Other
Comparison: least expensive

Address: Anywhere in London
Directions: Try gumtree the below website. It's the most popular website for direct advertisements by landlords.
Website: www.gumtree.com

this summer, a close friend has seduced me to stay with her at this place; the location is within a walking distance from best of london's attractions. it is the STRAND for goodness sake. three minute and you will be in trafalgar square and the national art gallery, 5 minutes to covent garden, 10 minutes to soho and leicester square and piccadilly cirucs, and you can even take the bus no. 11 to the gorgeous Tower Bridge in a 10-minute ride. what else are you looking for? and how can i say no to such seduction?

the lobby is small and standard, don't have expectations if you're looking for a luxurious reception. but basically you can find all the basic services available.

the room we've got was standard, not fancy but cosy and should do it, though my friend didn't like it much (she had no clue where she was staying, and she'll kill me when she reads this,lol). i'd rate as a 3-star though the hotel can offer 5-star accommodation as well, inclusive of breakfast buffet

rate: £70-£200 inc breakfast

you'd never find something at £70 in the heart of central london!

Unique Qualities: superb location

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$120-180  » Currency Converter
Address: 372 Strand, London WC2R
Directions: Nearest tube station: Charing Cross (Northern Line)
Buses: plenty; 9, 24, 176, 88, 11, 15...