London is known for big palaces, Big Ben, and even bigger prices. But we have found an affordable way to stay in this world-class city. Our secret: Short-term rentals. If you are ready to ditch over-priced hotels and live like a local, read on to learn what it’s like to stay in an Airbnb in London.
What exactly is Airbnb?
Airbnb is a an online marketplace that connects people looking for accommodations with people who want to rent out their entire property or just a room for a short amount of time. This concept, which was started by Airbnb in 2008, has become known as “short-term rentals” and is wildly popular for travelers looking to save money on accommodations.
Are there limits to how long I can book?
There are limits, just as you’d find in a hotel, but there is also great flexibility. Depending on the property, rentals are available for one day up to a few months.
Cost to stay in a London Airbnb
Like any rental, costs vary and are dependent on location and amenities. The closer you get to the coveted tourist section of a city, the more you pay. If you want to enjoy maximum savings, stay just outside the city centers. Accommodation prices are lower, but that’s just the start. Because you’ve moved out of the touristy areas into a neighborhood, you’re likely to find bigger grocery stores (with better prices), more authentic restaurants, and best of all, the opportunity to live like a local.
Our Airbnb in Muswell Hill
For our first London Airbnb stay, we chose a studio apartment in Muswell Hill for 33 days. The cost was $1,579.33, which comes out to $47.85/night. You read that right. For less than $50 a night, we stayed in London at the height of tourist season.
Muswell Hill is a suburban, tree-lined neighborhood about seven miles outside of Central London. Its High Street (what Americans call Main Street) has a variety of standard grocery stores plus an organic market, restaurants, and pubs. It is famous as the birthplace of the Davies brothers, who went on to form the rock band The Kinks. Actor Peter Seller also owned a home here.
Our 215 sq. ft. studio apartment— a converted attached one-car garage— had everything we needed: a double bed, bathroom with shower stocked with towels, kitchenette with dishes, glasses, cutlery, a few basic kitchen gadgets (can opener, knives) sink, mini fridge, hob (two-burner stove), and a microwave/toaster oven combo. The toaster oven was a bonus because ovens are not common in Europe. Kitchens are a huge reason we prefer short-term rentals over hotels: We eat most of our meals at home and save more money!
Because it was a studio, it did not have a sofa, but it did have a table with two chairs that served by turns as both our dining area and computer station. There was a third chair in front of the bed.
The check-in process
We were greeted by the homeowner. She showed us around, explained how to use the microwave/toaster oven (never saw that combo before!), and gave us directions to the bus stop and High Street.
Public transportation is the primary way we get around when traveling, so easy accessibility to subways and buses is a must for us. To get to London from this location, we walked a few blocks to a bus station. We rode the bus for 15 minutes to the Tube station and were in London in about 25 minutes. In total, from front door to our destination in the heart of London, it took about 45 minutes. This is a lot of time if you have just a couple days to see the sights, but if you’re a Slow Stroll Traveler, it is a rich opportunity to to soak in the local experience.
No money is exchanged with the host. All payments are made through Airbnb.
Pros of this London Airbnb
The rental cost and easy access to London via public transportation were the two biggest pros.
Standard and natural grocery stores nearby.
The rental was in a safe neighborhood.
Cons of this London Airbnb
This apartment did not have a washing machine, so we washed some items by hand (oh, the glamorous life of a travel blogger) and took the rest to a laundromat on High Street. Carrying our laundry on public transportation wasn’t our favorite thing to do.
It also didn’t include a TV and it’s always fun to watch television programs in another country. Bonus if the shows are in English.
No air conditioning. London is known for its cold, damp weather, so of course air conditioning is not the norm, but we were visiting during an unprecedented heat wave. The homeowner did bring us a fan, which helped tremendously. Don’t be afraid to ask your host for an item that would make your stay more enjoyable. You have the opportunity to rate your host after your stay and we have found that they are eager to earn your good ratings.
The biggest con was spotty WIFI, the only time we encountered that problem during our 12 months abroad.
You may also enjoy reading …
How to travel to Europe on a budget here, or Shopping in a Paris food market here.
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