Lancaster

Cherry trees in bloom outside our London vacation rental
The street where the Lancaster apartment rental is located is considered one of the prettiest in London, especially when the cherry trees are in blossom.

Entry to our first floor Lancaster apartment in London
Our Lancaster London apartment is on the first floor (second floor American) of a pretty white stucco Victorian building. There is no elevator, but it is a short walk up the steps from the lobby. Enter the apartment to the best floor of any Victorian building, the one with the highest ceilings and balcony.

As you step inside, you'll find the bedroom immediately on the left with bathroom beyond. There is a row of storage cupboards on the right side of the corridor. The room opens up to the living room, dining area and kitchen beyond.

The living room is very sunny and comfortable
The living room is stunning and filled with light, thanks to the two full length windows at the front. Slide open and step onto the white stucco balcony on summer days, enjoying the quiet, cherry tree-lined street. There is a folding wooden table and 2 chairs stored in the entryway for those warm days. Facing east, the apartment has plenty of sun in the morning.

Living room with TV, DVD player, stereo and free internet
The pale red sofa is the best of English upholstery as pure feather filled cushions mean you sink in and relax when you are home. The accent color is a soft teal, with an armchair and upholstered bench create a relaxing living room when you are home.

The large screen Sony TV, DVD player and stereo mean you can watch TV or simply enjoy tea and classical music from the wide selection of music CD's in the apartment.

There is a small desk next to the sofa, with fax machine and a sliding shelf so you can work at your computer while you are there. There is a free high speed ADSL computer line.

The large cupboards in the entryway and woodwork in the living room are painted in pale teal to match the kitchen cupboards, creating a soothing and harmonious feel for guests. There are plenty of books, meaning you can curl up and relax in comfort on slower days.

Beautiful artwork and sumptuous furnishings
Our friend, the owner, is an art collector with exquisite taste in colors. The paintings which fill the apartment are beautiful and compliment the comfortable, sumptuous furnishings. You'll also find lots of books to enjoy throughout your stay.

Dining table sits between two windows which open to balcony
The maple dining table in the living room has a rich finish and matches the parquet floors of the kitchen. The table sits between the two windows and expands to seat up to 4, so you can invite friends over for dinner.

Kitchen has plenty of work space to prepare a gourmet meal
The spacious kitchen is painted in tones of pale teal with long worktops, loads of cupboard space and every accessory and appliances needed for cooking a gourmet meal: microwave, convection oven, toaster, coffee pot, tea kettle, dishwasher, under-the counter refrigerator-freezer and beautiful pottery.

Full array of dishes for you to set a romantic table for two
There's plenty of workspace in the kitchen along with washer/dryer combination, under-the-counter refrigerator/freezer and all the appliances you need for cooking.

Master bedroom with queen bed and plenty of storage
The master bedroom is decorated in creams and pale lavenders. The room has a large window facing the back garden, which means it is extremely quiet. The queen bed is high quality and brand new. On the right, there is plenty of cupboard space for storage.

Ensuite bathroom with bathtub-shower, toilet and sink
Adjoining the bedroom, find the bathroom, tiled in pale blue and natural colored tiles from Spain. The bathroom has a relaxing tub with shower, toilet and sink; it is newly remodeled and very pretty.

Pretty view of neighboring gardens from the bedroom window
The view from the large bedroom window is of the neighboring gardens.

Rent a row bat or paddle boat on The Serpentine
On sunny days, picnic in Kensington Gardens, rent a row boat or paddle boat on The Serpentine. It's wonderful to be so close to one of the largest City Parks in the world - Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park.

Visit Kensington Palace, the former home of Princess Diana
Visit the beautiful Kensington Palace, where Diana and Princess Margaret lived. We enjoy the tour of the State Apartments, showing period clothing from Victorian times.

Apartment is a short walk from two underground stations
The Lancaster vacation apartment in London is a short walk from two underground stations: Notting Hill Gate (Central Line) and High Street Kensington (District & Circle line).

World-class shopping on High Street Kensington
For world-class shopping, walk five minutes from The Lancaster apartment to the chic stores on High Street Kensington. Or, hop on the tube or bus for a short ride to Harrods in Knightsbridge and to the designer boutiques of Sloane Street.

Delicious pastries from one of Kensington's best bakeries
Be tempted with mouth-watering quiches, cakes, pastries and breads at the fabulous Clarke's restaurant and bakery. It's one of the most popular bakeries and restaurants in Kensington!

The famous Peter Pan statue in Kensington Gardens
Kensington Gardens is a few blocks away where you can visit the Palace where Diana lived. This is one of the largest parks in the center of any City, delightful to picnic in on sunny days.

Walk or catch the bus to three of London's best museums
Walk or take the bus to the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Natural History Museum, and the Science Museum. Be sure to also visit the Royal Geographic Society, showcasing famous Victorian explorers such as Livingstone, who set out to explore Africa.

Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace
One of the biggest tourist attractions in London, the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham is held daily at 11:30am from April to July and every second day from August to April. Times and schedules may vary depending on other ceremonial events and the weather, visit www.changing-the-guard.com for more information. Aim to arrive at least fifteen minutes early to grab a good vantage point.

The quickest way to get to Buckingham palace from The Lancaster apartment, is to walk 5 minutes to Kensington Road and then take a red bus to Hyde Park Corner. Alternatively, you can jump on the London underground and take a train from High Street Kensington to Hyde Park Corner station.

Inside the grounds of Buckingham Palace
During August to September, the gardens and State Rooms are open to visitors for eight weeks. Purchase your tickets from the visitor's entrance on Buckingham Palace Road and grab your free audio tour to guide you through the the nineteen State Rooms. For more information on dates, ticket prices and special exhibitions, please visit www.royalcollection.org.uk

From Buckingham Palace, you can easily walk to some of London's best attractions including the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Piccadilly Circus, St James' Palace, 10 Downing Street, The Thames and Trafalgar Square.