Be it a single traveller, corporate traveller or a group of travellers, each one is very particular when it comes to finding London accommodation. One desires to find an affordable accommodation that provides basic facilities and proper connectivity to major tourist places. If you are travelling to London, you can check out London serviced apartments. They are perfect for everyone.

To begin with, London Serviced Apartments provide good London accommodation option for corporate travellers. They can get London serviced apartments at some of the best locations in London, such as Chelsea, Kensington, Mayfair, Knightsbridge, Hyde Park Notting Hill and various other locations. Renting London serviced apartments at these locations will allow corporate travellers the convenience of underground transport and easy connectivity to their office or work place. Also, most London apartments at these locations have shops and restaurants close to them.

The serviced Apartments In London are well equipped with a kitchen, a living room, a bed room and bath room. One can get all the basic kitchen equipment like refrigerator, oven and washer to cook and enjoy the food of his/her choice. They also provide linens, towels, hairdryer, safe and various other equipment of daily use. Apartments in London have other adequate provisions like internet connection, fax machine, cable TV and answer phone to ensure a comfortable stay for the professional people.

Some of the London serviced apartments also provide modern facilities like 24 hour security, CCTVs and parking arrangements. The best thing about these London apartments is that they offer affordable London vacation rentals.

Even families and couples who are on holiday can rent London serviced apartments. They can look for one room serviced apartments or two-three room serviced apartments depending on their accommodation needs. London Flats are like a home away from home. While one can enjoy all the facilities similar to London hotels, at the same time there is complete privacy and freedom to do what one wants. London flats are perfect for those who want to spend their holidays in a very relaxed manner. They can eat, sleep or listen to their favorite music without any worries. Such a lifestyle is not possible in London hotels. One needs to follow a proper code of conduct there.  

So, all those who want to rent London serviced apartments, visit
londonchoice.com This website offers some of the best London flats at very competitive rates.

Environmentally responsible business practice is now an ingrained part of corporate office life across the UK. Office recycling, energy-saving measures and supply chain monitoring are all part of this process as is, increasingly, the issue of green commuting – encouraging the workforce to travel to and from the workplace in as eco-friendly a way as possible.
Many of the larger corporates have the resource and infrastructure to set out incentive schemes and work up green transport strategies for their employees. For example, back in 2005, Pfizer earmarked more than £800,000 a year to encourage its 1000 employees at its Walton Oaks site to opt for a green commute. When planning permission was granted for the site in Tadworth, Surrey, the company agreed to a transport plan setting out stringent green transport goals, including single occupancy vehicle, public transport and car-sharing targets.
But for those businesses at the other end of the spectrum, whose resources won’t stretch that far, the notion of trying to manage a sustainable strategy over an activity that takes place beyond the office boundaries can often be a bridge too far.

Solutions in the serviced officer sector
Recently, however, this has begun to change, as some of the UK’s top-end serviced office providers are turning their attention to the issue. By adopting eco-friendly office procedures and providing an infrastructure which allows for a greener approach to running a business, the serviced office provider enables its occupiers to automatically slot into an existing sustainable culture, rather than having to start their own from scratch. And as part of this, provision for adopting a green commuting strategy is part and parcel.

For example, to support the growing trend of cycling to work, Argyll business centres, a leading operator of executive office suites around London’s West End and City, provides “spa-standard” showers, body products and towels for their occupiers, as well as parking for bicycles.

Green cars -104 g/km carbon output vs 243g/km for a traditional London taxi
It has also formed a relationship with Climatecars, the ultimate eco-friendly car service (for when a bicycle really can’t do the job), which runs a fleet of Toyota Priuses all using state-of-the-art hybrid technology for maximum fuel efficiency and minimum carbon output. Run in the same way as a taxi service, each Climatecar is fitted with a bicycle rack (for those moments when the bicycle needs transporting, too), while inside the car, the client can enjoy a range of Condé Nast magazines for reading material, and a bottle of Belu Mineral Water, from the first water company that does not contribute to climate change.

Where there’s a will, there’s a way
Speaking about the demand for environmentally-friendly services, Emily Taylor, Marketing Director of Argyll business centres said, “we have seen an increase in demand for cycle parking and our high quality shower facilities as more and more Londoners take to their bikes.”

British Commuters

• 25 million people commute to and from work in the UK
• Nationally, just 14% of commuters travel to work by bus or train
• Nationally, 11% of commuters walk
• London has the second highest percentage of commuters who cycle to work – at 5% (behind Yorks & Humber with 6%), and the lowest use of the car
• London commuters face the highest average daily commute in the UK, of 86 minutes (DfT Regional Transport Statistics: 2006)

So, while there is still some way to go in achieving a truly green commuting model, it seems now that the will is there: according to a recent Prudential Car Insurance survey, while 57% of drivers see car use as a necessary evil, 20% of urban drivers experience what they term as “green guilt”. At the same time, a recent Barclaycard survey showed that the proportion of us driving to work fell from 92% in 2003/4 to 75% in 2005. It is therefore up to everyone in business – whether occupiers or office providers, to work together to tackle this significant issue – and the executive serviced office providers propose to be at the vanguard of it.

For corporate employees in London on project assignments, serviced apartments offer the best of both worlds. You will benefit from spacious accommodation, as well as having a separate fully equipped kitchen where you can prepare your own meals and a bathroom. Even in a studio apartment, you will have ample space to work and entertain friends or clients and well as broadband internet access. Serviced apartments offer you the chance to enjoy the services you would expect from a hotel whilst enjoying the privacy and freedom offered by having your own apartment, your own home from home in London.

In central locations, most service apartments are just a stone’s throw away from London Underground stations and a host of restaurants, bars and the nightlife of the city.

At the Citadines just off London’s famous Trafalgar Square there is a large breakfast area next to the foyer where you can enjoy coffee and croissants in the morning. Embankment and Charing Cross stations are just a short walk away. You will be close to the West End with Regent Street and Piccadilly just 15 minutes walk. In this area, busy bustling streets are lined with shops and you will be just a few steps away from theatreland where you can enjoy London’s vibrant nightlife. You can rent a studio apartment for any length of time from one night upwards.

For the international family, there is superb contemporary accommodation available behind the magnificent traditional facades of old Victorian buildings in areas such as Knightsbridge and Clerkenwell. These provides provide a home from home for businessmen and their families on assignment to London.

For the business traveller, there are many options available. See www.gocityapartments.com  for details of over 1,000 London serviced apartments from budget studios to luxury penthouses.

A few weeks ago a secretary telephoned me in absolute desperation. She was desperately searching for accommodation in central London for some VIPs from abroad. She stumbled onto my website, not really understanding what the service was about. I think the words ‘free service’, ‘apartments’ just helped her to figure out that Quality London Apartments had something to do with accommodation. Apologies for my long opening, but it is a prime example of how little travelers in the UK and Europe know about the serviced apartment industry. After explaining the concept of serviced apartments and helping her find an apartment, I realized that I needed to share this knowledge further afield. Thus, this article is my contribution to open up this elusive industry and offer tips to travelers.

What is a serviced apartment?

A serviced apartment is a flat in a block, which has a separate bedroom, sitting room/lounge, fully equipped kitchen, your own private keys to own door. Serviced apartments can be in the form of a studio flat (all in one room with a kitchenette), one, two or three bedrooms.

All apartments enjoy maid service, utilities and a management team to help….just like a hotel. Guests only pay for a nightly rate and can live in a flat with everything they would have in their own home.

Pros: Serviced London Apartment vs Hotels

 More value for money and cheaper. In a hotel, no matter which star rating, you pay per night for one room which will have a TV, bathroom, sofa and a bed. This is similar to a studio apartment! In an apartment there is a separate bedroom, kitchen, sitting room, bathroom and dining table (exception is studio)

 Pay per apartment and not per person. An example would be paying £250 per night for a two bedroom apartment, which could accommodate up to 4 people, that works out at £62.50 per person.

 Freedom and privacy. An apartment is like being in your own home and there is plenty of space. You have your own keys to your own door.

 Booking is easy, just like hotels. The majority of apartments require a credit card to guarantee, pre-payment before you arrive and that’s it. No deposits, no tenants’ contracts.

Cons: Serviced London Apartment vs Hotels

 Apartments lacks the buzz and services of a hotel such as restaurants and Room Service. Albeit some apartments are owned by hotels and offer you the use of their restaurants and other services.

 No 24-hour service around the clock. The apartments are ran by a small team who work Monday to Friday 9:00am – 6:00pm, so you are on your own during the weekend. There are emergency numbers to call should you suffer an electric cut, but no 24-hours hotel Duty Manager to run to your room.

 No pool, massages, saunas like hotels

What to look out for when booking a serviced London apartment?

1. Quality of the apartment – make sure you find out if they are clean, well furnished and well maintained. How? Check the photos, and ask if you can book an appointment to view the apartment. This is very important if you are staying over a long period of time.

2. Do they have a friendly and efficient management team? If you need the comfort of a welcoming face to greet you on arrival, then ask for an apartment with a reception. Some apartments provide key boxes, so you can arrive any time, but there is no-one to meet you. A friendly and small team will be able to give you a very personal touch.

3. Opening time of the apartments office – doesn’t sound important? Well it is because the majority of apartments’ operations team open Monday to Friday 9:00am to 6:00pm. If you arrive at your apartment during office open hours, then fine, but any other time and weekends will mean that you will need to pick up the keys from a different location.

4. Key delivery by car at the airport? – If you are flying from abroad to London, and do not fancy traipsing throughout London at night to pick up keys, the majority of apartments will hire a taxi to deliver your keys to the airport upon your arrival. Convenient for a small charge.

5. Payment procedure and cancellation policy – every apartment vary in their guest terms and conditions. All will accept a credit card as a guarantee of reservation, some will ask for 100% pre-payment at least 7 days prior to arrival and cancellation can range from 12:00pm on the day of arrival to 28 days. So, before you confirm the reservation, be very clear about the terms and conditions. Ask your apartment agents to explain the procedure to you and read the terms and conditions on your confirmation emails. It will save you a great deal of trouble and headache later.

6. Apartments are always allocated on arrival. This policy is the same as any hotel, so unless you are a regular guest to a specific apartment, apartments are on allocations. In the same breath, some apartments only have a small number of flats, so if you are reserving the only 3 bedrooms penthouse in their collection, then you are guaranteed that specific apartment.

7. Rates become more competitive the longer you stay. In this, we mean you have more bargaining power if you are staying for one month or longer. This is when your apartment agent can really help you by negotiating with a variety of apartments to get you the best deal.

8. Using an apartment agent will also save you time searching, but most importantly they will work with your budget and negotiate a great deal for you. Of course, you also need to be realistic about what you can book, don’t expect to spend £80 per night for a luxury apartment. For example, one of our clients had £300 budget per night for a two bedroom apartment and he wanted something luxury. For those readers who know London well, also understands that this budget is actually very small. Despite that, we booked him and 3 friends into the Victoria Park Plaza luxury apartment (£150 per night less than the usual price) for £300 per night with free breakfast, gym and access to the executive lounge. Any apartment agent worth their salt can and will move mountains to help you.

What if I don’t like the apartment when I get there?

If you really feel that you have been hard done by, tell the apartment management team and ask to be moved to another apartment. All of the apartments that we work with are very customer focussed and try to help guests enjoy their stay. If this does not work, talk to your apartment agent, if that is how you booked. Best advice though, is to ask all the right questions before you book an apartment.

Your appetite for apartments is now whetted – how do you find London apartments?

1. As already explained, you can choose a free search and book service of an apartment agent or go direct to a specific apartment that you know. Both methods are absolutely fine, dependent of your knowledge of London apartments. Using an agent will mean that they will search far across their portfolio and present you with a variety of choices…all within 10-15 minutes. Agents are impartial and will only (good agents anyway) recommend the quality apartments for your needs.

2. You can use search engines like Google, Yahoo and MSN to find apartments. Type in keywords like ‘London serviced apartments’ or ‘quality London apartments’ and so on.

3. Stating the obvious but, ask for a recommendation from friends and acquaintances.

4. Check on Tripadvisor and other customer review websites.

Summary

If you have read this far, then thank you for your time. I have tried to make this article clear and as helpful as possible, but I welcome your comments and any further information that you feel is very important.

1. Serviced apartments are always located close to London underground stations and bus stops, making it easy to travel around the capital and beyond.

2. Residents benefit from 24-hour reception facilities as you would in a hotel whilst enjoying the privacy of your own apartment as well as regular cleaning services. Some residences have a gym on site.

3. Serviced apartments are spacious. They are on average 25 % larger than the typical hotel room of a similar standard. They are a comfortable home from home for extended says in  London.

4. Staff living in London on corporate business are able to work in their apartments, as well as meet and entertain clients and friends there. Most have broadband internet access. Serviced accommodation offers a great deal of flexibility both for individuals and for international families in London on temporary assignments.

5. Serviced apartments have their own separate kitchen, enabling residents to prepare/cook their own meals. Staff will not need to go to expensive restaurants on a daily basis – this will save the company money and also be good for the waistlines of employees!

6 . Washing machines and tumble dryers are provided in most serviced apartments so staff are be able to live independently without running up expensive laundry bills.

7. 4 or even 6 employees can share an apartment so it can be an extremely cost effective solution for staff on an extended stay in London.

8. Serviced apartments are perfect for remote project space for staff requiring short to medium term re-allocation. They are ideal for London-based companies requiring a temporary service team. They are excellent for overseas companies sending teams of staff to London for training. They provide excellent accommodaiton for staff on import/export reconnaissance missions.

9. Serviced apartments are a flexible, cost effective temporary solution for staff relocating to London.

10. There is no need for companies to sign up to a complicated tenancy agreement, nor is there a requirement to commit for a long period of time. Serviced apartment rental is flexible. You can book for one night, one week, one month or one year!

Do you ever come to London working on project assignments? Or do you send teams of staff to the UK for training etc? Are you often looking for a cost-effective accommodation solution? You may find that renting a centrally located serviced apartment will be the best idea to consider.

Serviced apartments are usually located just a short distance away from the London underground, as well as the many restaurants, bars and nightlife of the city. Serviced accommodation offers the best of both worlds – most serviced apartments are larger than the average hotel room and they all have a separate kitchen and bathroom. In your apartment, you will have plenty of space to work and entertain friends or clients. Most serviced apartments offer broadband internet access for occupants. You will be able to enjoy hotel services such as cleaning whilst enjoying the privacy and freedom of your own apartment, your own base in London. Most serviced apartments are available from one night upwards.

Just off London’s famous Trafalgar Square you can enjoy staying at Citadines which has a large breakfast area where you can enjoy coffee and croissants in the morning. Embankment and Charing Cross stations are close by. You will be near the West End of London with Regent Street and Piccadilly just 15 minutes walk away. You will be able to enjoy walking down the busy bustling streets and browsing in the shops and take in a West End theatre show, being just steps away from theatreland where you can enjoy London’s vibrant nightlife.

The contemporary accommodation available is superb, much of which nestles behind the magnificent traditional facades of old Victorian buildings in areas such as Knightsbridge, South Kensington and Clerkenwell.

For the corporate traveller, London has a lot to offer. See www.gocityapartments.com  for details of over 1,000 London serviced apartments from budget studios to luxury penthouses.