11 Lovely London Vacation Rentals For A Proper British Getaway

From the marble surfaces and wooden fixtures to the artwork and furniture, this bafflingly luxurious home is decorated with a monochrome palette of black and white. And yet it somehow comes off as colorful. A three-bedroom apartment in one of London’s swankiest districts, it serves as a gilded gateway to the holiday of a lifetime. A 15-minute walk to Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, The V&A, and other iconic diversions, the location can hardly be beat. The flat takes up two floors and every inch is tastefully decorated. Get a feel for the neighborhood from the terrace and see where your days will take you.

One of London’s most affluent areas, Kensington attracts well-heeled visitors from across the globe. Some gobble up investment properties, while others are content to experience life in some of the world’s poshest postcodes for only a few days. If the latter interests you, consider staying at Kensington Court, a beautiful flat on Queen’s Gate. The property is just down the road from Kensington Palace, home to the Duke of Cambridge and his family. The apartment is a sumptuous affair, with elegant decorations of an oriental flavor. It is home to many a work of art, the best of which might be those with the least artifice, crafted completely without intention. We are referring to the incredible marble found in the kitchen and bathrooms, expressionistic scenes that rival those created by any painter.

Located in the ever-fashionable West End, Covent Garden is an ideal location for anyone looking to explore central London. This three-bedroom apartment just off Oxford Street is an excellent base for any London vacation. Whether your main interests are shopping, seeing shows, or exploring world-class museums, the objects of your desire are no more than a short walk away. The spacious apartment sleeps up to seven guests across three king bedrooms (there’s room for one more on a fold-out sofa). Stylishly decorated and awash with light, it fits right in with the glamorous atmosphere that pervades throughout Covent Garden.

Any large group will cherish the privilege of staying in this grand home south of the Thames. Though thoroughly modernized, the house was built in the mid-1700s and remains an echo of a time when London was a less-crowded place. Listen to Big Ben ring from the garden or enjoy tea in the sitting room. The kitchen is the envy of any chef. With eight hobs and a large island, fixing up meals can be a joyful process. If you must work during your vacation, the grandeur of the study can help to make your tasks more of a delight than a burden. The home has seven bedrooms. From the master’s 12-foot canopy to the sofa bed in the elegant sitting room, there’s little room to complain about shoddy surroundings.

A home with character, Great Guildford Street sits on the south side of the Thames. It’s located near two London landmarks from very different points in the city’s history: The Shard, a 21st-century icon; and Shakespeare’s Globe Theater, built in 1599. The home features exposed brick walls and delightful decor, including plush purple velvet sofas. The master bedroom has a king bed and faux industrial bathroom with a tall steel tub. The second bedroom has a double. This part of South London is full of pubs, galleries, and restaurants, but the museums to the north are reachable via a quick walk across London Bridge.

Minutes from the world-famous Waterloo Station, this three-story home south of the Thames is yet another splendid option for those visiting London. Something of a rarity in London, the house has a private garden with plants that seem suspiciously tropical for British latitudes. The kitchen is located on the ground floor and each of the upper levels has a bedroom (the hosts provide a large air mattress which can be set up in either of the living areas). Though located in a quiet area, the hustle and bustle of London’s busiest areas are a short ride away. Like other buildings from the period, this home has steep staircases which some may have trouble ascending.

A spacious fourth-story penthouse between Westminster and Covent Garden, this luxurious accommodation places guests in the heart of London. The British Museum, Big Ben, West End theaters, and National Gallery are all a short walk away. Attractions further afield are easily reached via the tube. The London Eye, the tallest Ferris wheel in the world at the time of its construction, is visible from the living room, inviting visitors to cross the Thames. From the marbled bathrooms to the minimalist accouterments throughout, the flat is luxurious through and through.

Tens of millions of visitors come to London every year. The vast majority stay in hotels or rental flats, but a select few will elect to reside in a less-standard kind of accommodation. Houseboats like this one in East London offer guests privacy and a unique experience. It’s moored in a marina on the north side of the Thames, a few minutes away from Canary Wharf and a short walk from a stop on the DLR line. Inside, the boat is clean, modern, and elegantly furnished. There’s a full kitchen, two bedrooms, and a bathroom with a combination shower and bath.

No sterile set of rooms, this fine flat boasts a garden and a lived-in feel. The building is just minutes from Brick Lane, a street with a rich history. Visited by waves of immigrants over the past 500 years, it is most known today for its South Asian population. More so than any other street, Brick Lane is responsible for the UK’s ongoing love affair with Indian cuisine. The flat covers two floors and has three bedrooms with double beds.

Culturally diverse with a rich stock of Victorian housing tracts, Hackney is as delightful to visit as it is to live in. This four-story Victorian home, though one of many in the area, is an excellent example of how the majority of Londoners used to live — and many still do. Highlights include a kitchen that is both practical and beautiful, a private backyard garden, and cozy sitting areas on each of the upper floors. The home has five bedrooms. The stairs are fairly steep but are carpeted and fitted with handrails. 

Such is the pedigree of this charming apartment that it was first “modernized” back in 1821. Fortunately, the owners did not give up at that point and the property has been continually preserved and improved in the centuries since. Great for exploring Marylebone, it is also more than fit to serve as a gateway to the rest of central London. The furniture (particularly the pieces found in the master bedroom) recalls the flat’s antique history whereas the modern kitchen is proof that the past has a place in the present.