Apartment Rentals in London

Apartment Rentals

For a home base that's roomy enough for a family and that comes with cooking facilities, consider renting furnished "flats" (the British word for apartments).

International Agents

Interhome. Dozens of flats all over London, available for weekly rent, are on Interhome's books. Properties range from suburban pied-à-terres to luxurious city-center apartments. London, Greater London. 800/882–6864; www.interhome.us. No meals.

RentaVilla. This agency has hundreds of luxurious flats in residential neighborhoods all over London, with prices starting at around £1,000 per week. 1251 N.W. 116th St., Seattle, Washington, 98177. 206/417–3444; 877/250–4366; www.rentavilla.com.

Villas International. Exclusively priced flats all over London are available through Villas International. Higher-end options start at around £1,800 per week—but as some sleep up to 10 people this can work out as a viable option for large groups. 17 Fox La., San Anselmo, California, 94960. 415/499–9490; 800/221–2260; www.villasintl.com.

Local Agents

Acorn London. Check out this agency for attractive small flats in Farringdon and Bloomsbury, starting at around £150 per night. 19 Bedford Pl., Ground fl., Bloomsbury, London, Greater London, WC1B 5JA. 020/7636–8325; www.acorn-london.co.uk.

The Apartment Service. This agency specializes in executive apartments for business travelers, so prices are high, but so is the quality. Aside from a few supercheap places in parts of town you wouldn't want to stay in, prices start at around £70 per night for a one bedroom near the former Olympic Village in Stratford (East London), rising to around £550 per night for a two bedroom in Mayfair. 5 Francis Grove, Wimbledon, London, Greater London, SW19 4DT. 020/8944–1444; www.apartmentservice.com.

At Home in London. Rooms in private homes in Knightsbridge, Kensington, Mayfair, Chelsea, and West London are handled by this agency. Prices start at around £87 a night per double room, making this a great alternative to budget hotels. 70 Black Lion La., Hammersmith, London, Greater London, W6 9BE. 020/8748–2701; www.athomeinlondon.co.uk. Credit cards accepted.

The Bed and Breakfast Club. Contact this company for delightful little London hideaways, in Kensington, Chelsea, and Knightsbridge, costing around £75–£125 per night with full English breakfasts. 405 Kings Rd., Suite 192, Chelsea, London, Greater London, SW10 0BB. 01243/370--692; www.thebedandbreakfastclub.co.uk. Credit cards accepted.

Coach House London Vacation Rentals. This company arranges stays in the properties of Londoners who are temporarily away. Attractive apartments and houses are primarily in Notting Hill, Kensington, and Chelsea, and most cost around £115 to £170 per night. The minimum booking of five to seven nights is a bit limiting, though, and you must make a substantial security deposit (usually between £200 and £1,000), which is returned after your stay. 2 Tunley Rd., Balham, London, Greater London, SW17 7QJ. 020/8355–3192; www.rentals.chslondon.com. Credit cards accepted.

Landmark Trust. Specializing in unusual and historic buildings, this agency has London apartments starting at around £650 for a four-night (minimum) stay. Shottesbrooke, Maidenhead, Windsor and Maidenhead, SL6 3SW. 01628/825–925; www.landmarktrust.org.uk.

One Fine Stay. What sets this agency apart is the quality of the properties on offer and the outstanding support you get during your stay—fresh linen, toiletries, a kitchen full of basic supplies, iPhones helpfully loaded with maps, and, in a lovely touch, a package of tips about the area from the owners themselves. London, Greater London. 020/7097–8948; www.onefinestay.com/London. No meals.

Uptown Reservations. Only upscale addresses are handled by Uptown Reservations, and they specialize in hosted homes or apartments for Americans, often business executives. Nearly all the homes on its register are in Knightsbridge, Belgravia, Kensington, and Chelsea. Prices start at around £125 per room, per night. There's limited information on its website; bookings must be made over the phone. A nonrefundable deposit is required. 8 Kelso Pl., Kensington, London, Greater London, W8 5QD. 020/7937–2001; www.uptownres.co.uk. Credit cards accepted.

Home Exchanges

If you would like to exchange your home for someone else's, join a home-exchange organization, which will send you its updated listings of available exchanges for a year.

Intervac U.S. It costs from $99 per year for a listing and online access with this company. 866/884–7567; us.intervac-homeexchange.com.