Hire an apartment in London

QUESTION: My family will be travelling to London for the last two weeks in December. As my children are over 18, we require accommodation for four adults. Hotels are generally quite expensive and I would like to know if apartments or flats are a viable option. Please recommend suitable accommodation or any websites that may offer me some options. - Mohini Murugasen

ANSWER: Hiring an apartment in London is a great option. In most cases, the standard of accommodation offered is vastly superior to hotels in the same price bracket. One of the most reliable websites offering private apartments for weekly rental is www.holidaylettings.co.uk, which has a vast selection on offer. Some have surcharges for the Christmas/New Year period, but you should be able to find a nice two-bedroom apartment from around 80 British pounds per night. You can also opt for real luxury in a prime area from around 150 British pounds per night. In any case, it will be cheaper than a hotel. During a quick search, I found a lovely two-bedroom flat near Camden Market for 545 GBP per week, which comes with wooden floors, internet access and a washing machine. Other websites you can try are www.holiday-rentals.co.uk and www.ownersdirect.co.uk. If you don't mind staying a little way out of central London, you can rent a two or three-bedroom house for as little as 300-400 GBP per week.