,
Anyone who
has ever travelled to London knows the exorbitant price of accommodation - be
it a zero star “hole in the wall” bug-infested
mattress on the floor or a five star “chi
chi” palace catering to bling blinged “richer
than Saudi sheiks” status seekers – obtaining reasonably priced lodging was
a chore in itself. It was therefore with trepidation that I cringed at the
possibility of having to fork out hundreds of pounds for a roof over my head
for the 8 days that I would be sequestered in the British capital. Short of having to resort to ringing up the
Queen herself and asking whether or not she could spare a room or two (heck,
just loan me an entire wing, if you may), the dream of residing in her 700 +
room palatial headquarters at Buckingham Palace , would be a commoner’s wish
come true. But, alas, languishing in the historic old dwelling, enjoying a
cuppa tea with the old dame was not in the cards for me, and I had no choice
but to look elsewhere for suitable accommodation.
As luck would
have it, I was fortunate enough to be able to secure a reservation at the
Latvian House at 72 Queensborough Terrace, across the street from Hyde
Park. Located just a stone’s throw away
from Her Majesty’s quarters, as well as from Kensington Gardens, this gem of a
find sits on prime real estate in a prestigious, fashionable and residential
London neighbourhood. Unable to contain
my glee at not having to break the bank, the total cost of my stay came to
approx 430 pounds, less than 53 pounds per night. And, that included a full English breakfast
consisting of eggs, ham, beans, hash browns, toast, cereal, yoghurt and
fruit. Breakfast was served by the ever
pleasant cook who greeted us each morning with a nod and a smile, eager to
ensure that each meal was an exercise in perfection. Depending upon the weather, you could choose
to sit either inside the cozy dining room or outside in the enclosed garden
area, surrounded by fragrant blooms and lush greenery, and be delightfully
serenaded by several melodic chirping birds.
The 16 room
Georgian style guest house features cheerful, clean, budget-friendly warmth and
hospitality, a welcoming atmosphere and feels just like your “home away from home”. The single and twin rooms, as well as one
ensuite double, have basic amenities, such as a sink, flat-screen TV, kettle,
hair dryer and feature large picturesque windows which overlook the
property. Showers and water closets are
not situated in each room, but are shared, yet in no way did I feel as if I were
in a dorm residence or hostel, but instead in a private and secluded residence.
Steps away
from the front door was Bayswater Road where you would turn left and walk about
20 minutes towards Oxford Street, one of London’s hustling and bustling mecca
shopping destinations. Day in and day out, my pink-sneakered feet would
carefully tread along the pavement (careful to take cautious note of the “look left” or “look right” helpful chalked road markings) and scoot along the
perimeter of Hyde Park, blissfully content to merely meander along the sidewalk
and absorb the essence of this age-old metropolis.
If I craved a
little bit of vino, a bag of crisps or a fashion magazine, there were a couple
of quaint shops tucked away on the various side streets, hawking all sorts of
goods, open at least until 11:00pm at night and a two minute jaunt from my
fabulous B & B. Of course, you can’t
forget the pubs, and a new favourite became “The
Swan”, where I would indulge in a few pints of Guinness and the best nachos
(believe it or not!) and fish and chips ever!
 |
| The best nachos ever!! |
So, what can
I say, except “when can I relocate and
move on in?”
And if
perchance, the Queen does happen to ring you up with an offer to spend time at
the palace, make certain to inform her that you’ve got a far better arrangement
at 72 Queensborough Terrace!!
(www.72qt.co.uk)
(www.72qt.co.uk)
Come hang
out with the Latvians at their inviting B & B, wander along Bayswater Road
and idle your time away as you paddle boat in Serpentine Lake in Hyde Park…come
explore London and travel with me…
 |
| Hanging out in the quaint pub at my B & B |
Next week
– Where do my pink-sneaker footprints take me? Stay tuned!!
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