A Joyful Day in Hampstead & Highgate Literary Festival

The Hampstead & Highgate Literary Festival was organised by the London Jewish Cultural Centre. It is a much-loved event in London's literary calendar. The three-day book festival made its debut in 2009 and has put many literary luminaries into perspective since then.

In the 2013 edition Kidsfest was a highlight offered a host of 'kid for a quid' events and activities for younger readers. Poetry in the Park had been great addition. On the bandstand in Golders Hill Park there was amazing music. Those confirmed for the event included many leading authors and celebrities including Nick Ross, Ruby Wax, Mark Billingham, Baroness Gillian Shephard, Tracy Chevalier, and Maggie O'Farrell.

Collectively, the event had 60 festival parallel events where creative writing workshops, book sales and signings were there at the nearby Daunt Books.

Organised by London Jewish Cultural Centre, the event was up on popularity. The organizer is a leading provider of Jewish education and culture by profile. It is headquartered at Ivy House, which was the residence of late Prima Ballerina Anna Pavlova. 

For literary lovers events like these are hard to miss. Only London offers such high value cultural events. So if you are visiting London, there are many cool options to stay and choose from serviced apartments, holiday apartments and furnished flats for a nice stay in the city. 

As for locations, anything is fine as London is knitted together in terms of places within short distances. So you can stay in the midst of wonderful tourist attractions, vivacious streets, chic pubs, classic parks that will excite you. 

For a comfortable stay there are excellent flats to rent in Hampstead. As a location, Hampstead is great with its amazing nightlife and shopping areas. Within that location, West Hampstead is more affordable as it combines the best of costs and amenities as far as flats and apartments are concerned. 

Its hamlet like aura of coffee shops, restaurants, chic pubs, and other social attractions are very good for creative people. There is good transportation system in the locality and there are many shopping areas, cinemas and luxurious shops. 

You can delve into the nostalgic past of city and see alluring Victorian terraced houses, Edwardian mansion blocks, well-spaced 2 beds and 3 bed terrace and semis with small neat gardens. Many modern flats from the 20th century council blocks can be seen only in Hampstead.

Property Viewing: Focus On The Structure Than Its Aesthetics

The viewing of a property for rent or purchase is a serious business. When you view a property, give emphasis to its structural details than aesthetics.

Objective Viewing: To view a property, take someone with you. Another pair of eyes can see things more vividly and differently. May be they can spot things you missed.

• Gas Certificate: Insist to see the gas safety certificate for the property and confirm that it is renewed annually. Look for red warning stickers, if any stuck on gas appliances indicating gas problems in the past.

• Structural Defects: Pay attention to the property’s structure such as leaking roof, rotten windows, draughts, damp etc. These issues will become less important after the proposed Energy Performance Certificates (ECP) come into force covering all new tenancies.

• Energy Efficiency: While looking for Property for Rent in London, always check for double glazing windows. Their absence can impact the cost of utilities such as power bills.

• Dampness: Some clever landlords try to cover up dampness with a lick of paint. But the cupboards/wardrobes inside can reveal the tell tale signs. Open and see kitchen cupboards, opening windows, shape of the boiler to determine whether it looks like last legs will show the general state of repair of the property.

• TV Reception: Also verify the property can have television reception or cable or satellite TV is required. This is because terrestrial television is not received through aerial, cable or satellite TV will be the sole option.

• Broadband: Check the speed and availability of broadband for your internet requirements. Ensure that reception on mobile phone in all areas of the property. Simple things like not having enough electrical sockets could be annoying so it makes sense to check.

• EPC: Every landlord of the Rental properties in London is required to provide an energy efficiency certificate (EPC) for each property they rent out. The EPC has to be made available to the prospective tenant before the agreement is signed. That gives a fair idea of the probable costs of heating and preparedness in terms of insulation, double glazing, age of the boiler and energy rating of the refrigerator.

As the prospective tenant, you keep a notepad and pen and note down your findings as you walk around. Prepare a checklist for things to look for, and mentally frame the right questions that you want to as the estate agent.

London Apartments: The Option For Affordable Stay With Best Amenities

A majority of visitors to London will admit that they are too reluctant to stay in a hotel because of the fear that the holiday budget will be exhausted in a few days. They are intelligent to save money and feel more at home as they understand that for the same rates of a typical hotel, they can get a spacious apartment on rent providing them more value for money and better choices of size and style. Thus the cleaner, quieter short stay rentals come with a furnished kitchen.

Almost all London Rental Apartments have emerged as Money savers with options of dining at home than eating the costly, at times problematic food of the restaurants. Many would also agree that a London studio apartment, which is the smallest vacation rental, is better equipped than a single standard London hotel room.

Live in Upmarket Areas

In London’s upscale neighbourhoods you find plenty of flats with affordable rates. The amenities are very contemporary. Wide-screen digital TVs, DVD players, Dishwasher, Washing Machine, and broadband internet access. Maid service usually once a week to change linens.

You can find good apartments in the following localities,
•    The City
•    Bloomsbury
•    Marylebone
•    Chelsea
•    Mayfair
•    Docklands
•    Bayswater
•    Grand Plaza
•    Hampstead
•    Earl's Court
•    Kensington

A Comparison

Though some hotels provide breakfast and a kettle of tea. It is no match to the pleasure of doing a food shopping in the markets of London and meeting with friends over a convivial meal, while staying in an apartment.

The ardent fans of short-term rentals are those travellers who have a taste for things private and are very charming and outgoing. A vacation rental is always good for doing things at your own pace without any rigid rules and impersonal services.

When you are travelling in the company of friends, a personal home away from home really adds value and experience of stay becomes richer.

Benefits

So the benefits of London rentals are numerous. Each guest can enjoy an intimate space while social gatherings can be held in the living room.  Agrees a visitor, the most important positive side of a London rental is the flexibility of self catering that completely puts off the pressure of having to dress up the kids and race down to breakfast lobby before the morning meal is over.

Kensington: The Ever Fascinating Royal Borough

Kensington, the royal borough of London’s most fascinating area in terms of royal history, architecture, natural beauty and high profile residents. Vistors will fall in love with that area where centuries of history speak through its period buildings and other monuments. The nearby Kensington Garden is a great place for nature lovers to unwind.

Kensington, London

For millions of people London is a desirable place to visit and live. Some parts of London hold out a special charm to the vistors oozing a cult appeal. The vistors carry the imprints of those city locations in their minds forever. Kensington is one such location, where an amazing variety of things coalesce and offer avenues to do a lot of things outside the city centre.

Kensington’s beauty also comes from its array of famous residents in that area including a royal palace . Add to it, avenues for fantastic shopping experience, bliss of nature and a rich history. Undoubtedly Kensington is an Entertaining and  fantastic area to visit or live.

Royal History

Kensington has a rich and varied history. The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea had been playing host to the monarchy since 1689 when William III began shifting to Kensington Palace. It was the wish of Queen Victoria to give the title of 'Royal Borough' to it. Queen Victoria was born in Kensington Palace. Before the monarchy came, Kensington was a Saxon settlement as mentioned in the Domesday Book.

The shopping experience

As a shopping destination Kensington High Street is fantastic where you can shop till you drop. It is in close proximity to the Underground station and connected to all areas of London and train stations. There are a large number of fashion shops in the high street ranging from the high street brands with many upmarket names.

At Church Street in Kensington you can go to boutiques, antiques shops and specialist stores.

Things to do

As a place brimming with history, Kensington Palace is worth a visit. The place is incredibly beautiful and State apartments are open to the public. The exhibits at the palace reveal more about its royal inhabitants. While visiting Kensington Palace, it makes sense to visit Kensington Gardens. As one of the eight Royal Parks it displays several memorials and interesting art pieces.

The admission is free in the gardens and it provides a green break from the hectic city life. Here people can visit, ride bikes, do a picnic and even walk their dogs. For children, the gardens offer a fantastic place at the Diana Memorial Playground situated inside the park.

Other places to visit to the gardens are the

• Albert Memorial 
• Italian gardens 
• Serpentine Gallery 
• Peter Pan statue

In terms of connectivity, Kensington offers Underground services and regular bus routes making it easy for people to travel within and to Greater London.

Renting in London: Some Useful Tips

London is a popular place to rent an apartment. People searching for property to rent in London are on the rise despite the high cost per square foot metric.

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Though rents vary there are offerings suiting to every budget and pocket. A few things can be useful for those looking for an apartment to rent in London.

•    Finding a place to stay in a bustling city like London will be daunting unless there is proper guidance.

•    While renting a property in London, decide the area where a vast range of property is available for letting. Obviously prices will vary from area to area.

A perfect place must balance everything--a good location, smart apartment, best amenities, transport links, proximity to work and lot more. Budget is the most critical factor. Everybody wants good value for their money and how much one is ready to shell out really matters.

Fastest Letting market
Good planning and consistent action what helps in clinching a property deal in London, whether it is renting or buying. London’s Lettings market moves fast so any property that is queried will be gone if one simply sits over a proposal. But if there is a genuine agency in between, speaking to them candidly helps. They can also show you something similar.

Tips for finding an apartment on Rent

Budget: When the rental property is closer to the central location or neighbourhood the cost will increase correspondingly.  So using the search facilities on the websites can be a good idea to understand the average prices of every area.

Verification: Having contacted the agents or landlords through on-line adverts it is important to verify the advertised property before agreeing to rent it. When you view a property ask the agent or landlord all the questions that bother you.

Location: Location plays an important role in the cost of rent though a variety of properties are available for rent. Apartments in the upmarket end areas such as Hyde Park, Notting Hill, Mayfair will carry higher rents compared to the suburbs. Weigh the benefits in a popular area and those in a less congested one. Know the approximate budget you can afford and decide on a property accordingly. Be clear on about how much space you need and in case you are happy with the basic space requirements centrally living is also fine.

Facilities - Facilities in the apartment are important. A fully equipped kitchen, central heating, gardens are some basic facilities that people look for when hiring a fully furnished apartment.

Transport – Choose an area where good local travel links are available so that your time is not wasted in traveling.

Amenities – Ensure enough amenities in the locality in terms of shops, medical centres, entertainment options to lead a normal life.

How to Find?

For taking apartments on rent in London, the online option can save a lot of running around. Also take time to contact a good letting agent in London who is well informed about each and every area of the city and can offer you the right dwelling.

Cost of Student Rental Accommodation in UK Soaring Higher

Dynamic increments have happened in the cost of student’s rental accommodation in UK, with London, Guildford and Exeter being the costliest

Students renting with friends at university can be an excellent experience and a wiser choice to make, particularly after considering the ever increasing cost of student rental accommodation in London. As such in UK overall, living in a student house on rental basis has become more costly, with Guildford, London, and Exeter at the top of the charts. Lettings agents across the country have been receiving enquiries from worried students for more affordable long lets in London. With such a trend in student property, all the fresh graduates preparing to leave school after their results are out have started getting worried about the grades of course, and not to mention the cost of their housing which is up by almost an alarming 25% in various parts of the country.

The average weekly rent for a student accommodation has increased by 2.4% from £67 in 2011 to almost £69 this year in UK. Places like Hull have undergone a hike of 10 times the rents last year, rising almost by 25%. Rents in Hull have gone up from £48 a week in 2011 to £60 now. This increase in rents is followed by Lancaster with 24% and Durham with 20% hike respectively. With this, it doesn’t come as a surprise that London is the costliest region to rent accommodation as a student, with weekly average of £107.29.

A major factor contributing to the dynamic changes in student rental accommodation is their preference for certain universities. As the demand for rental accommodation in areas surrounding a particular university increase, it obviously pushes up the cost of rent significantly. For instance, Winchester, Durham, Lancaster, Exeter and Newcastle are going through this situation. The university regions namely Oxford and Cambridge have experienced student rent rising by as much as 7% to £86 per week and by 2% to £92.70 per week, respectively. Guildford and Exeter follow them with almost equally high average rent on a weekly basis. Students would like to know that the lowest student accommodation rents in the country are paid at the University of Glamorgan this year, averaging to a rent of £46 a week.

Also, accommodation costs are noticeably increasing for some student accommodation in London, specifically for those students wishing to stay in the contemporary developments of high-end areas like Knightsbridge, Chelsea, Highgate, etc. There are students who are willing to stay in expensively priced houses with all modern facilities, but they are mostly the overseas student from all over the world, supported by their rich parents.

What are Short Stay London Apartments?

Individual apartments which are meant for either of corporate or holiday accommodation are referred to as short stay apartments in London. Also known as serviced apartments, these individual units are very different from hotel rooms.

Short stay London apartments are popular nowadays because of the extra space and luxury they offer for almost the same or lesser price as compared to hotel rooms. A serviced apartment, as the name suggests, is basically a small flat catered with basic services and is meant for a relatively short stay which may be between 1 day and 6 months. This concept is supposed to give you a second home away from home, with all the homely facilities like an equipped kitchen, en suite bathroom, bedroom and sometimes a separate reception room too.

These short stay luxury apartments in London offer an excellent blend of elegant and professionally managed accommodation. They can be used for all types of visitors including people who are on vacation and visitors who come to London for business reasons. These apartments have been designed in the most contemporary ways and have the best of furnishings and furniture inside. From vacation perspective, they are great because they also provide TV with cable facility and DVD player as well. From the corporate travellers’ viewpoint, apartments are well equipped with round the clock broadband connection and Wi-Fi. Like hotels, serviced apartments are also taken care of by maids for cleaning, housekeeping, etc. But the good part is that you will not be bothered by them at any and every time. You can call a maid only if you want assistance; else you can keep it the way you would keep your house!!

Since these apartments are meant for a shorter duration of stay, they are built in areas where there are good amenities and transport links around. This is because a new person would not know too much about London, apart from the local vicinity. So most of these apartments will have shops and restaurants in close proximity, and local transport links are also easily available in most parts of London. This makes it easier for vacationers and corporate travellers to save a lot of travel time.

Most of the serviced apartments will have the most contemporary interiors, even if they are set inside a period building. Some of them may also offer additional facilities like parking space,
Website: http://www.instyleapartments.co.uk