SLEEPING IN LONDON - London 2015 - page 639

Borough High Street, Tube: Borough or London Bridge, reservations tel. [phone],
www.st-christophers.co.uk , [e-mail] ) .
Dorms
$$ The University of Westminster opens its dorm rooms to travelers during summer
break, from June through mid-September. Located in several high-rise buildings scattered
around central London, the most convenient are Marylebone Hall and Wigram
House—which have the higher rates. Some rooms have private bathrooms; others have
shared bathrooms nearby. They all come with access to well-equipped kitchens and
big lounges (S- £ 37-43, Sb- £ 61-73, D- £ 56-65, Db- £ 72-93, discounts for long stays, tel.
020/7911-5181, www.westminster.ac.uk/summeraccommodation , summeraccommoda-
[e-mail] ) .
$$ The London School of Economics has openings in its dorms from July through
September (S- £ 42, Sb- £ 55-70, D- £ 50-65, Db- £ 75-100, prices vary according to location
and length of stay, may include breakfast, pay guest computer, tel. [phone],
www.lsevacations.co.uk , [e-mail] ) .
$ University College London has rooms for travelers from late June until mid-
September (S- £ 36-41, Sb- £ 53, 2-night minimum, linens and towels provided, cable In-
ternet access in rooms, Wi-Fi available in some common areas, tel. [phone],
www.ucl.ac.uk/residences , [e-mail]@ucl.ac.uk ).
Apartment Rentals
Consider the advantages that come with renting a furnished apartment—or “flat,” as the
British say. Complete with a small, equipped kitchen and living room, this option can also
work for families or groups on shorter visits.
Be careful to avoid getting scammed: Follow all of the website's safety advice and
use their internal payment procedures. Never wire money directly to an apartment owner,
or you may find yourself with no place to stay—and no hope of getting your money back.
It's also a good idea to buy trip cancellation/interruption insurance, as many weekly rent-
als are nonrefundable.
Be sure to read the rental conditions carefully and ask lots of questions. If a certain
amenity is important to you (such as Wi-Fi or a washing machine in the unit), ask specific-
ally about it and what to do if it stops working. Plot the location carefully (plug the ad-
dress into maps.google.com ) , and remember to factor in travel time and costs from outly-
ing neighborhoods to central London.
Cross-Pollinate is an online booking agency representing B&Bs and apartments in a
handful of European cities, including London. Search their website for a listing you like,
then submit your reservation online. If the place is available, you'll be charged a small