Allen House Questions

[3kids4me Super Moderator and Super Mom Find all posts View Profile Close 3kids4me]

We will be at Allen House in July.

Can anyone give me an idea of what type of room to request? In other words, is a lower floor better or a higher floor? (I'm thinking about whether it gets hot on higher floors.) Or, I read about being able to face the courtyard vs. the street as far as noise?

We may not get what we request, but it's worth asking for, if I can get some guidance!

Thanks!

Sharon

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Sharon, Beags owns there and she just left to go there this weekend. I would PM her. She may not reply untill she returns.

[Timesharetalk Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Timesharetalk]

Sharon,

When are you going there ? I wouldn't worry too much about being hot, you can always open a window if need be. Besides, our "hot" is nothing like your "hot". If the weather continues as it has done so far this year, we will be in for a very short and mild summer !

Good ol' blighty !

Try and get an upper floor facing the court yard.

[Beaglemom3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beaglemom3]

Hello From Allen House, Kensington, W8, London, UK !!

London Calling !
Am emailing you all from Caffe Nerro on High Street Kensington which is about a block from 8 Allen Street. Great coffee, skip Starbucks.
Having a great time. Saw the play "Embers" last night with Jeremy Irons. A slow paced drama (not my style), but SUPERB acting !! On my way to the Victoria & Albert Musuem this morning and later to Harrod's & Fortunum & Mason for tea and goodies. Any requests ?
Sharon, I will be back on Saturday, but please post me re: special room request. I know the fine ladies in the Allen House office and can put in a request for you in person.
I will check my emails again later. Will have a whole bunch of info to give you all and lots of photos.
Allen House remains charmingly "dated", true, but you cannot beat the location, friendly staff and tradition !
Cheerio !
A Beagle at large in England

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

London Calling !
Am emailing you all from Caffe Nerro on High Street Kensington which is about a block from 8 Allen Street. Great coffee, skip Starbucks.
Having a great time. Saw the play "Embers" last night with Jeremy Irons. A slow paced drama (not my style), but SUPERB acting !! On my way to the Victoria & Albert Musuem this morning and later to Harrod's & Fortunum & Mason for tea and goodies. Any requests ?
Sharon, I will be back on Saturday, but please post me re: special room request. I know the fine ladies in the Allen House office and can put in a request for you in person.
I will check my emails again later. Will have a whole bunch of info to give you all and lots of photos.
Allen House remains charmingly "dated", true, but you cannot beat the location, friendly staff and tradition !
Cheerio !
A Beagle at large in England

Glad you are having fun!
How's the weather???
Say hello to Big Ben for me!

[Beaglemom3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beaglemom3]

Pat, Frank, Sharon & all,
Weather wasn't great to start, but that's when I do the musuems, galleries and theatre. It's looking great for the next 4 days and that's when I'll go to Kew Gardens, Hampton Court, Windsor Castle and Hadrian's Wall (can you tell I love history?). Weather is improving and is actually quite nice as I write.
Big Bong says hello. Oh, the London Eye is right near it. May go for an evening ride on the Eye.
Cheery Bye to all.

[mav Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mav]

have a great time!

Hi Beags,
Have a grand time ! I am SOOO envious! I love London. Next time I go I would LOVE to stay at Allen House. Cherrio!

[3kids4me Super Moderator and Super Mom Find all posts View Profile Close 3kids4me]

Beags, I just sent you an e-mail!

I hope you are having a fabulous time! I would love some help planning a good itinerary so take some notes! (I already bought tickets for two shows.)

Check your e-mail!!

Sharon

[Beaglemom3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beaglemom3]

I will talk to Julie and Annie re: a good unit for you. July is peak season and I'm not sure what is available as they not only have units for owners, but RCi exchangers and renters. I came in late, too. No problem. Just ring the porter's bell and he will come out. He will collect the £5 deposit for the key at that time.
I did not get my own unit this time and although nice, it's not as nice as mine.
Sharon, please email me your last name so that I can speak with the office staff. I like, upper floors, rear - garden facing. There is the tiniest elevette in the building. Fits two people with 2-3 pieces of luggage - snugly ! I am collecting all sorts of info for you.
I spent the day at Kew Gardens/The Royal Botanic Gardens. Heaven ! Will do Hampton Court tomorrow and Windsor the following day.
Oh, the Safeway grocery store is no more, but I did load up on all sorts of good food at Marks & Spencer (three blocks away).
Will post again. Off to the pub !!!
Cheers !

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

I am SO Jealous!

Both of you Beags for being there now and Pat and Sharon's upcoming trades.

Best I could do was the cotswolds for 2007.....

If anyone has the opportunity to find a small suite style hotel in London we would like to stay a few nights there to sight see.

Sounds like you are having a blast! Bring home lots of pics to share with us!

[Beaglemom3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beaglemom3]

Lawren,
I have THE best book on London apartments, etc to send you. Please email me with your name & address. It's great !
B

[Janie Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Janie]

re: Allen House groceries

There is also a Waitrose (more upscale grocery store: bigger selection than M&S) a couple of blocks west on Kensington High Street. One of my favorite things about Marks&Sparks and Waitrose are that the prepared meals are really good: you can eat very well without ever needing to cook!

Also re food: If you want to eat out, the toptable.co.uk website is a great resource. You can sign up as a member and get great restaurant discounts, which are automatically applied to your check when you make the reservation online through Toptable.

http://www.toptable.co.uk

Just use Allen House as your local address and phone number.

Otherwise, eating out is ruinously expensive.

[Beaglemom3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beaglemom3]

Oh, and I found the Sainsbury on Cromwell Road which is about a seven block walk, but ooooohhhh, the good selection there and much more affordable than Marks & Spencer.
I will give block-by-block directions in getting there from Allen House.
Also, found a great restaurant just a few blocks from A.H. It's the Kensington Arms (upscale Pub). It's on Abigdon Road. Wonderful !
Off to St. Paul's.
Weather is incredible (warm, sunny).
London signing off,
Beags

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

How wonderful to have good weather in a great city! Take lots of pictures, please.

Enjoy your trip, Beags.

[Beaglemom3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beaglemom3]

Sheeee's Back !

Well, besides the jet lag and the urge to have a pint of Fuller's or London Pride to wash down the scones & clotted cream, I'm doing okay.

Had a great time. Took lots of photos to go with my review & recommendations. I know that our native Brit members could do a better review of the area, but my review & recommendations will be from the view of what a first-timer should know. Cluelessness is not a pretty thing, however, this being my ninth trip to London and my 4th to Allen House, I've made pretty much all the mistakes that one should avoid.

So, the review is coming once I figure out how to coax the photos out of the camera and into the p.c.

Oh, did I tell you that I did the 530 stairs up to the top of St. Paul's Catherdral ? Then there was the matter of the 530 stairs back down.....

Beags