Europa House

Rooms

The first thing you notice about your apartment is the amount of light - large windows let the sun pour in, and walls, carpets and sofas come in bright white or neutral beige. The second thing you notice is the space: you get a living room with a dining table, a bedroom with a kingsize bed, an ensuite, and a well equipped kitchen. The 2-bedroom apartments also have a twin room, a second bathroom and a hallway-cum-study with a desk.

The décor is simple, stylish and classically elegant. Cushions, paintings and vases of fresh flowers provide flashes of lime green, and bronze is reflected throughout - in the silk curtains, the mosaic-tiled coffee tables, and the spindly wrought-iron chairs and dressing tables. Perhaps inspired by the garden outside (which most apartments overlook), there are whispers of the natural world in the fabrics and furnishings - the white bed linens are embroidered with subtle floral patterns, and the metal light fittings resemble feathers, leaves or twisted branches.

Bathrooms are clad in grey and white marble and feel a little austere compared to the other rooms, but they have everything you need: tubs with powerful overhead showers, piles of fluffy towels, and bottles of Ren toiletries.

There's also a 3-bedroom penthouse with 2 large roof terraces, direct lift access and views across Maida Vale.

Features include:

• Fan
• Hairdryer
• In-room treatments available
• Iron
• Safe box
• Tumble dryer
• Washing machine
• WiFi

Eating

The kitchens have everything you need for whipping up simple meals. Sleek cupboards hide a fridge-freezer, a dishwasher, a washing machine and a tumble dryer. There's also an oven, hob, microwave, kettle and a Nespresso coffee machine.

Some of the apartments have more compact kitchens, but all are stocked with a complimentary welcome pack (coffee, tea, sugar, milk, cookies, hot chocolate and mineral water) as well as some other essentials like bin bags and washing-up liquid.

There's a small supermarket a short walk away. There is also a shopping service available - send staff a list before you arrive and you’ll find your cupboards stocked.

There are also plenty of dining options within walking distance. The Warrington right next door is a glamerous spot for an evening tipple. Paulette comes highly recommended, and The Cheese Barge is great for some cosy bites with a water view.

Features include:

• Coffee maker
• Dishwasher
• Fridge
• Full kitchen
• Hob or stove
• Kids' meals
• Meal delivery service
• Microwave
• Oven
• Restaurants nearby
• Shopping service
• Toaster

Activities

• Stroll along the Grand Union Canal, past brightly painted houseboats, weeping willows and quaint bridges, stopping to feed the ducks and sip coffee at a waterside café
  
• Take to the water on a boat trip. Jasons Trip runs 45-minute cruises to Camden Lock aboard a century-old narrow boat (April-October only)
  
• If you’re more of a land-lubber, join a guided walking tour with London Walks. A walk around Little Venice departs from Warwick Avenue Tube station at 2pm every Saturday and Sunday, and there are dozens of themed tours to choose from in the city centre, including ‘Literary London’, ‘Blood-Curdling London’, ‘London at War’ and ‘Subterranean London’
  
• Walk the short distance to Abbey Road Studios and giggle as tourists try to recreate the famous Beatles album cover on the zebra crossing outside. Home of many legendary recordings (including Pink Floyd tracks and the scores for the Star Wars and Lord of the Rings films), the studios are now a protected historical site
  
• Spend a few hours wandering around Clifton Nurseries (a 5-minute walk away). London’s oldest garden centre, it’s been open since 1851 and is brimming with exotic plants, beautiful garden accessories and impressive floral displays
  
• Jump on the Tube and head to Regent’s Park. Splash around on the boating lake, then visit the lions, gorillas and tigers at London Zoo. During summer, you can also watch Shakespeare at the park’s open-air theatre
  
• Browse London’s famous markets. Head to Portobello Road in nearby Notting Hill for vintage clothes and trendy homeware, try Camden Market for cult fashion, second-hand clothing and eclectic crafts, or go to Alfie’s Antique Market in Marylebone for furniture, art and collectables

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Boat trips
• Historical sites
• Museums / galleries
• Plantlife / flora
• Private guided tours
• Shopping / markets
• Wildlife

Kids

Europa House makes a great London base for families - the apartments offer lots of space, and the huge garden with a playground provides a safe outdoor area. You're away from the city-centre crowds, yet the main attractions are easily accessible via the Tube or taxi, and the 24-hour telephone concierge can help with anything you need.

You get the Europa House Kids Directory on arrival, this details all local parks and playgrounds as well as their Top Ten of Fun Things to Do in London. There's also a toy cupboard with an impressive number of toys, books and games to which children can help themselves - when our Kids Collection Editor visited, her daughter loved the sign on the door which said 'Keep Out, Kids Only'! For assistance with any other kids equipment, there is a dedicated kids' concierge to help make the youngest guests feel at home.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Toddlers (1-4 years), Children (4-12 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

The 2-bedroom apartments have a master bedroom with a kingsize bed for the grown-ups and a twin room for the kids, as well as a second bathroom - and both bathrooms have baths. Larger families should opt for the 3-bedroom apartment, which is directly accessible by the lift. Cots and extra beds can be added to all apartments.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

Distances:

• Airport: 40 minutes (London Heathrow)
• Hospital: 5-10 minutes
• Shops: 2 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Europa House is in Little Venice, West London. It’s a 5-minute walk from Maida Vale and Warwick Avenue Tube stations (both on the Bakerloo line), and 1.5km north of Paddington rail station.

By Air:
London City (20km away) is the closest airport, but most scheduled airlines fly into London Heathrow (27km away) or London Gatwick (50km away). Some budget airlines land at London Luton (49km away) or London Stansted (60km away). Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving these airports.

From the Airport
You can get taxis to Europa House from London Heathrow, Gatwick and City airports. Staff can also arrange transfers (see Rates) or you can take public transport (see below).

By Train:
Rail services to London from elsewhere in the UK arrive at Paddington, Marylebone, King’s Cross, St Pancras, Euston, Waterloo, Liverpool Street or Victoria stations, all of which are an easy Tube ride from the apartments. International Eurostar trains from Paris, Lille and Brussels arrive at St Pancras station.

From Heathrow airport you can take the fast Heathrow Express rail service or the slightly slower Heathrow Connect service to Paddington. The Gatwick Express service travels from Gatwick airport to Victoria in 30 minutes, and the Stansted Express takes 45-60 minutes to reach Liverpool Street station. There's a Docklands Light Rail (DLR) service from London City airport to Bank, where you can connect with the Tube network.

By Coach:
Coach services from all the above airports and elsewhere in the UK arrive at London Victoria. These are often much cheaper - but considerably slower - than the train.

By Car:
Driving around London can be stressful so most people rely on public transport. However, if you want to hire a car see our car rental recommendations. There’s a secure underground car park beneath Europa House (at an additional cost).

Getting Around:
Buses and Tube lines serve all areas of London, and the Bakerloo line provides a direct link between Little Venice and Paddington, Marylebone, Baker Street, Regent’s Park, Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus. For the cheapest fares buy a pre-paid Oyster card, which is valid on all bus and Tube services, as well as overground trains in the London area.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to the UK and getting around