Airb&b cancelled 🤷‍♀️ Need Canary Wharf holiday apartments help

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I am really unfamiliar with London and asking for some help organising our stay please.

As it says on the title my friend booked holiday stay ages ago and the owner has just cancelled. I am quite sickened about it.

We need a flat around Canary Wharf area - this area has been selected as we thought it would be safe and convenient and we will be travelling with one 10 child after a friend recommended it.

The notification has just come through that the apartment is cancelled, no explanation, nothing.
Ive spent all day looking for an alternative but o have NO idea, I don’t know London at all.
Could anyone help please?

Dates are 24 July to 31 July. 2 adults one child.
As reasonable as possible, £1300 or under if possible.

An apartment will give us some space and be cheaper to do breakfast/lunches. Maybe two adjoining rooms in a hotel would work??

We just want to do the London touristy things, will be unfamiliar with tubes and so on too.

Any help please.

Are the Staybridge brand worth looking at? We stayed in one at Heathrow, buses stop right outside and go directly to Heathrow tube station and all the various transport into central London.

The suites have a living room with pull out sofa bed separate to the main bedroom, and kitchenette area. A wonderful buffet breakfast was also included.

I think I would be quite happy to stay there for several days if I was taking the family to London again.

I didn't realise at the time but they also do Blue Light discounts as they're part of the ihg group

Totally agree. Having worked and lived there for many years I can honestly say it's fantastic. We've since left the bright lights and wine bars (not forgetting the shoe shops 😆) behind .. but I go back often and it's a great place to have a base for seeing more of London. Also check out what's on at the excel - look at properties that side of the water! Silvertown is on the dlr and you must also do the cable car from the O2.

Thanks this is what my friend keeps saying. We booked months ago and I was so smug to have holiday sorted and now it’s all blown up!

I have looked at all hotel options but 3 of us in one room won’t work and two hotels rooms cost too much.

I can see no option but to choose something from Airb&b. There are slim pickings though. Need to get this sorted tonight, it’s all I’ve done every free second today.

Fraser Place Canary Wharf has one bed apartments with a sofa bed in the living room if that would work? I think would come in just under £1300

https://www.frasershospitality.com/en/united-kingdom/london/fraser-place-canary-wharf/

London Canary Wharf premier inn has a cancellable family room for just under £1000 for your dates.

i know you don’t want to all be in one room, but having a cancellable option held might let you catch your breath.

Or you can get two non-flex rooms (one for you, one for friend and DD) for £1,500 which I know is top end of the budget.

Have you tried Vrbo?

this is from vrbo, a bit over £1300, but just one double bed & one double sofa bed so not sure if that will work.

Or this on air bnb, also a little over £1300, 3 separate bedrooms! Bit far from Canary Wharf centre/tube but not too bad.

We lived in London for years and stay in either Canary Wharf or Greenwich when we visit now. We find having the shops and restaurants close by in CW really useful after a busy day sightseeing plus it has great transport links (Thames Clippers, Jubilee Line, DLR and Elizabeth Line).

Greenwich is close to CW on the DLR as well and is a gorgeous place to visit with a lovely park and museums - there are 2 Stay City apartment hotels in Greenwich which are decent and the Premier Inn there is often cheaper than other ones in London so you might be able to get interconnecting rooms?

I've also heard good things about Cove Landmark in Canary Wharf which has apartments for 3 but might be top end of budget.

www.airbnb.com/slink/wSM2F5KX

This one is near Canary Wharf and has good reviews, OP.

Sorry that your booking cancelled on you. That's really crap 😡

https://www.booking.com/searchresults.en-gb.html?ss=London&groupadults=2&grouppchildren=1&norooms=2&age=8&sbbtravelpurpose=leisure&ssne=London&ssneeuntouched=London&highlightedhotels=4977861&sbbchangeddates=1&label=clicktrip-bn-n28-140524-arkkcanarywharf-i6318165-s116224-wRa1PbVtelsb9iLTh-cuutab-d9001-dc1-bt351-mob&aid=1549630&lang=en-gb&sb=1&srcelem=sb&src=searchresults&desttid=-2601889&desttype=city&checkin=2024-07-24&checkout=2024-07-31&activeTab=srrmap

I’d look at Greenwich. It’s nice and very safe but a bit further out so cheaper and lots of touristy things to do there. About 10 mins to Canary Wharf on dlr and 20ish to Bank.

this one is in budget https://www.airbnb.com/slink/YZVuWvnt

It's very slim pickings on AirBNB as the few places left don't have any reviews (bad idea as that's way too risky) or have poor reviews (by AirBNB standards) or are way over budget.

This is the best place I can find within budget for the OP's dates. It's in east London (Leytonstone) which means 10 min walk to the tube then 18 mins on the Central line into the City.
https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/926027461955680451?adults=2&children=1&search_mode=regular_search&check_in=2024-07-24&check_out=2024-07-31&source_impression_id=p3_1715720347_JwnRjWz%2FTpnEHkWe&previous_page_section_name=1000&federated_search_id=55e26f4d-886a-4004-83a2-4d2cbeded319

Unfortunately given the very low budget for London, especially in peak holiday season, plus the relatively short notice, compromises need to be made so it's either more travel time or a complete dump or sharing one hotel room.

AirBNB clearly states "This home is in the bottom 10% of eligible listings based on ratings, reviews and reliability"

It was just an example. Not the only option. Although cheaper than others

I have read every post and considered every link and suggestion.
I am very touched at how many if you tried to help.
Not too sure what to do yet - there aren’t that many options at this stage.

We’ll keep looking, keep positive - it’ll turn up

I've had this happen with an air bnb booking (way more last minute, they cancelled three days prior to arrival) and air bnb were really helpful. They paid the price difference between our original place and the new one.

Has your friend asked air bnb for assistance?

Premier Inn County Hall or Blackfriars (Fleet Street) both come up around £750 for two rooms on your dates.

My teenage sons and I stayed in the Premier Inn near Canary Wharf this Easter, the hotel was really good, right next to Westferry DLR station so getting into central London was really easy. Eating out was ££ in Canary Wharf but it was a good base for us, I'd book there again.

Don't go on holiday to Norwood Junction! Heavens. I live near there so not knocking it as a good place to commute from but it's not a place to stay for fun.

<grin>

only thinking of it as a base that fit the price and transport requirements

I work in Canary Wharf and people are being ridiculous about its transport links which are brilliant! I had a meeting near Buckingham Palace last week and it took about 20 mins door to door on Jubilee line. For meetings in the city, it’s 3 stops on the Elizabeth line - 10 mins tops!

As for rush hour, people will be getting off at Canary Wharf in the mornings not on, and on in the evenings not off, so it’s a great place to be staying from that perspective as you will be travelling against the flow and more likely to get a seat. Even if you want to travel during rush hour on holiday - most people don’t!

I hope Air BNB can help find you a suitable replacement

I'd just add be very careful if booking airbnbs in areas like Canary Wharf as it's a ripe place for scams where people list lots of places using photos of same apartment, then cancel on you at the last minute and offer a 'replacement' nearby that's an absolute hole. Make sure it's got lots of reliable reviews before booking!

No never thought of doing this - it might be worth an email.
The premiere inn would be great if it was just for ourselves but we need a bit more space and to be able to prepare a few meals in the accommodation, but I’ll remember those for again - if this visit goes well!!
The comments about Norwich Junction amused me.
Thanks for your help, you’ve all been so kind and it really has helped.