CHEAP SLEEPS IN LONDON
"Cartwright Gardens is one of the
most beautiful crescents of Georgian town houses in
London. Due to the high property values and taxes, individual
owners
have been replaced by B&B's. Guests return to the
14 room Jenkins year after year, drawn by the tranquil
location and the outgoing manner of the owners, Felicity
Langley-Hunt and Sam Bellingham, and the black Labrador
Georgie doubling as the official greeter. The home-like
rooms are not fancy and some are very small if you are
storing shopping loot or bulky suitcases. That do provide
the basic comforts and are all clean. No. 11, on the
top floor with a view but no bathroom is a good choice
for two singles traveling together. So is No. 10, which
has the added advantage of being made into a double-bedded
roost if desired. No. 9 is one of the largest. If you
don't mind being a bit below ground level (quite common
in London B&B hotels), then No.1 is a quiet choice.
The bathroom is outside the room, but there is a sink
inside and more space than some of the other rooms.
When you are at the hotel be sure to admire the delicately
hand embroided silk flowers framed with a poem that
are hung throughout the hotel. In the 1920's these flowers
came in cigarette packages, along with seeds, instructions
on how to grow them, and a poem describing each flower
variety. Mr. Bellingham found a large collection of
these in a box belonging to his Grandfather and had
them framed for the hotel. They are a special touch
that everyone seems to enjoy.
There is no downstairs reception or sitting room so
you will be received in the large kitchen with a big
table in the centre. Guests gather each morning in a
pretty blue and white breakfast room with lacey white
table covers and fresh flowers on the tables. Key to
the gardens opposite the hotel are available for any
one who wants to play a set or two of tennis or just
relax from sight-seeing and shopping for an hour or
two"
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