Things are changing in London. It’s become increasingly evident over the past few years years that tourists are looking for alternative ways to embrace holiday culture – they want to sleep, live and act like a local (no surprise really, when in Rome and all that). With over 1,000 of London’s best homes to choose from, and some of the city’s best perks to run alongside this (fridge refills and maid service, anyone?) it seems home sharing service Veeve has found an ideal solution to that. As the world’s number one tourist capital, with nearly 19 million visitors last year alone, London is the perfect home for the service, who are inviting all city-loving travellers to enjoy an effortless stay in a real London home. For a fraction of the price, you can wave goodbye to dull hotel memories or the very real danger of rodent infested rental apartments, and instead welcome character, security and effortless bliss.
Our stay with Veeve was second to none, beginning with a welcome from a Veeve greeter at the entrance to our luxury apartment in Imperial Wharf (the kind of attentiveness you would expect from top quality hotel staff). After all, security and location knowledge are top of the list in tourist worries, so it was reassuring to know Veeve had it all covered. They even provide users with brochures to explore the city and a handbook to field any queries: every little helps.
It’s that sense of individuality though, that really gives the service its edge: each of the 1,000 locations rented by Veeve has its own story. From the Victorian townhouses in Fullham, to the minimalist Chelsea penthouses, there’s something to suit every customer’s whim and every interior preference. Filled with character, our own apartment was exactly what a crisp winter’s day in England requires: wall to wall windows allowing light to flood in, banishing those February blues. Furnishings were chicly Scandinavian in influence and contemporary art hung on the walls, adding splashes of colour to the plush cream linens and low key decor. Then there are the two kingsize bedrooms, both of which could compete for the title of master room thanks to well-appointed furnishing and a square footage that would put most hotel rooms to shame. With heaving bookshelves and homely touches, the place was just begging to be Instagrammed – don’t act like you wouldn’t.
All too often you leave a hotel room feeling like you’ve had an identikit experiences shared by countless strangers, but Veeve really does offer a new, personal way to travel. Add to that the range of top tier locations across Central London on offer, and you might well ask: who needs a hotel?
