Plan your stay · NourNest
How to choose a London apartment for your family
By NourNest · Published · Updated
Start with where everyone will sleep, how you will use the shared space and the route from the street to the front door. A maximum guest number does not tell you whether an apartment suits your family. Confirm the actual beds, bathrooms, cooking facilities and access before comparing price and location.
Count bedrooms and beds separately
An apartment advertised for six people could offer several different sleeping arrangements. Check which beds are in separate bedrooms, whether anyone will sleep in the living room and whether a sofa bed needs opening each evening.
For a family with different bedtimes, think about what happens after the first child goes to sleep. Can the rest of the family still use the lounge? Will someone need to walk through a sleeping area to reach the bathroom? A floor plan or clear description can answer questions that a wide-angle photograph cannot.
Compare apartments using the same checklist
| Your family’s need | Detail to confirm |
|---|---|
| Separate bedtimes | Bedrooms with doors and the location of any sofa bed |
| Morning routine | Bathroom count and whether bathrooms are shared or en suite |
| Meals at home | Cooking equipment, fridge space and dining seats |
| Laundry | In-apartment or shared facilities, drying arrangements and any charges |
| A pushchair | Entrance steps, lift access and permitted storage |
| A travel cot | Availability, suitability, dimensions and what is supplied |
| Time indoors | Seating and usable shared space with all beds in use |
Use the details of the apartment you are booking. Features on a general website page or in a photograph of another property should not substitute for that check.
Think through breakfast and the evening meal
A kitchen can make it easier to keep familiar routines. Check whether it has the equipment you actually plan to use, rather than treating “kitchen” as a complete inventory. A short breakfast stop needs less equipment than cooking a full evening meal.
Count dining seats as well as beds. Ask whether a high chair is available if you need one. Travel cots and high chairs must be pre-ordered with NourNest; confirm availability, suitability, any charges and what is supplied for your stay.
Check the full arrival route
Arriving with tired children, luggage and a pushchair is different from arriving with a small overnight bag. Ask about the route from the street through the building and into the apartment. There may be steps before a lift or stairs inside a home.
If avoiding steps is essential, describe the requirement precisely. Check the whole public-transport journey too, including station access, changes and the walk at either end. Use TfL’s journey planner for current route options.
Choose a neighbourhood around your actual plans
List two or three places you most want to visit, then compare journeys from your shortlisted apartments. Leave room for food shopping, a slower morning and an early return. The best base for your family depends on that routine and the apartment itself.
For a stay around Shoreditch, our east-London family-day guide offers a flexible starting point. For a longer visit, read our longer-stay guide. Neither replaces checking the location and facilities of your chosen apartment.
Compare the total booking cost
Request a quote for your dates and everyone staying, including children. Check compulsory charges, any deposit, optional equipment and the cancellation or amendment conditions. If you are comparing an apartment with two hotel rooms, compare the actual room and bed arrangements as well as the total payable.
Our apartments-versus-hotels page can help you frame the choice. The right answer depends on your family’s priorities and the options available for your dates.
Family booking questions
Does “sleeps six” mean three bedrooms?
No. Capacity can include sofa beds or other arrangements. Check the bedroom count and the location and type of each bed.
Does a lift mean the apartment is step-free?
Not necessarily. Ask about entrance steps, the lift route, thresholds and any internal stairs.
Are a cot and high chair automatically included?
Do not assume so. Pre-order them and confirm the arrangements for your booking.
What should I send with a family enquiry?
Include dates, adults and children, children’s ages where relevant to equipment, preferred sleeping arrangements, budget and essential access needs.
Browse NourNest apartments, then send your family’s dates and requirements.