LODGINGS IN LONDON.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLV, Issue 67, 20 March 1911, Page 3

LODGINGS IN LONDON.

*» The London correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald has some advice for Australians who purpose seeing the Coronation, which may be of use to some New Zealanders. Ordinarily, he says, the stream of visitors from the Commonwealth runs in a curiously well-defined course. Those who know could name a dozen hotels or boarding-houses which are never without their contingent of Australians. But these places will be already filled. In one case a private hotel had all its accommodation booked six months ago. He lays it down as a rule that the hunter for lodgings in the Metropolis should never take anything for granted, because, generally, it will not be granted if he does. The price quoted for rooms may not include gas, fires, attendance, or the use of bathroom. In fact, if the bathroom is not specially mentioned, it probably does not exist. The word *'bath" may imply an affair like an enlarged soup-plate, a..can. of hot water—and nothing more. It must not be forgotten that much of London was built before what we now regard as national habits were formed. Board is not usually included in the terms quoted in the answer io an advertisement for apartments. The landlady probably adds "meals as required." "Partial beard" means breakfast and dinner. Pricas of meals in these houses yajy according to circumstances, but the writer dinner as costing from Is 3d to 3s :6d, with other meals at proportionate rates. In small houses, near Earl's Court, or in the southern suburbs, there is usually no regular charge for meals, the landlady acting as a sort of housekeeper, ordering what food she is asked for and rendering a weekly account. She makes a charge for cooking. There are a few modern boarding-houses which advertise a regular tariff for board and lodging, as in Australia, but they are generally for men only. The tariff at these places runs from about 30s to £2 2s. Two bedroomsi and a sitting-room in "a good quarter cost about three guineas a week, and board, roughly, another two guineas;. Of course, cheaper board and lodging can be obtained even in these favored places. In the huge district of lodging-houses around the British Museum, or in Bayswater or Earl's Court, the cost of board and lodging combined might work out at from 30s to £2 10s per week. Taking a bright view, he states that there are still to be found women who have ha>4 domestic training, and, though, they may not be able to spell, they keep their houses cleaner than a model dairy. He ends with a pious wish that Australians may fall into the gooct hands of such as these. Yet the visitor from these parts of the world, if he recalls the most pathetic sketch that George Moore ever made, may mingle fears with his hopes.