The Independent Parent: 'Can we rent a flat to stay in for our trip to London?'

Q. We are planning to visit London with our three children over the Easter holidays. Having stayed in hotels in the past, we were wondering about renting some kind of an apartment, maybe with hotel-style facilities. We plan to be in London for about five days.
M Wilkins, Edinburgh

Q. We are planning to visit London with our three children over the Easter holidays. Having stayed in hotels in the past, we were wondering about renting some kind of an apartment, maybe with hotel-style facilities. We plan to be in London for about five days.
M Wilkins, Edinburgh

A. Staying in an apartment can be a very convenient option, particularly when travelling with children. It will give you the space, independence and flexibility that you wouldn't necessarily find in a hotel. It can also be cheaper. London has a fair amount of this style of accommodation, most of which tends to sleep a maximum of four people. However, I have found a couple of options that will sleep the five of you.

If price is more important than facilities, and if you don't mind going without some of the extra services of apart-hotels, such as breakfast, I'd suggest Astons Apartments (020-7590 6000; www.astons-apartments.com) at 31 Rosary Gardens, London SW7. The company has three Victorian town-houses that back on to a long garden where children can play. The houses are divided up into a range of accommodation, from small studios to executive suites.

Astons is within walking distance of the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and the V&A. There are lots of places to eat out nearby, as well as supermarkets. A two-bedroom apartment will cost £174 per night and a fifth bed can be supplied free of charge in the living room. Reception is open from 8am until 9pm and the apartments have a daily maid service.

If you would like to be based right in the heart of the city, you could try the Citadines Trafalgar Square Apartments, 18-21 Northumberland Avenue, London WC2 (0800 376 3898; www.citadines.com). Just a few minutes' walk from the National Gallery, these are well placed for theatres, cinemas and restaurants as well as the shops of Oxford Street and Covent Garden. The fully furnished two-bedroom flats sleep up to six people and have a 24-hour reception that can arrange babysitters. For an extra £9 per person you can have a continental buffet breakfast, or you might opt to use the fitted kitchen to make your own. Prices start at £247 per night for a two-bedroom flat, again with a pull-out bed in the living room. Citadines also offers apartments in three other central London locations - Holborn, Barbican and South Kensington.

If you want to splash out, Fraser Furnished Residences (020-7341 5599; www.fraserhospitality.com) offers a similar set-up but on a more luxurious level. It owns residences for longer-term rental in central London, but its new development at Canary Wharf might be a novel option. Located at 80 Boardwalk Place, it is a couple of minutes' walk from Canary Wharf's complex of shops and restaurants, while there are good transport links to central London or nearby Greenwich. The apartments all have modern interiors and kitchens, along with TVs, videos and a music system. A two-bedroom luxury flat that sleeps up to six people costs £270 per night. The apartment complex has its own café.

There will be plenty of attractions in the capital to keep you busy over Easter. You might like to let your children decide with the help of Visit London's new website, www.kidslovelondon.com, which offers information on special events in the capital over the holidays. It also gives lots of suggestions for places to visit and has a message board where children can share their experiences with others on their return.