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BALCONY VIEW FROM THE CATHERINE OF ARAGON APARTMENT
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BEDROOM WITH A VIEW
AT THE CATHERINE OF
ARAGON APARTMENT
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is a one-bedroom, one-bathroom, London apartment, a comfortable lodging for two to four
persons. The apartment is on the fifth floor of a building bordering
exclusive
ST. KATHARINE'S MARINA BY THE TOWER OF LONDON. This riverside location provides a quiet
pedestrian marina atmosphere plus easy access to all of Central London.
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COMFORTABLE LIVING
ROOM AND PRACTICAL, FULLY EQUIPPED KITCHEN
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HISTORY: During the Middle Ages,
KING HENRY VIII
and his six wives were often
in residence at the neighboring
TOWER OF LONDON, then a
royal palace as well as a fortress.
CATHERINE OF ARAGON was
wife #1 (1509–33). With her husband, Catherine became royal patron of
the St. Katharine’s hospice that had occupied this site since at least
the twelfth century when it served as both a hospital and a lodging for
travelers and pilgrims. When Catherine failed to produce a male heir,
Henry had the marriage annulled and married
ANNE
BOLEYN, in the process
breaking with the Church of Rome. Catherine was re-titled as
"Princess Dowager of Wales" and lived three more years. She is buried in
Peterborough Abbey. Her daughter, Mary, eventually became Queen of
England ("BLOODY
MARY"). |
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THE
APARTMENT: The apartment has
one twin bedroom as well as a good size bathroom (with tub/shower), a
living room with a TV double fold-out couch bed, a well-equipped kitchen
(microwave, dishwasher, coffee maker, and washer/dryer), and a small
furnished balcony looking southwest across the marina toward the Tower
Bridge. The apartment comes with a hair dryer and a coin-operated
tabletop pay phone.
Like most European city apartments, the apartment is compact, but
well equipped, |
OPEN-PLAN LIVING/DINING ROOM |
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comfortable, and
well kept. Its optimal occupancy is two persons, but it can accept a
family of three or four by employing the sofa bed in the living room.
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FLOOR PLAN OF THE CATHERINE OF ARAGON APARTMENT
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While the entrance and hallways of the apartment building
are undecorated and lack a concierge or doorman, the complex is safe (with a
coded entry system), well-managed, and clean. The building has stainless steel
lifts (elevators) that are kept spotless.
Guests are met upon arrival by the friendly apartment
manager who
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lives in the
marina complex. He opens the apartment, explains its workings, and is available
throughout your stay to answer any questions you might have. |
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THE SETTING:
ST.
KATHARINE'S MARINA
is located on the north bank of the
RIVER
THAMES
about a five-minute walk from the famous
TOWER OF
LONDON
and the
TOWER BRIDGE.
The apartment is a
seven-to-ten-minute, traffic-free walk from the
TOWER HILL UNDERGROUND STATION
(subway trains) and
TOWER GATEWAY
(for the Dockland Light Railway),
and a three-minute walk to a bus stop for London’s well-known red
double-decker buses.
The Marina is a traffic-restricted pedestrian zone, which does
not permit cars |
TOWER BRIDGE FROM THE RIVER ENTRANCE
TO ST. KATHARINE'S MARINA
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other than for a few
privileged residents who are provided with underground parking.
Strolling to the
DICKENS INN
or to any of several of other marina restaurants and cafés is a
pleasure. The marina offers exclusive shopping at several small
boutiques. There is also a
STARBUCKS
coffee shop in the center of the marina.
TOWER HILL UNDERGROUND
STATION
PROVIDES QUICK, CONVENIENT ACCESS TO
ALL OF CENTRAL LONDON WITHIN 30 MINUTES. |
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After a day of sightseeing in the hustle and bustle of downtown
London, you will find the marina’s quiet atmosphere a real joy. On the
outside edge of the Marina is a state-of-the-art
WAITROSE
SUPERMARKET,
ideal for guests wishing to make good use of the apartment’s
fully equipped kitchen. In the small shopping center by
the supermarket there is also a laundry/dry cleaner, a bookstore,
and a video shop. |
DICKENS INN: 2
RESTAURANTS & A PUB
IN THIS 18TH CENTURY BREWERY IN
THE HEART OF ST. KATHARINE'S MARINA. |
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THE TOWER OF
LONDON, LONDON'S
#1 VISITOR ATTRACTION. THE
TOWER WOULD HAVE BEEN WELL-
KNOWN TO CATHERINE OF ARAGON. |
LOCATION: St.
Katharine’s Marina is just five minutes, traffic-free walking from London’s
number one attraction,
THE TOWER OF
LONDON. The 1,000-year-old
fortress occupies the southeast corner of the original Roman city of London.
This 2,000-year-old city is today’s vibrant square mile of banking and
international commerce, a mixture of post-modern skyscrapers and great history.
THE CITY
(as it is known) offers museums, restaurants, and pubs of all sizes and styles
(and for all budgets). It also has historic churches, open and covered markets,
and some of Europe’s great architecture, including the
TOWER BRIDGE,
the
SWISS RE BUILDING, and
ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL.
Tracing both sides of the River Thames are
pedestrians-only "pathways". Within traffic-free walking distance of St.
Katharine’s Marina are such attractions as the
HMS
BELFAST
naval warship |
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museum,
SHAKESPEARE'S NEW
GLOBE THEATRE, the
exciting
TATE MODERN
art museum, the
LONDON EYE
super Ferris wheel, and the
popular
BOROUGH MARKET.
Great restaurants and pubs line the pathways on both shores, including several
historic pubs still lining the river in suddenly-upscale
COCKNEY EAST LONDON.
Beyond walking
distance but easily reached by Underground, bus, river boat, and light
rail in 30 minutes or less are all the famous attractions
of London, e.g.:
GREENWICH
(22min),
WESTMINSTER & PARLIAMENT
(11min),
SOUTH BANK THEATRES
(23min),
COVENT GARDEN THEATRES
(30min,
PICCADILLY CIRCUS
(22min),
REGENT'S PARK
(25min),
THE BRITISH MUSEUM
(30min),
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
(25min),
and
HARROD'S DEPARTMENT STORE
(30min).
AVAILABILITY:
For current availability information, call
HOME AT FIRST at
(800) 523-5842, or contact us by e-mail at:
info@homeatfirst.com. |
THE RETIRED WARSHIP
HMS BELFAST IS A FLOATING
MUSEUM MOORED IN THE
RIVER THAMES JUST WEST
OF THE TOWER BRIDGE. |
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Learn more about
HOME AT FIRST's travel program to:
LONDON. |
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