I travel to the UK about once a year for a few weeks. I prefer to rent apartments instead of staying in hotels because it provides privacy and space for multiple guests, offers the conveniences of home (kitchen, laundry), and it's always a better price than booking individual hotel rooms.

On a recent business trip to London (February), I rented a Meridian Place apartment in Canary Wharf near the South Quay DLR station for a week. There were four of us in our group - a film crew working on a documentary.

I booked the apartment with "Monika" about eight weeks in advance of our trip. I made the booking through Holiday Lettings (brought to you by TripAdvisor), and paid my deposit via PayPal. Booking was relatively easy although some initial confusion resulted in my receiving someone else's confirmation letter, and some of the replies to my questions were delayed. Monika was apologetic for the delays. No big deal. Things happen.

When we arrived, I phoned Monika who came to greet us and show us the apartment. It was very spacious - every bit as big as the pictures in the Holiday Lettings listing promised. The layout of the apartment was great, and everything was well-kept and in good working order.

We shopped at a small Tesco about two minutes away, and the nearby South Quay DLR was also very convenient, easily connecting us to the Underground, and all of London.

On our fourth night, long after midnight, a man beat on our door begging us to help him. He said a woman in the apartment next to ours was "being raped".

I called the police.

While waiting for the police, the man told us he was the boyfriend of the woman in the apartment next door. He said he came to surprise her and take her to dinner to celebrate Valentine's Day (after midnight?), and found another man in her apartment, raping her.

A woman who exited the apartment did not appear to be upset. The boyfriend asked her if "she had been paid". She said she had not been paid.

A security guard for the building arrived as the boyfriend was struggling with the other man in the doorway of the woman's apartment. The security guard put his hands in the air, declared he "did not want to get involved", and then left.

Realizing the circumstances were not as we'd been led to believe, we retired to our own apartment and waited for the police to arrive. Just before they arrived, the man locked in the apartment tried to climb over the balcony, lost his footing, and fell from the third story to the ground below. He was later taken away in an ambulance.

The police called the next day insisting we give statements. This required us to take time out of our busy (and expensive) schedule to visit the local police station, where we were questioned for several hours.

The police officer - PC Williams of the Limehouse Police Station - told me he believed our neighbor was a prostitute, and the man locked in the apartment was there to receive services he could not, or would not, pay for. She most likely called the "boyfriend" to force the man to pay.

Officer Williams also told me the security guard for the apartment building was not cooperative with their investigation. That did not surprise me, considering his reluctance to "get involved" while a pair of strange men wrestled in the hallway outside our door.

Before leaving the Meridian Place apartments, we found small pamphlets in the courtyard outside, advertising our next door neighbor's "tantric massage" services.

I informed Monika of the incident and when we checked out, the staff (Monika was not there) apologized, insisting nothing like that had ever happened before. That was their full reaction to the circumstance. They didn't press me for more information, or ask about any details. They simply returned my deposit, minus mandatory cleaning expenses, and bid me farewell.

I've never witnessed anything like this in my travels. Not fun. And ultimately, my crew and I lost a half day's work.

It probably goes without saying, but I would not chance renting from this listing again. It's a nice building, and a nice apartment in an (apparently) good area. The price is very fair. And Monika was helpful in accommodating us - meeting us on time, giving us a thorough tour, and providing additional bedding and pillows. But I wouldn't risk experiencing anything like that again.

To be fair, I can't really blame Monika or her staff for what happened. I assume she and her staff were unaware there was a "tantric massage" business being run out of the apartment next to ours. I don't know if they own that apartment or not, but the business being run out of it does not mix well with the apartment rental, next door, in my opinion.

I would suggest they replace the building's security guard for failing to "get involved" or cooperate with the police, and then report the masseuse to the building's management. All the relative information they need is on file with PC Williams, at the Limehouse Police Station.


Thanks

i stayed here with my family for 7 nights and it was really good
very spaciaous , we were 5 but the appartment can take 8 people , equipped kitchen with all you need , every thing was good... more

This apartment was ideal as a base for seeing London. Near to the Docklands Light Railway and Underground for travelling to the sites. The apartment has a wonderful view of Canary Wharf and you can see the Millenium dome and boats going on the Thames . It is in a very new development overlooking the old docks away from traffic so it is very quiet during the day and at night . it is very well furnished and had all the faciities expected. The owner met us on arrival and was very courteous and informative. Also the underground car park was great as we could just leave the car knowing it was safe and secure.

We heartily recommend this listing and will be staying here on future trips to London. We rented this flat during the Olympics. The condo is sizable for London, provided two bedrooms and two baths.... more

My husband, 2 boys of4and7, and mysellf had a very pleasant stay at a similar apartment from the same owner. Mrs Goyal was very friendly and helpful throughout, even returning our deposit in cash... more

The apartment is a neat and clean 2 bed 2 bath place with basic furnishing and upholstery. We were a family of 6 and the beds were meant only for 5. We had a little trouble sleeping the first night... more

We stayed here for two weeks and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a comfortable place to stay, safe and secure and within easy access to public transport. There is a very handy... more