Fabulous Olympic flats in London

(MoneyWatch) COMMENTARY The 2012 Olympics kicked off on Friday, and millions tuned in to see the pageantry of the opening ceremonies on television. If the televised games aren't enough and you're thinking about taking a last-minute trip across the pond to see your favorite athletes compete live, be ready for your own competition -- vying with others for a place to stay.

So how do you decide on the best short-term rental for you? Make sure to choose something with easy access to public transit, as driving into London will be absolutely impossible. Not all events are taking place in London, either, so check out a few places in cities and towns outside of the Olympic Park.

These apartments, courtesy of Airbnb, all have plenty of charm, are close to public transit and offer the comforts of home while you're away enjoying the Olympics.

Lambeth. This charming apartment (pictured above) in South West London rents for $566 per week and is centrally located between all three Olympic venues. The marathon and cycling events go right past your door, so you won't even need to leave to check out the action. When you're not in the heart of the action, you can relax and take in the park views.

This roomy East London flat offers easy access to a variety of Olympic events.

(Credit: Airbnb) East London. This roomy flat in London rents for $1,066 per week and is located right near all the Olympic action.

It offers easy access to all the Olympic sites as well as to nearby buses and trains, in case you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. The apartment is roughly one year old, so it feels nearly new. You'll have a dishwasher, washer and dryer and plenty of other modern amenities right at your fingertips.

This flat in Hammersmith is close to public transit, so you'll have no trouble getting to all Olympic venues.

(Credit: Airbnb) Hammersmith. This gorgeous, roomy West London home features two bedrooms which can be used for guests. The rent -- $510 per week -- gets you both bedrooms and access to a newly updated kitchen, a patio garden and a nice, big flat-screen TV.

The location is unbeatable and very close to Olympic sites both in London and outside the city. Located five minutes from public transit, you can get to the Tower of London, Piccadilly Circus, Notting Hill, Trafalgar Square and Heathrow Airport in less than an hour.

Hackney. For a rent of $623 per week, you can wake up to some of the best views the borough has to offer. You'll be able to see the East End, City of London and West End -- all from your bed. This flat, like the others on this list, is near public transit which makes it easy to check out Olympic events. If you want some culture, this North London location also offers access to some of the best art galleries, bars, cafes and restaurants around.

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Stoke Newington. At a rental rate of $566 per week, this flat is located in the quaint East London neighborhood of Stoke Newington. It's close to the hippest bars, restaurants and clubs, and is only four train stops away from the Olympic complex. The loft-style abode features a modern kitchen, a washer and dryer, exposed brick and plenty of charm. Be sure to check out the farmer's market, which takes place just around the corner every Saturday.

Source: http://feeds.cbsnews.com/~r/IlyceGlink/~3/HEiZMokOOS0/

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