Kensington and Chelsea

The pastel streets really are as pretty as people say, and Portobello Road has more to it than the tourist stretch. It is expensive, and parking is a constant headache, but the area feels settled and green.

I come for the market most months. Lovely to look at and great for antiques, but Saturdays are shoulder-to-shoulder and a lot of the cafés are pricey for what they are.

People often describe it as pretty but busy, and that feels fair. Carnival weekend transforms the area completely — brilliant if you want to be part of it, worth planning around if you don't.