Impossibly Posh.  Unless you have one million pounds at your disposal, don’t even think of buying real estate in South Kensington. This is the west London borough of Kensington and Chelsea, home to the most expensive residential district in Europe. The world’s largest museum of decorative arts and design, The Victoria and Albert Museum, is in South Ken.  You cannot leave London without visiting the much-loved V and A.   

There are, however, some (surprisingly) affordable places to stay in this area. I stayed in modest accommodation on this beautiful street. A perfect location.

I like staying here because it’s central and near several of my old hunting grounds. I lived and worked in London on two different occasions, the last being in 2005 when I lived for a year in a friend’s house in Fulham.  From my hotel, I jump on the number 14 bus which takes me all the way down the Fulham Road. There’s a friendly café where I like to sit in the sun and have breakfast, the kind of breakfast you can’t even find in France: one morning I had eggs benedict, the next morning a bacon sarny with HP sauce.  So delicious.

Directly across the road is my favourite bookshop complete with espresso bar, not to mention great books and the daily newspapers to read.  This was my hangout in 2005. I’m glad to see that the place is still thriving.

NEXT UP: Marylebone High Street.