In chic yet quirky Notting Hill, visitors can live like a local at Caroline Main’s eclectic Victorian guest house. Each spacious, uncluttered suite occupies an entire floor and has a tasteful mix of mellow wood, white walls and harmonious prints and artworks. Independent travellers are well supplied with the essentials for city exploration (guidebooks and maps, water, an umbrella), plus everything they might have forgotten (books, a hair dryer). The day starts with tea or coffee brought to the room, then breakfast at the nearby deli or artisan bakery (discounts available). Guests can also entertain visitors – a special doorbell is just for that purpose. (Underground: Notting Hill Gate)