Opposite a housing estate and cheap Somali diners, the family home of an interior designer has become the B&B of choice for movie stars and fashion movers. The ‘micro-boutique hotel’ looks extraordinary (kitchen frescoes, a music room with Beatles drumkit, a lion’s head tap in the bath), but each stay is made individual by owner David Carter’s commitment to his guests, making them feel they’re staying with a fabulous friend rather than just renting a room.
Too late to book? Intriguing soirées such as Bedtime Stories (for which everyone must wear pyjamas) open the house to a wider audience. It’s flamboyant, fashionable and very cool.