West Kensington

Listen carefully and you might still hear the echoes of resident composers long passed. Once home to both Elgar and Holst, this viridian get-away tucked between some of London’s most bustling roads still boasts tranquility enough to draw poets and musicians seeking quietude to connect with their Muses. Don’t let its artistic kudos deceive you though – it’s also called “home” by a rich tapestry of students, professionals and families from across the globe: the antipodean twang of the Australians and Kiwis; the continental joie de vivre and private lycées of the French; the Middle Eastern mystique of the burgeoning Arab population.