The best hotels in Notting Hill

For bath-related celebrity antics, the Portobello has no equal: Alice Cooper kept his snake in his, while Johnny Depp filled a tub with champagne for Kate Moss (no doubt the 24-hour honesty bar in the Sitting Room has some stories to tell). But don't arrive expecting some kind of rock ’n’ roll squat: The Portobello is a refined townhouse, with individually themed rooms – murals in the 'Cosy' rooms and fancy-pants details like claw-foot baths if you can afford to splash out on the 'Signature'. Despite being part of a Georgian terrace, the area is nice and quiet, but you're not far from the action if you want it. There are worse places to revive yourself. The breakfast here is divine too.

For a cute, British boutique vibe, make a beeline for The Laslett. We're not talking Union Jacks all over the place. Oh no. It's much more elegant at this four-star stay, which is stuffed with furniture and artwork by UK artists, as well as organic coffee from London's own CRU Kafe. Do a little exploring and you'll find a library of artsy fartsy books, plus the fine Henderson Bar & Kitchen in the lobby, named for Russ Henderson, one of the founders of Notting Hill Carnival. The 'Master' doubles upwards have Big (note: not mini) bars full of craft beer and locally sourced treats, while even the smaller 'Spare Rooms' boast classic Penguins for bedtime reading. Should you find time to leave such a heaven, you're less than a minute from the tube.

London’s very first ‘gin hotel’ brings to mind mother’s ruin pouring from the taps (which would bring new meaning to the term ‘bathtub gin’). In reality, this three-bedroom boutique hotel in Notting Hill doesn’t quite have you swimming in the stuff, but it’s certainly tapped into something good. The concept comes from the team behind Portobello Road Gin and comprises three en-suite bedrooms on the building’s peaceful top floor, two bars and The Ginstitute masterclass in the basement. It's worth noting this accomodation is adults-only, given that it's practically overflowing with booze, and each room is fairly affordably priced at a fixed £150 for the two bigger rooms and £125 for the small double.

Conveniently located at the foot of Portobello Road, No.6 is a London-brick townhouse that offers twice-weekly serviced apartments with white-tiled bathrooms and compact but fully equipped kitchenettes. The decor is simple but smart, in black and white, with a few concessions to flamboyance – oversized button-punch headboards, for instance. Room rates are cheaper if you book for a month and reception is just a key code for the door, but you can otherwise use the apartments like a hotel. A self-catering option is there, but given you're a five minute walk from all sorts of bars, pubs, Michelin-starred restaurants – and lovely not Michelin-starred restaurants – we wouldn't judge you for skipping on the washing up.