The house

Two bedroom sleeping up to 4 guests, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, in Bayswater. Dress circle Against the backcloth of Bayswater, draped in boudoir prints, Queens Gardens III is dressed up to the nines. Contemporary textures and rich hues are teamed with a beloved old English theatricality, from the aged globe and vintage typewriter in the sitting room, to the chandelier in the bedroom. And if the secret of acting is to not trip over the furniture, you won’t have any trouble with the unmissable dressmaker’s mannequin or, come to that, the kaleidoscopic patchwork sofa.

Quick-change artist Your hosts are a pair of actors who divide their time between London and Bath. They fought off stiff competition to land the starring role in transforming Queens Gardens III into a truly emotive pied-a-terre. Apron stage Here in Queens Gardens III the rooms are theatrically proportioned, the lines are crisp, the artwork is abstract and the cushions are as bright as a first-night bouquet. You might sit back before the crackling hearth, or seek the sleek, monochrome kitchen.

The master bedroom is particularly well-positioned – look to its adjoining courtyard for lazy afternoons, or freshen up in its Narnia-style hidden ensuite. And, when the time comes to stride through Hyde Park or light up the West End, you should emerge right on cue. Between May and September a fan will be provided in all bedrooms.