GAIL's Bakery High Street Kensington

You're walking past the shop windows of High Street Kensington when the smell of fresh bread pulls you in. GAIL's does the basics brilliantly—their sourdough has a proper crust and crumb, and the croissants are laminated with real precision. It's the kind of place where you'll spot people grabbing breakfast before work, tourists queuing for a pastry, and locals who've worked out the off-peak times. The space is bright and functional rather than Instagram-heavy, which actually makes it feel more genuine than a lot of what's around here.