Nothing beats the smell of freshly-baked bread, apart perhaps from the taste of freshly-baked bread. Get your fix at one of west London’s best bakeries in Teddington, Stamford Brook, St Margaret’s, Richmond and Chiswick

The Resident:

1 The French Tarte

Surbton’s award-winning patisserie café, The French Tarte, now has a sister site in teddington. Chef-owner Eric Guignard brings a delectable menu of cakes, pastries, savoury dishes and sandwiches, all available to be taken away, eaten in or al fresco on the tables outside. Open 7 days a week.

45 High Street, TeddingtonTW11 8HA; thefrenchtarte.co.uk

2 The Slow Bread Company

Set up by baker Nick May, The Slow Bread Company is locally known as THE go-to place for bread that’s a cut above the rest. As well as multigrain boules, baguettes, ciabattas, bagels and buns, true loaf lovers can request bespoke breads.

Arch 165, Stamford Brook Arches W6 0TQ; 020 8748 8486; slowbreadcompany.co.uk

3 La Boulangere

From baguettes to pain au levian, via an array of croissants, pastries, tartes and plamiers, there’s a freshly-baked treat to suits all tastes at this St Margarets-based bakery. They’ll even help you source your favourite French products, or deliver breakfast to your door!

2 Crown Road, St Margarets TW1 3EE; 020 8892 7990; laboulangere.co.uk

4 The Breadshop

The Breadshop’s huge range of breads, rolls and pastries are baked in the shop throughout the day, meaning you’ll find yourself drawn inside even if you didn’t know you were hungry! Make sure you try their four-seed roll – a scrummy mix of sunflower seeds, linseed, pumpkin seeds, potato flakes and sourdough.

5 The Quadrant, Richmond TW9 1DH; 020 8948 5664 breadshop.co.uk

5 Gail’s

The Resident: La BoulangereLa Boulangere

Perennially popular with ladies who lunch, those in search of after-school treat or coffee morning meetings, Gail’s on Chiswick High Street is a social hub as well as a bakery. The windows are stacked with an array of first-rate loaves adb there’s an impressive display of cakes too.

282 Chiswick High Road, ChiswickW4 1PA; 020 8995 2266; gailsbread.co.uk