Okay, Once Streatham High Road was chosen as the worst and most polluted high street in Britain. That election was, of course, the outcome of a Radio 4 survey, and while I have great regard for the station, its wider demographic is likely not so interested on the high streets of South London lined with chicken stores and Asian supermarkets. But that was also a long time away in 2002, and London is changing so quickly that after five years, never mind 15, vast parts of it are unrecognizable.

There are still quite a few chicken stores, but now a clutch of fresh bars and vibey hotels have entered them, catering the sprinkling of expensive fresh people from neighboring Tooting, Balham and Clapham. Where else can you discover Moorish, West African and Indian cafes–three in a line–just a little further down with Chinese, Vietnamese, Lebanese, Japanese, Spanish and fine ancient cor-blimey-ya-buleeve-it British grub? Or a bakehouse wedged between Chicken Cottage and the merchant of a plumber? Streatham is in that magnificent mid-stage of posing up: there are sprouts, but it’s still down-to-earth and’ true,’ whatever that implies.

So enjoy your free time wandering around Streatham high street while Heritage dry cleaners take care of your dry cleaning and laundry in Streatham.