If you own a dog, cat, mouse, guinea pig, rabbit, snake or monkey (well, maybe not the monkey) then you'll be well positioned on Royal College Street with The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons situated at the south-east side. In fact, the street is named after the college, one of the top three vet schools in the world today. It began life in 1791, and all on account of a horse called Eclipse! In 1937 it underwent a stylish but loyal rebuild.

Talking of pets, when at home, yours won't be thrown into a blue funk by thundering trucks, boy/girl racers or obstreperous mopeds. The careful traffic calming measures affect all vehicles heading north away from King's Cross, climbing from Pancras Road north-west to Kentish Town Road.

Cars aren't the only way to travel if you live on Royal College Street. Why not don a pair of padded Lycra shorts and make use of the two way cycle lanes. The street is so long that a few lengths will bulk up your gastrocnemius muscles. You could extend your ride along Regent's Canal tow-path to Regent's Park. Cycling in the park is limited – a lap of the perimeter takes about 8 minutes – so why not tether your bike to the gate and walk around the gardens. Then on up to Primrose Hill to get an all-encompassing view of London.

Dependent on whether you're 5ft or 6ft tall, it should take you between 11 and 15 minutes to walk the length of Royal College Street. Such elongation allows for all styles of buildings: Victorian, Edwardian or contemporary. The southern entrance, opposite leafy Goldington Crescent Gardens, is framed by two different yet equally impressive buildings: a lovingly restored Edwardian residential block and a sumptuous curved modern block of 13 luxury flats (drum roll – all were sold in 2014 by Camden Bus). Many of the more modern four storey blocks situated on the west side are duplex (not the cleaning equipment company, but a plush flat on two floors with separate entrances) and come with outdoor terraces.

The street has a long association with literati. In 1864, Charles Dickens lived at what was then number 112. Later, in 1873, two infamous poets, Rimbaud and Verlaine, set up home (what, you've never heard of them?). Here's a stanza from Arthur Rimbaud's, A Dream for Winter: In winter we'll travel in a little pink carriage/ With cushions of blue/ We'll be fine/ A nest of mad kisses waits/ In each soft corner (from Collected Poems, 1962) – ah! A small but important row of Victorian terraces on the street became the background in the Hitchcock film, The Man Who Knew Too Much. The fact James Stewart's feet once touched these pavements should be enough to convince you of the street's pedigree.

Royal College Street is not just for culture vultures, animal lovers and those aspiring to enter the Tour de France; it is ideally located for all manner of shops, restaurants, bars and the world renowned Camden Market. Both over and underground stations are a few minutes walk away – seconds on a bike – and provide links into the City.