There's no single right answer here, but there's a strategy that rarely fails: pick a colour that flatters your worktop, holds up against splashes and grease, and won't date in five years. That means muted, grounded shades over anything trend-led and shouty.
The three families that always work in British kitchens:
Greens. The most popular cabinet colour going, and for good reason — they read as fresh but timeless. Farrow & Ball's Card Room Green is a cracking mid-green that sits beautifully against oak or brass handles, while Calke Green goes deeper and more characterful for a Shaker kitchen. Little Greene and Sanderson both do gorgeous sage-to-olive tones if you want something softer.
Off-whites and warm neutrals. If you want light and calm, don't go brilliant white — it looks clinical against food. Farrow & Ball's Pointing or Slipper Satin give you warmth without going cream, and pair with almost any worktop. Ammonite is a lovely greige if you want a touch more depth on the lowers.
Blues. For drama on an island or lower units, Hague Blue or Inchyra Blue are stunning — deep, sophisticated, and they make brass and pale stone sing.
Now the bit people get wrong: paint and finish matter as much as colour. Cabinets take a hammering, so use a proper cabinet/satinwood system. Bedec MSP is the trade favourite for durability, and a tinted primer (Zinsser BIN over slick or previously oiled doors) is non-negotiable for adhesion. Skip emulsion entirely — it won't survive.
My practical advice: order sample pots, paint a spare door or a large piece of card, and live with it for a few days against your actual worktop and in your kitchen's light. North-facing kitchens cool everything down, so warm your choice up a notch. Lower units darker, uppers or walls lighter — it grounds the room every time.