| this low-key hotel in a quaint building is a mile from crystal palace railway station (with links to central london), 7 miles from both the iconic london bridge and the big ben clock tower. a guest kitchen offers a fridge and a microwave. studios add kitchenettes. check-in time: 2:00 pmcheck-out time: 10:00 am. continental breakfast is complimentary, as is parking. evening meals for groups are available on request (fee). the straightforward, simply furnished rooms have free wi-fi, tvs and en suite bathrooms with showers, plus tea and coffeemaking facilities
Heathrow Airport 1 hr 3
Natural History Museum (37 min)
Landmark museum of animals and natural phenomena, with hands-on exhibits and animatronic dinosaurs. Tower Bridge (29 min)
Panoramic views from high level walkways and behind-the-scenes access to original lifting machinery. Westminster Abbey (33 min)
Protestant abbey hosting daily services and every English and British coronation since 1066. The British Museum (37 min)
Huge showcase for global antiquities, including Egyptian mummies and ancient Greek sculptures. lastminute.com London Eye (32 min)
Huge observation wheel giving passengers a privileged bird's-eye view of the city's landmarks. Borough Market (31 min)
Huge market under the railway lines, for British-reared meat and artisanal baked and dairy goods. The Shard (29 min)
87-floor glass skyscraper with a jagged peak, with restaurants, offices, hotel and viewing platform. St. Paul's Cathedral (36 min)
Churchyard and gardens outside Saint Paul's cathedral, with a floor-plan of the original building. Big Ben (32 min)
16-storey Gothic clocktower and national symbol at the Eastern end of the Houses of Parliament. Palace of Westminster (31 min)
Neo-Gothic masterpiece and seat of the UK government. Guided tours on Saturdays and in summer. Trafalgar Square (35 min)
Nelson's Column rises above this iconic square's LED-lit fountains, artworks and lion statues. Buckingham Palace (35 min)
Visitors can tour the palace's opulent private and state rooms or watch the changing of the guard. The National Gallery (37 min)
Trafalgar Square art museum whose masterworks trace the development of Western European painting. Hyde Park (40 min)
Huge green space, home to Diana Memorial Fountain, with boating and swimming in the Serpentine lake. Tower of London (30 min)
Centuries of bloody history around a medieval castle, home to Crown Jewels and iconic Beefeaters. | 
