| check-in time: 3:00 pmcheck-out time: 12:00 pm. surrounded by upscale shops in the posh mayfair district, this landmark art deco luxury hotel dating from 1856 is a 3-minute walk from both bond street tube station and the shops of oxford street. studios and suites add airy living areas and personal butlers; some have terraces. amenities include a posh bar and an intimate 1930s cocktail lounge, plus a chic restaurant, and an iconic lavish lounge that offers afternoon tea. there's also a spa with a gym. opulent upgraded suites feature distinct touches such as a grand piano, a marble fireplace and a 4-poster bed. genteel rooms with street or courtyard views offer free wi-fi and flat-screen tvs
Heathrow Airport 40 min
Buckingham Palace (15 min)
Visitors can tour the palace's opulent private and state rooms or watch the changing of the guard. Trafalgar Square (8 min)
Nelson's Column rises above this iconic square's LED-lit fountains, artworks and lion statues. St. Paul's Cathedral (15 min)
Churchyard and gardens outside Saint Paul's cathedral, with a floor-plan of the original building. Tower of London (19 min)
Centuries of bloody history around a medieval castle, home to Crown Jewels and iconic Beefeaters. Big Ben (8 min)
16-storey Gothic clocktower and national symbol at the Eastern end of the Houses of Parliament. The Regent's Park (11 min)
Modern, glass-clad cafe and sports administrative centre, with pitches and changing rooms. Victoria and Albert Museum (9 min)
Blockbuster exhibitions and permanent decorative arts collection, with design shop and ornate cafe. Palace of Westminster (11 min)
Neo-Gothic masterpiece and seat of the UK government. Guided tours on Saturdays and in summer. Natural History Museum (10 min)
Landmark museum of animals and natural phenomena, with hands-on exhibits and animatronic dinosaurs. The British Museum (11 min)
Huge showcase for global antiquities, including Egyptian mummies and ancient Greek sculptures. Hyde Park (8 min)
Huge green space, home to Diana Memorial Fountain, with boating and swimming in the Serpentine lake. The National Gallery (8 min)
Trafalgar Square art museum whose masterworks trace the development of Western European painting. Tower Bridge (24 min)
Panoramic views from high level walkways and behind-the-scenes access to original lifting machinery. lastminute.com London Eye (15 min)
Huge observation wheel giving passengers a privileged bird's-eye view of the city's landmarks. Westminster Abbey (11 min)
Protestant abbey hosting daily services and every English and British coronation since 1066. | 
