| a 7-minute walk from oxford circus tube and oxford street shops, this basic budget hotel in a redbrick townhouse is 2 miles from the british museum and buckingham palace. check-in time: 2:00 pmcheck-out time: 11:00 am. simple rooms feature flat-screen tvs, tea and coffeemaking facilities, free wifi and shared bathrooms. there's also a bar, a business centre, and a lift to all floors. free english or continental breakfast is provided. upgraded rooms add en suite facilities
Heathrow Airport 40 min
The British Museum (17 min)
Huge showcase for global antiquities, including Egyptian mummies and ancient Greek sculptures. lastminute.com London Eye (17 min)
Huge observation wheel giving passengers a privileged bird's-eye view of the city's landmarks. Trafalgar Square (9 min)
Nelson's Column rises above this iconic square's LED-lit fountains, artworks and lion statues. The National Gallery (10 min)
Trafalgar Square art museum whose masterworks trace the development of Western European painting. Big Ben (13 min)
16-storey Gothic clocktower and national symbol at the Eastern end of the Houses of Parliament. Tower Bridge (25 min)
Panoramic views from high level walkways and behind-the-scenes access to original lifting machinery. Hyde Park (8 min)
Huge green space, home to Diana Memorial Fountain, with boating and swimming in the Serpentine lake. The Regent's Park (5 min)
Modern, glass-clad cafe and sports administrative centre, with pitches and changing rooms. The Shard (24 min)
87-floor glass skyscraper with a jagged peak, with restaurants, offices, hotel and viewing platform. Tower of London (20 min)
Centuries of bloody history around a medieval castle, home to Crown Jewels and iconic Beefeaters. Palace of Westminster (13 min)
Neo-Gothic masterpiece and seat of the UK government. Guided tours on Saturdays and in summer. Natural History Museum (14 min)
Landmark museum of animals and natural phenomena, with hands-on exhibits and animatronic dinosaurs. St. Paul's Cathedral (17 min)
Churchyard and gardens outside Saint Paul's cathedral, with a floor-plan of the original building. Buckingham Palace (12 min)
Visitors can tour the palace's opulent private and state rooms or watch the changing of the guard. Westminster Abbey (14 min)
Protestant abbey hosting daily services and every English and British coronation since 1066. | 
