| check-in time: 3:00 pmcheck-out time: 12:00 pm. all have free wifi, flat-screen tvs and minibars. surrounded by soho's restaurants and clubs, this upscale boutique hotel occupies a row of victorian townhouses, and is a 3-minute walk from oxford street shopping and tottenham court tube station. upgraded rooms have ipod docks, and themed suites, with blu-ray players, include one with a roof garden and a retractable glass roof. the lavish 18th-century rooms and suites feature antique furniture with carved wooden or 4-poster beds, panelled walls, original fireplaces and bathrooms with period features. theres an elegant library, plus an honesty bar. there's 24-hour room service
Heathrow Airport 45 min
Big Ben (8 min)
16-storey Gothic clocktower and national symbol at the Eastern end of the Houses of Parliament. Tower of London (16 min)
Centuries of bloody history around a medieval castle, home to Crown Jewels and iconic Beefeaters. The Regent's Park (12 min)
Modern, glass-clad cafe and sports administrative centre, with pitches and changing rooms. Buckingham Palace (8 min)
Visitors can tour the palace's opulent private and state rooms or watch the changing of the guard. lastminute.com London Eye (12 min)
Huge observation wheel giving passengers a privileged bird's-eye view of the city's landmarks. Westminster Abbey (9 min)
Protestant abbey hosting daily services and every English and British coronation since 1066. Natural History Museum (15 min)
Landmark museum of animals and natural phenomena, with hands-on exhibits and animatronic dinosaurs. The British Museum (6 min)
Huge showcase for global antiquities, including Egyptian mummies and ancient Greek sculptures. Palace of Westminster (9 min)
Neo-Gothic masterpiece and seat of the UK government. Guided tours on Saturdays and in summer. Hyde Park (11 min)
Huge green space, home to Diana Memorial Fountain, with boating and swimming in the Serpentine lake. Tower Bridge (21 min)
Panoramic views from high level walkways and behind-the-scenes access to original lifting machinery. The Shard (20 min)
87-floor glass skyscraper with a jagged peak, with restaurants, offices, hotel and viewing platform. Trafalgar Square (10 min)
Nelson's Column rises above this iconic square's LED-lit fountains, artworks and lion statues. The National Gallery (9 min)
Trafalgar Square art museum whose masterworks trace the development of Western European painting. St. Paul's Cathedral (11 min)
Churchyard and gardens outside Saint Paul's cathedral, with a floor-plan of the original building. | 
