| set in a commercial area in central london, this informal hotel in a traditional townhouse is a 2-minute walk from bayswater tube station, 1 mile from the 140-hectare hyde park and 2 miles from buckingham palace, home of the reigning uk monarch. private rooms with a victorian vibe are also offered; some come with balconies. theres also a communal tv lounge. english breakfast and limited parking are included, as is 24-hour coffee and tea in a shared kitchenette. basic single-sex dorms have free wi-fi and lockers, along with shared bathrooms. check-in time: 2:00 pmcheck-out time: 10:30 am
Heathrow Airport 27 min
St. Paul's Cathedral (19 min)
Churchyard and gardens outside Saint Paul's cathedral, with a floor-plan of the original building. Tower Bridge (30 min)
Panoramic views from high level walkways and behind-the-scenes access to original lifting machinery. Buckingham Palace (11 min)
Visitors can tour the palace's opulent private and state rooms or watch the changing of the guard. Palace of Westminster (16 min)
Neo-Gothic masterpiece and seat of the UK government. Guided tours on Saturdays and in summer. Natural History Museum (9 min)
Landmark museum of animals and natural phenomena, with hands-on exhibits and animatronic dinosaurs. Hyde Park (10 min)
Huge green space, home to Diana Memorial Fountain, with boating and swimming in the Serpentine lake. Kensington Palace (11 min)
Royal palace and gardens, with exhibits on former residents like Queen Victoria and Princess Diana. lastminute.com London Eye (20 min)
Huge observation wheel giving passengers a privileged bird's-eye view of the city's landmarks. Westminster Abbey (16 min)
Protestant abbey hosting daily services and every English and British coronation since 1066. The British Museum (17 min)
Huge showcase for global antiquities, including Egyptian mummies and ancient Greek sculptures. Trafalgar Square (15 min)
Nelson's Column rises above this iconic square's LED-lit fountains, artworks and lion statues. Tower of London (25 min)
Centuries of bloody history around a medieval castle, home to Crown Jewels and iconic Beefeaters. Big Ben (16 min)
16-storey Gothic clocktower and national symbol at the Eastern end of the Houses of Parliament. Victoria and Albert Museum (10 min)
Blockbuster exhibitions and permanent decorative arts collection, with design shop and ornate cafe. The National Gallery (16 min)
Trafalgar Square art museum whose masterworks trace the development of Western European painting. | 
