Heathrow Airport 1 hr 3
The British Museum (20 min)
Huge showcase for global antiquities, including Egyptian mummies and ancient Greek sculptures. Hyde Park (30 min)
Huge green space, home to Diana Memorial Fountain, with boating and swimming in the Serpentine lake. Big Ben (27 min)
16-storey Gothic clocktower and national symbol at the Eastern end of the Houses of Parliament. Westminster Abbey (30 min)
Protestant abbey hosting daily services and every English and British coronation since 1066. Borough Market (29 min)
Huge market under the railway lines, for British-reared meat and artisanal baked and dairy goods. Buckingham Palace (29 min)
Visitors can tour the palace's opulent private and state rooms or watch the changing of the guard. Tower Bridge (24 min)
Panoramic views from high level walkways and behind-the-scenes access to original lifting machinery. Trafalgar Square (27 min)
Nelson's Column rises above this iconic square's LED-lit fountains, artworks and lion statues. The Shard (30 min)
87-floor glass skyscraper with a jagged peak, with restaurants, offices, hotel and viewing platform. Tower of London (24 min)
Centuries of bloody history around a medieval castle, home to Crown Jewels and iconic Beefeaters. Palace of Westminster (29 min)
Neo-Gothic masterpiece and seat of the UK government. Guided tours on Saturdays and in summer. The Regent's Park (23 min)
Modern, glass-clad cafe and sports administrative centre, with pitches and changing rooms. lastminute.com London Eye (26 min)
Huge observation wheel giving passengers a privileged bird's-eye view of the city's landmarks. St. Paul's Cathedral (20 min)
Churchyard and gardens outside Saint Paul's cathedral, with a floor-plan of the original building. The National Gallery (27 min)
Trafalgar Square art museum whose masterworks trace the development of Western European painting. | 
