| the low-key rooms and suites with contemporary decor feature free wi-fi, flat-screen tvs, ipod docks and nespresso machines. some quarters add balconies. a 2-minute walk from kew gardens railway station, this stylish hotel in kew village west london is also a 10-minute walk from the royal botanic gardens. there's an informal restaurant serving seasonal british cuisine, a relaxed pub with cosy sofas, and a mezzanine room for events. check-in time: 2:00 pmcheck-out time: 10:30 am
Heathrow Airport 23 min
St. Paul's Cathedral (40 min)
Churchyard and gardens outside Saint Paul's cathedral, with a floor-plan of the original building. The National Gallery (31 min)
Trafalgar Square art museum whose masterworks trace the development of Western European painting. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (5 min)
Trees and flowers from around the globe in vast gardens with huge greenhouses and Treetop Walkway. Kensington Palace (20 min)
Royal palace and gardens, with exhibits on former residents like Queen Victoria and Princess Diana. Palace of Westminster (33 min)
Neo-Gothic masterpiece and seat of the UK government. Guided tours on Saturdays and in summer. Westminster Abbey (32 min)
Protestant abbey hosting daily services and every English and British coronation since 1066. Tower of London (42 min)
Centuries of bloody history around a medieval castle, home to Crown Jewels and iconic Beefeaters. Buckingham Palace (27 min)
Visitors can tour the palace's opulent private and state rooms or watch the changing of the guard. Hyde Park (23 min)
Huge green space, home to Diana Memorial Fountain, with boating and swimming in the Serpentine lake. Victoria and Albert Museum (19 min)
Blockbuster exhibitions and permanent decorative arts collection, with design shop and ornate cafe. Trafalgar Square (31 min)
Nelson's Column rises above this iconic square's LED-lit fountains, artworks and lion statues. Big Ben (32 min)
16-storey Gothic clocktower and national symbol at the Eastern end of the Houses of Parliament. Natural History Museum (18 min)
Landmark museum of animals and natural phenomena, with hands-on exhibits and animatronic dinosaurs. lastminute.com London Eye (36 min)
Huge observation wheel giving passengers a privileged bird's-eye view of the city's landmarks. The British Museum (35 min)
Huge showcase for global antiquities, including Egyptian mummies and ancient Greek sculptures. | 
