| complimentary fitness classes are available. set among the modern towers of the whitechapel commercial district, this upmarket apartment hotel is a minute's walk from aldgate east tube station, a mile from the tower of london and 2 miles from the contemporary art collection at the tate modern. the 1-bedroom apartments add separate living rooms. other amenities include a hip restaurant, a cocktail bar, and a terrace with a bbq, plus a gym. check-in time: 4:00 pm. sophisticated studios have free wi-fi and minibars, plus smart tvs, sitting areas and kitchenettes
Heathrow Airport 55 min
Tower Bridge (13 min)
Panoramic views from high level walkways and behind-the-scenes access to original lifting machinery. Buckingham Palace (18 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. The Shard (12 min)
87-floor glass skyscraper with a jagged peak, with restaurants, offices, hotel and viewing platform. Tower of London (5 min)
Centuries of bloody history around a medieval castle, home to Crown Jewels and iconic Beefeaters. Westminster Abbey (16 min)
Protestant abbey hosting daily services and every English and British coronation since 1066. Trafalgar Square (15 min)
Nelson's Column rises above this iconic square's LED-lit fountains, artworks and lion statues. St. Paul's Cathedral (13 min)
Churchyard and gardens outside Saint Paul's cathedral, with a floor-plan of the original building. lastminute.com London Eye (16 min)
Huge observation wheel giving passengers a privileged bird's-eye view of the city's landmarks. Hyde Park (24 min)
Huge green space, home to Diana Memorial Fountain, with boating and swimming in the Serpentine lake. London Bridge (11 min)
Concrete pedestrian and traffic bridge that gave a major railway station its name. The National Gallery (17 min)
Trafalgar Square art museum whose masterworks trace the development of Western European painting. Big Ben (14 min)
16-storey Gothic clocktower and national symbol at the Eastern end of the Houses of Parliament. Borough Market (14 min)
Huge market under the railway lines, for British-reared meat and artisanal baked and dairy goods. The British Museum (17 min)
Huge showcase for global antiquities, including Egyptian mummies and ancient Greek sculptures. | 
