Heathrow Airport 33 min
Big Ben (12 min)
16-storey Gothic clocktower and national symbol at the Eastern end of the Houses of Parliament. Palace of Westminster (13 min)
Neo-Gothic masterpiece and seat of the UK government. Guided tours on Saturdays and in summer. Westminster Abbey (11 min)
Protestant abbey hosting daily services and every English and British coronation since 1066. Buckingham Palace (9 min)
Visitors can tour the palace's opulent private and state rooms or watch the changing of the guard. Kensington Palace (5 min)
Royal palace and gardens, with exhibits on former residents like Queen Victoria and Princess Diana. Tower Bridge (27 min)
Panoramic views from high level walkways and behind-the-scenes access to original lifting machinery. Tower of London (23 min)
Centuries of bloody history around a medieval castle, home to Crown Jewels and iconic Beefeaters. The British Museum (19 min)
Huge showcase for global antiquities, including Egyptian mummies and ancient Greek sculptures. Trafalgar Square (13 min)
Nelson's Column rises above this iconic square's LED-lit fountains, artworks and lion statues. Natural History Museum (9 min)
Landmark museum of animals and natural phenomena, with hands-on exhibits and animatronic dinosaurs. St. Paul's Cathedral (21 min)
Churchyard and gardens outside Saint Paul's cathedral, with a floor-plan of the original building. Victoria and Albert Museum (10 min)
Blockbuster exhibitions and permanent decorative arts collection, with design shop and ornate cafe. lastminute.com London Eye (16 min)
Huge observation wheel giving passengers a privileged bird's-eye view of the city's landmarks. The National Gallery (14 min)
Trafalgar Square art museum whose masterworks trace the development of Western European painting. Hyde Park (13 min)
Huge green space, home to Diana Memorial Fountain, with boating and swimming in the Serpentine lake. | 
