| the contemporary rooms feature plush furnishings and air-conditioning, as well as free wi-fi, flat-screen tvs, and tea and coffeemaking equipment. some rooms also include microwaves. there's also a garden. upgraded rooms have access to a private lounge with evening snacks and all-day drinks. set in a victorian building, this polished hotel is a 5-minute walk from both paddington train/tube stations (providing direct links to heathrow airport) and hyde park. complimentary english breakfast is served in a cosy lounge/bar that also offers afternoon tea. check-in time: 2:00 pmcheck-out time: 12:00 pm
Heathrow Airport 26 min
Kensington Palace (9 min)
Royal palace and gardens, with exhibits on former residents like Queen Victoria and Princess Diana. Buckingham Palace (10 min)
Visitors can tour the palace's opulent private and state rooms or watch the changing of the guard. Tower of London (24 min)
Centuries of bloody history around a medieval castle, home to Crown Jewels and iconic Beefeaters. 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. The National Gallery (15 min)
Trafalgar Square art museum whose masterworks trace the development of Western European painting. The British Museum (15 min)
Huge showcase for global antiquities, including Egyptian mummies and ancient Greek sculptures. Palace of Westminster (16 min)
Neo-Gothic masterpiece and seat of the UK government. Guided tours on Saturdays and in summer. Westminster Abbey (15 min)
Protestant abbey hosting daily services and every English and British coronation since 1066. Victoria and Albert Museum (11 min)
Blockbuster exhibitions and permanent decorative arts collection, with design shop and ornate cafe. St. Paul's Cathedral (20 min)
Churchyard and gardens outside Saint Paul's cathedral, with a floor-plan of the original building. Tower Bridge (29 min)
Panoramic views from high level walkways and behind-the-scenes access to original lifting machinery. Trafalgar Square (14 min)
Nelson's Column rises above this iconic square's LED-lit fountains, artworks and lion statues. lastminute.com London Eye (19 min)
Huge observation wheel giving passengers a privileged bird's-eye view of the city's landmarks. Big Ben (15 min)
16-storey Gothic clocktower and national symbol at the Eastern end of the Houses of Parliament. | 
