| modern rooms have air-conditioning and free wi-fi, with flat-screen tvs, fridges, and tea and coffeemaking facilities. the hotel also has a chic piano bar/restaurant serving all-day asian/british pub fare and afternoon teas. check-in time: 2:00 pmcheck-out time: 11:00 am. set in a row of victorian-era townhouses, this elegant hotel is a 4-minute walk from gloucester road tube station, 10 minutes from both the natural history and victoria and albert museums, and a mile from the posh shops of knightsbridge. some rooms have nespresso machines. continental or full cooked breakfast is included. chic suites add sitting areas and breakfast-in-bed options
Heathrow Airport 28 min
Trafalgar Square (16 min)
Nelson's Column rises above this iconic square's LED-lit fountains, artworks and lion statues. The National Gallery (16 min)
Trafalgar Square art museum whose masterworks trace the development of Western European painting. Hyde Park (8 min)
Huge green space, home to Diana Memorial Fountain, with boating and swimming in the Serpentine lake. St. Paul's Cathedral (25 min)
Churchyard and gardens outside Saint Paul's cathedral, with a floor-plan of the original building. lastminute.com London Eye (22 min)
Huge observation wheel giving passengers a privileged bird's-eye view of the city's landmarks. Buckingham Palace (12 min)
Visitors can tour the palace's opulent private and state rooms or watch the changing of the guard. Natural History Museum (7 min)
Landmark museum of animals and natural phenomena, with hands-on exhibits and animatronic dinosaurs. Big Ben (16 min)
16-storey Gothic clocktower and national symbol at the Eastern end of the Houses of Parliament. Victoria and Albert Museum (11 min)
Blockbuster exhibitions and permanent decorative arts collection, with design shop and ornate cafe. Palace of Westminster (18 min)
Neo-Gothic masterpiece and seat of the UK government. Guided tours on Saturdays and in summer. The British Museum (21 min)
Huge showcase for global antiquities, including Egyptian mummies and ancient Greek sculptures. Westminster Abbey (17 min)
Protestant abbey hosting daily services and every English and British coronation since 1066. Kensington Palace (15 min)
Royal palace and gardens, with exhibits on former residents like Queen Victoria and Princess Diana. Tower of London (27 min)
Centuries of bloody history around a medieval castle, home to Crown Jewels and iconic Beefeaters. Tower Bridge (31 min)
Panoramic views from high level walkways and behind-the-scenes access to original lifting machinery. | 
