| offering park or city views, the chic rooms include flat-screen tvs, air-conditioning and desks, as well as wi-fi and ipod docks. there's a refined chinese restaurant, an elegant lounge with a terrace and afternoon tea, and a warm 10th-floor bar. room service is available. check-in time: 2:00 pmcheck-out time: 12:00 pm. on-site parking is offered for a fee. occupying a 1960s glass-and-stone building at the edge of kensington gardens, this sophisticated hotel is a 5-minute walk from high street kensington's shops, restaurants and tube station, and an 11-minute stroll from the royal albert hall. other facilities include a health club with fitness classes and spa treatments (charge)
Heathrow Airport 33 min
Trafalgar Square (13 min)
Nelson's Column rises above this iconic square's LED-lit fountains, artworks and lion statues. Big Ben (15 min)
16-storey Gothic clocktower and national symbol at the Eastern end of the Houses of Parliament. The British Museum (19 min)
Huge showcase for global antiquities, including Egyptian mummies and ancient Greek sculptures. St. Paul's Cathedral (22 min)
Churchyard and gardens outside Saint Paul's cathedral, with a floor-plan of the original building. Hyde Park (11 min)
Huge green space, home to Diana Memorial Fountain, with boating and swimming in the Serpentine lake. The National Gallery (14 min)
Trafalgar Square art museum whose masterworks trace the development of Western European painting. Tower of London (25 min)
Centuries of bloody history around a medieval castle, home to Crown Jewels and iconic Beefeaters. Victoria and Albert Museum (16 min)
Blockbuster exhibitions and permanent decorative arts collection, with design shop and ornate cafe. Natural History Museum (10 min)
Landmark museum of animals and natural phenomena, with hands-on exhibits and animatronic dinosaurs. lastminute.com London Eye (19 min)
Huge observation wheel giving passengers a privileged bird's-eye view of the city's landmarks. Tower Bridge (29 min)
Panoramic views from high level walkways and behind-the-scenes access to original lifting machinery. Westminster Abbey (15 min)
Protestant abbey hosting daily services and every English and British coronation since 1066. Buckingham Palace (10 min)
Visitors can tour the palace's opulent private and state rooms or watch the changing of the guard. Palace of Westminster (15 min)
Neo-Gothic masterpiece and seat of the UK government. Guided tours on Saturdays and in summer. Kensington Palace (5 min)
Royal palace and gardens, with exhibits on former residents like Queen Victoria and Princess Diana. | 
