| upgraded rooms add patios and/or river views. set in the cruise ship-inspired sea containers house overlooking the river thames, this ultra-chic hotel in the vibrant south bank district is a 9-minute walk from the tate modern art gallery and 6 minutes' walk from southwark tube station. check-in time: 3:00 pmcheck-out time: 12:00 pm. suites come with sitting areas or living rooms, while an upgraded suite has a dining room and a wet bar. stylish rooms with custom furnishings and original art feature flat-screen tvs and free wi-fi, plus rainfall showers. there's a glamorous restaurant, a luxe rooftop lounge and a sleek bar. other amenities include an elegant spa and a 24/7 gym
Heathrow Airport 50 min
Westminster Abbey (9 min)
Protestant abbey hosting daily services and every English and British coronation since 1066. The British Museum (8 min)
Huge showcase for global antiquities, including Egyptian mummies and ancient Greek sculptures. Trafalgar Square (12 min)
Nelson's Column rises above this iconic square's LED-lit fountains, artworks and lion statues. Palace of Westminster (8 min)
Neo-Gothic masterpiece and seat of the UK government. Guided tours on Saturdays and in summer. The National Gallery (13 min)
Trafalgar Square art museum whose masterworks trace the development of Western European painting. St. Paul's Cathedral (11 min)
Churchyard and gardens outside Saint Paul's cathedral, with a floor-plan of the original building. Buckingham Palace (12 min)
Visitors can tour the palace's opulent private and state rooms or watch the changing of the guard. Big Ben (7 min)
16-storey Gothic clocktower and national symbol at the Eastern end of the Houses of Parliament. lastminute.com London Eye (8 min)
Huge observation wheel giving passengers a privileged bird's-eye view of the city's landmarks. The Shard (9 min)
87-floor glass skyscraper with a jagged peak, with restaurants, offices, hotel and viewing platform. Tower of London (10 min)
Centuries of bloody history around a medieval castle, home to Crown Jewels and iconic Beefeaters. Borough Market (11 min)
Huge market under the railway lines, for British-reared meat and artisanal baked and dairy goods. Hyde Park (19 min)
Huge green space, home to Diana Memorial Fountain, with boating and swimming in the Serpentine lake. Tower Bridge (13 min)
Panoramic views from high level walkways and behind-the-scenes access to original lifting machinery. Natural History Museum (20 min)
Landmark museum of animals and natural phenomena, with hands-on exhibits and animatronic dinosaurs. | 
