| breakfast is offered at an additional charge. there's also a 24/7 business centre. upgraded rooms add nespresso machines and some have whirlpool tubs. check-in time: 2:00 pmcheck-out time: 11:00 am. in hip clerkenwell and a 6-minute walk from farringdon tube and train station, this contemporary hotel is less than a mile from arts at the barbican centre and 2 miles from the tower of london. modern italian design-influenced rooms feature 42-inch flat-screen tvs, minibars and free wifi, plus tea and coffeemaking facilities
Heathrow Airport 50 min
The Shard (16 min)
87-floor glass skyscraper with a jagged peak, with restaurants, offices, hotel and viewing platform. Tower Bridge (19 min)
Panoramic views from high level walkways and behind-the-scenes access to original lifting machinery. Tower of London (14 min)
Centuries of bloody history around a medieval castle, home to Crown Jewels and iconic Beefeaters. Hyde Park (17 min)
Huge green space, home to Diana Memorial Fountain, with boating and swimming in the Serpentine lake. The British Museum (13 min)
Huge showcase for global antiquities, including Egyptian mummies and ancient Greek sculptures. St. Paul's Cathedral (12 min)
Churchyard and gardens outside Saint Paul's cathedral, with a floor-plan of the original building. Trafalgar Square (11 min)
Nelson's Column rises above this iconic square's LED-lit fountains, artworks and lion statues. Borough Market (15 min)
Huge market under the railway lines, for British-reared meat and artisanal baked and dairy goods. Buckingham Palace (14 min)
Visitors can tour the palace's opulent private and state rooms or watch the changing of the guard. The National Gallery (11 min)
Trafalgar Square art museum whose masterworks trace the development of Western European painting. Palace of Westminster (14 min)
Neo-Gothic masterpiece and seat of the UK government. Guided tours on Saturdays and in summer. lastminute.com London Eye (13 min)
Huge observation wheel giving passengers a privileged bird's-eye view of the city's landmarks. Big Ben (12 min)
16-storey Gothic clocktower and national symbol at the Eastern end of the Houses of Parliament. The Regent's Park (12 min)
Modern, glass-clad cafe and sports administrative centre, with pitches and changing rooms. Westminster Abbey (14 min)
Protestant abbey hosting daily services and every English and British coronation since 1066. | 
