| the sparsely decorated rooms with simple furnishings offer free wi-fi, flat-screen tvs, and tea and coffeemaking facilities. upgraded rooms add minifridges. set in a straightforward brick building, this casual hotel is 2 miles from buckingham palace and 1 mile from the shops at oxford street. parking and an airport shuttle are available for a fee. a tube station is a 4-minute walk away. check-in time: 2:00 pmcheck-out time: 11:00 am
Heathrow Airport 27 min
Natural History Museum (14 min)
Landmark museum of animals and natural phenomena, with hands-on exhibits and animatronic dinosaurs. St. Paul's Cathedral (22 min)
Churchyard and gardens outside Saint Paul's cathedral, with a floor-plan of the original building. The British Museum (12 min)
Huge showcase for global antiquities, including Egyptian mummies and ancient Greek sculptures. Victoria and Albert Museum (13 min)
Blockbuster exhibitions and permanent decorative arts collection, with design shop and ornate cafe. Tower Bridge (28 min)
Panoramic views from high level walkways and behind-the-scenes access to original lifting machinery. The Regent's Park (12 min)
Modern, glass-clad cafe and sports administrative centre, with pitches and changing rooms. lastminute.com London Eye (18 min)
Huge observation wheel giving passengers a privileged bird's-eye view of the city's landmarks. Palace of Westminster (15 min)
Neo-Gothic masterpiece and seat of the UK government. Guided tours on Saturdays and in summer. Trafalgar Square (14 min)
Nelson's Column rises above this iconic square's LED-lit fountains, artworks and lion statues. Westminster Abbey (14 min)
Protestant abbey hosting daily services and every English and British coronation since 1066. Tower of London (23 min)
Centuries of bloody history around a medieval castle, home to Crown Jewels and iconic Beefeaters. Buckingham Palace (9 min)
Visitors can tour the palace's opulent private and state rooms or watch the changing of the guard. The National Gallery (14 min)
Trafalgar Square art museum whose masterworks trace the development of Western European painting. Hyde Park (9 min)
Huge green space, home to Diana Memorial Fountain, with boating and swimming in the Serpentine lake. Big Ben (14 min)
16-storey Gothic clocktower and national symbol at the Eastern end of the Houses of Parliament. | 
