| amenities include free continental breakfast and walking tours. bright dorms come with free wi-fi and linens, as well as security lockers and shared bathrooms. a hip downstairs pub specialises in burgers and local ales, and has a terrace. situated above a traditional london pub, this lively hostel is a 13-minute walk from clapham junction train station, and 3 miles from both buckingham palace and the natural history museum. check-in time: 2:00 pmcheck-out time: 10:00 am
Heathrow Airport 42 min
Hyde Park (19 min)
Huge green space, home to Diana Memorial Fountain, with boating and swimming in the Serpentine lake. Victoria and Albert Museum (16 min)
Blockbuster exhibitions and permanent decorative arts collection, with design shop and ornate cafe. Big Ben (16 min)
16-storey Gothic clocktower and national symbol at the Eastern end of the Houses of Parliament. lastminute.com London Eye (16 min)
Huge observation wheel giving passengers a privileged bird's-eye view of the city's landmarks. The National Gallery (20 min)
Trafalgar Square art museum whose masterworks trace the development of Western European painting. Natural History Museum (16 min)
Landmark museum of animals and natural phenomena, with hands-on exhibits and animatronic dinosaurs. The Shard (25 min)
87-floor glass skyscraper with a jagged peak, with restaurants, offices, hotel and viewing platform. Trafalgar Square (18 min)
Nelson's Column rises above this iconic square's LED-lit fountains, artworks and lion statues. Tower of London (26 min)
Centuries of bloody history around a medieval castle, home to Crown Jewels and iconic Beefeaters. St. Paul's Cathedral (24 min)
Churchyard and gardens outside Saint Paul's cathedral, with a floor-plan of the original building. Palace of Westminster (14 min)
Neo-Gothic masterpiece and seat of the UK government. Guided tours on Saturdays and in summer. Buckingham Palace (16 min)
Visitors can tour the palace's opulent private and state rooms or watch the changing of the guard. Westminster Abbey (16 min)
Protestant abbey hosting daily services and every English and British coronation since 1066. Tower Bridge (25 min)
Panoramic views from high level walkways and behind-the-scenes access to original lifting machinery. The British Museum (22 min)
Huge showcase for global antiquities, including Egyptian mummies and ancient Greek sculptures. | 
