| there's also a chic cocktail bar, and a traditional lounge offering afternoon tea. refined rooms and suites feature free wi-fi, flat-screen tvs and dvd players, plus ipod docks, and tea and coffeemaking equipment. a 2-minute walk from victoria train and tube station, this elegant victorian hotel is less than a mile from both hyde park and buckingham palace. other amenities include a gym and 9 meeting rooms. some suites have free-standing baths. check-in time: 3:00 pmcheck-out time: 12:00 pm. a laid-back restaurant serves classic british fare. upgraded quarters include access to a lounge with free breakfast, snacks and drinks
Heathrow Airport 40 min
The National Gallery (13 min)
Trafalgar Square art museum whose masterworks trace the development of Western European painting. Tower of London (21 min)
Centuries of bloody history around a medieval castle, home to Crown Jewels and iconic Beefeaters. The British Museum (19 min)
Huge showcase for global antiquities, including Egyptian mummies and ancient Greek sculptures. Victoria and Albert Museum (10 min)
Blockbuster exhibitions and permanent decorative arts collection, with design shop and ornate cafe. Hyde Park (10 min)
Huge green space, home to Diana Memorial Fountain, with boating and swimming in the Serpentine lake. Westminster Abbey (12 min)
Protestant abbey hosting daily services and every English and British coronation since 1066. lastminute.com London Eye (13 min)
Huge observation wheel giving passengers a privileged bird's-eye view of the city's landmarks. Big Ben (9 min)
16-storey Gothic clocktower and national symbol at the Eastern end of the Houses of Parliament. Natural History Museum (10 min)
Landmark museum of animals and natural phenomena, with hands-on exhibits and animatronic dinosaurs. Trafalgar Square (12 min)
Nelson's Column rises above this iconic square's LED-lit fountains, artworks and lion statues. Buckingham Palace (10 min)
Visitors can tour the palace's opulent private and state rooms or watch the changing of the guard. Tower Bridge (23 min)
Panoramic views from high level walkways and behind-the-scenes access to original lifting machinery. St. Paul's Cathedral (20 min)
Churchyard and gardens outside Saint Paul's cathedral, with a floor-plan of the original building. Palace of Westminster (11 min)
Neo-Gothic masterpiece and seat of the UK government. Guided tours on Saturdays and in summer. The Shard (19 min)
87-floor glass skyscraper with a jagged peak, with restaurants, offices, hotel and viewing platform. | 
