| surrounded by pubs and restaurants, this low-key hotel is a 4-minute walk from both goodge street tube station and the shops along oxford street, and 12 minutes on foot from the british museum. there's also a sleek lounge bar that serves snacks. check-in time: 2:00 pmcheck-out time: 11:00 am. a continental breakfast buffet is available for a fee. cosy rooms feature flat-screen tvs, and tea and coffeemaking equipment. upgraded rooms add ipod docks; suites add sitting areas
Heathrow Airport 47 min
lastminute.com London Eye (16 min)
Huge observation wheel giving passengers a privileged bird's-eye view of the city's landmarks. St. Paul's Cathedral (13 min)
Churchyard and gardens outside Saint Paul's cathedral, with a floor-plan of the original building. The British Museum (9 min)
Huge showcase for global antiquities, including Egyptian mummies and ancient Greek sculptures. Tower of London (18 min)
Centuries of bloody history around a medieval castle, home to Crown Jewels and iconic Beefeaters. Natural History Museum (20 min)
Landmark museum of animals and natural phenomena, with hands-on exhibits and animatronic dinosaurs. Westminster Abbey (19 min)
Protestant abbey hosting daily services and every English and British coronation since 1066. Tower Bridge (23 min)
Panoramic views from high level walkways and behind-the-scenes access to original lifting machinery. The National Gallery (11 min)
Trafalgar Square art museum whose masterworks trace the development of Western European painting. Hyde Park (13 min)
Huge green space, home to Diana Memorial Fountain, with boating and swimming in the Serpentine lake. The Regent's Park (10 min)
Modern, glass-clad cafe and sports administrative centre, with pitches and changing rooms. Big Ben (16 min)
16-storey Gothic clocktower and national symbol at the Eastern end of the Houses of Parliament. The Shard (21 min)
87-floor glass skyscraper with a jagged peak, with restaurants, offices, hotel and viewing platform. Palace of Westminster (18 min)
Neo-Gothic masterpiece and seat of the UK government. Guided tours on Saturdays and in summer. Buckingham Palace (17 min)
Visitors can tour the palace's opulent private and state rooms or watch the changing of the guard. Trafalgar Square (9 min)
Nelson's Column rises above this iconic square's LED-lit fountains, artworks and lion statues. | 
