| split-level suites add separate seating areas with sofas. set in a stucco-fronted, victorian-era townhouse, this modern hotel is a 4-minute walk from earl's court tube station and less than a mile's stroll from the victoria and albert museum. a modern restaurant with a terrace, and walled garden seating, serves english and european cuisine. there's also a lounge bar. a buffet-style breakfast is offered for a surcharge. check-in time: 2:00 pmcheck-out time: 11:00 am. the bright, contemporary rooms feature free wi-fi, and tvs with satellite channels, plus desks, minibars, and tea and coffeemaking facilities; some have floor-to-ceiling windows and/or direct garden access
Heathrow Airport 30 min
Tower of London (30 min)
Centuries of bloody history around a medieval castle, home to Crown Jewels and iconic Beefeaters. Westminster Abbey (20 min)
Protestant abbey hosting daily services and every English and British coronation since 1066. Tower Bridge (32 min)
Panoramic views from high level walkways and behind-the-scenes access to original lifting machinery. Victoria and Albert Museum (17 min)
Blockbuster exhibitions and permanent decorative arts collection, with design shop and ornate cafe. Palace of Westminster (19 min)
Neo-Gothic masterpiece and seat of the UK government. Guided tours on Saturdays and in summer. lastminute.com London Eye (22 min)
Huge observation wheel giving passengers a privileged bird's-eye view of the city's landmarks. Natural History Museum (12 min)
Landmark museum of animals and natural phenomena, with hands-on exhibits and animatronic dinosaurs. The British Museum (24 min)
Huge showcase for global antiquities, including Egyptian mummies and ancient Greek sculptures. The National Gallery (19 min)
Trafalgar Square art museum whose masterworks trace the development of Western European painting. St. Paul's Cathedral (27 min)
Churchyard and gardens outside Saint Paul's cathedral, with a floor-plan of the original building. Buckingham Palace (15 min)
Visitors can tour the palace's opulent private and state rooms or watch the changing of the guard. Trafalgar Square (18 min)
Nelson's Column rises above this iconic square's LED-lit fountains, artworks and lion statues. Kensington Palace (20 min)
Royal palace and gardens, with exhibits on former residents like Queen Victoria and Princess Diana. Hyde Park (11 min)
Huge green space, home to Diana Memorial Fountain, with boating and swimming in the Serpentine lake. Big Ben (19 min)
16-storey Gothic clocktower and national symbol at the Eastern end of the Houses of Parliament. | 
