| opposite shepherd's bush market tube station, this relaxed hotel is 3 miles from the natural history museum and 2 miles from kensington palace. family rooms sleep up to 4 guests. there's an informal lobby cafe/bar and a meeting room, as well as a terrace with sitting areas. casual rooms, some with bright murals, feature flat-screen tvs and free wi-fi, plus minifridges, and tea and coffeemaking equipment. upgraded rooms add exterior windows. check-in time: 2:00 pmcheck-out time: 11:00 am. pets are welcome for a surcharge. suites include living areas
Heathrow Airport 31 min
Kensington Palace (13 min)
Royal palace and gardens, with exhibits on former residents like Queen Victoria and Princess Diana. Westminster Abbey (25 min)
Protestant abbey hosting daily services and every English and British coronation since 1066. Trafalgar Square (24 min)
Nelson's Column rises above this iconic square's LED-lit fountains, artworks and lion statues. Palace of Westminster (25 min)
Neo-Gothic masterpiece and seat of the UK government. Guided tours on Saturdays and in summer. St. Paul's Cathedral (30 min)
Churchyard and gardens outside Saint Paul's cathedral, with a floor-plan of the original building. Buckingham Palace (20 min)
Visitors can tour the palace's opulent private and state rooms or watch the changing of the guard. The National Gallery (24 min)
Trafalgar Square art museum whose masterworks trace the development of Western European painting. The British Museum (20 min)
Huge showcase for global antiquities, including Egyptian mummies and ancient Greek sculptures. lastminute.com London Eye (29 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. Tower Bridge (38 min)
Panoramic views from high level walkways and behind-the-scenes access to original lifting machinery. Hyde Park (16 min)
Huge green space, home to Diana Memorial Fountain, with boating and swimming in the Serpentine lake. Tower of London (34 min)
Centuries of bloody history around a medieval castle, home to Crown Jewels and iconic Beefeaters. Big Ben (25 min)
16-storey Gothic clocktower and national symbol at the Eastern end of the Houses of Parliament. Victoria and Albert Museum (13 min)
Blockbuster exhibitions and permanent decorative arts collection, with design shop and ornate cafe. | 
