National Portrait Gallery
London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.5 miles]
A pictorial ‘who’s who’ of British culture past and present, from royals to pop icons, showcasing hundreds of years of history.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Best places to stay:
Mixing flamboyant British design with vibrant colour schemes, Ham Yard is a classic slice of London style, set in the heart of buzzing Soho.
This is a multi-use, melange of a hotel, from the tree-filled garden to the book-lined drawing rooms, 1950’s bowling alley and cinema.
Set in the heart of the West End, Theatreland, Soho and Covent Garden are within easy walking distance. It’s a popular meeting place for Londoners too, creating a very different feel to hotels that are purely for out-of-towners.
After a day’s sightseeing, retire to the fourth-floor garden terrace; in spite of the central location, it feels deliciously private and away from the hubbub – the perfect city centre bolthole.
Tucked onto a courtyard behind Piccadilly Circus, the hotel is flanked by a pub and new office buildings, with the buzz of Great Windmill Street just outside the door.
Soho is one of London’s busiest areas, particularly at night, so this isn’t somewhere to stay if you’re looking for peace and quiet. Having said that, the hotel is set back from the road, so it does feel something of an oasis among the hustle.
The lights of Leicester Square, Mayfair’s smart boutiques, and Covent Garden are within easy walking distance.
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Bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.5 miles]
A pictorial ‘who’s who’ of British culture past and present, from royals to pop icons, showcasing hundreds of years of history.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.5 miles]
One of the world’s greatest collections of Western European paintings, with more than 2,300 works on display from Da Vinci to Monet.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.8 miles]
This iconic and atmospheric West End square has a historic Victorian market building, street performers, restaurants and boutiques.
Best for ages: Any | Free
London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.9 miles]
World-famous, incomparable military parade dating back to the 17th century, involving thousands of soldiers, horses and musicians in full regalia, occurs each June to mark the Queen’s official birthday.
Best for ages: 8+ | Free | 2.5 hours
Other worthwhile experiences in this destination if you have the time or the interest, closest first
London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.4 miles]
An 18th-century mansion of masterpieces sitting pretty on Piccadilly, home to one of Britain’s oldest collections of fine art and regular blockbuster exhibitions.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
London, United Kingdom (UK)[1.2 miles]
Famous for its picturesque alfresco ice rink in winter and the Edmund J Safra fountains in the summer, this elegant neoclassical building is also home to an art gallery and upscale restaurant.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
London, United Kingdom (UK)[1.4 miles]
Sky-scraping observation wheel taking passengers on a stately ride, 450 feet above the Thames.
Best for ages: Any | £31 | 30 minutes
London, United Kingdom (UK)[1.5 miles]
London’s impressive aquarium, set on the South Bank, home to hundreds of species of fish and a selection of sharks.
Best for ages: Any | £27
Destination guides including or relevant to this place to stay
Greater London, United Kingdom (UK)
World-class culture, fashion, music, food and history – and a mind-boggling array of bucket list experiences – packed into one extraordinary, incomparable destination.