National Portrait Gallery
London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.1 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:
A fantastic choice if you’re on a budget but still want to be right at the heart of things, rooms at the Hub are rather like a super-modern cruise ship cabin.
Everything is at the touch of a button, from the comfy Hypnos beds to the power showers and 40-inch smart TVs. Rooms have London scenes as paintings or maps as wall friezes, modest desks, and a control pad with all the mod-cons near bed headboards, plus free Wi-Fi.
This isn’t the place if you’re looking for a romantic weekend; the Hub is slick and functional – a place to sleep in-between sightseeing and exploring, rather than a destination in its own right.
A few steps from the National Gallery, and right opposite the lovely old Edwardian opera venue, the London Coliseum, this hotel is brilliantly placed for culture. The streets outside are busy by day and night, meaning its safe at pretty much any time, as there are always people around.
Take in a shows at one of the theatres on Shaftesbury Avenue, or visit the Southbank’s galleries and concert halls, which are just across the river. Soho, Covent Garden and Leicester Square are all within a few minutes’ walk.
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Bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.1 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)[0.1 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)[0.4 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)[0.4 miles]
Fascinating museum offering an insight into the remarkable transport heritage of the city that pioneered the underground railway. Trains, iconic black cabs, scarlet double-decker buses and more.
Best for ages: 6+ | £20
Other worthwhile experiences in this destination if you have the time or the interest, closest first
London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.5 miles]
This fun-filled jungly restaurant that will thrill the kids is designed to mimic a rainforest, complete with animatronic animals (that move), thunderstorms, and lush greenery. There’s a great shop, filled with animal paraphernalia. The menu is simple kids fare – you’re not going for the food.
Best for ages: 4+ | Free
London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.7 miles]
Located in the elegant surroundings of Somerset House, the Courtauld combines temporary exhibitions with a permanent collection including works by Manet and Van Gogh.
Best for ages: 18+ | £13
London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.7 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)[0.9 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
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.