| The rising cost of air travel has put UK city breaks | | | | London Eye and take in the city's majestic landscape. |
| firmly back in fashion, and with a multitude of | | | | Some of London's best museums are located in |
| crowd-pleasing attractions and affordable travel links | | | | South Kensington, just south of Knightsbridge and |
| to the rest of the country, there's never been a | | | | Hyde Park. Here you'll find the Science Museum, the |
| better time to take a short break in the country's | | | | Earth Galleries Museum, the Natural History Museum, |
| capital. | | | | the Victoria & Albert Museum and Brompton |
| Its spectacular West End productions, historic | | | | Oratory. |
| buildings, grand palaces, spellbinding museums and | | | | Art buffs should stay near Southwark on the banks |
| pioneering art galleries ensure London offers | | | | of the River Thames - the iconic Tate Modern is just |
| something to appeal to everyone. | | | | off the nearby Millennium Bridge. Visitors can take a |
| And whether your budget is lavish or shoestring, | | | | short ferry ride between the Tate Modern and the |
| you'll be spoilt for choice with places to stay, from | | | | Tate Britain galleries, while to the east of Southwark |
| fashionable boutique hotels to ancient converted | | | | lies the Tower of London, one of the most |
| buildings and modern masterpieces. | | | | compelling and historic buildings in the city. |
| Piccadilly makes a perfect base for theatre breaker's | | | | If you're after pure luxury, seek out hotels around |
| and shopping fanatics alike. It's ideally placed for | | | | the upmarket neighbourhoods bordering Hyde Park. |
| bustling Oxford Street, home to Selfridges and a | | | | Most have stunning scenic views and its proximity to |
| myriad of fabulous shops and department stores, | | | | nearby green areas like St James's, Park, Green Park |
| while the hip hangouts of Soho and Covent Garden | | | | and Kensington Gardens make it a perfect base for |
| are also nearby. | | | | relaxing strolls and picnics. |
| In the evening, you'll find the bright lights of London's | | | | North of Hyde Park, the leafy Regents Park makes |
| famous West End are just a short stroll away. Here | | | | an excellent base for visiting the the must-see |
| you can catch a show, see a musical, visit the opera | | | | Madame Tussauds waxworks museum. Tussauds |
| or laugh the night away with the country's top | | | | also offers some great time-saving packages |
| comedians. | | | | combining the museum with other attractions like the |
| And if you're in need of a little refreshment, head for | | | | London Eye and and the London Dungeon - not for |
| Leicester Square to sample delicious international | | | | those of a nervous disposition! |
| cuisine or innovative cocktails at one of the area's | | | | It's a good idea to make a list of everything you plan |
| many restaurants and bars. | | | | to do before you book a hotel in London. Taxi's |
| If you'd rather explore London's historic buildings, look | | | | around the capital can be very expensive, and |
| for hotels around Westminster. From here you can | | | | choosing the right base for your short break will help |
| visit Westminster Abbey, Westminster Cathedral, the | | | | you reach most of your destinations on foot and |
| Houses of Parliament and nearby Buckingham Palace, | | | | take in some spectacular sights on the way! |
| then cross the bridge over the Thames to the | | | | |