Edward Lear Hotel, London

The Edward Lear Hotel is the perfect place to rest your weary head if you don't want to spend too much, but still want somewhere that is central, well maintained and historical. Former London home of the Victorian writer and poet Edward Lear, this hotel is a stone's throw from many of London's premier tourist spots - and you can imagine the man himself composing one of his famous nonsense poems while relaxing in Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens or taking an afternoon stroll down Oxford Street. The rooms themselves, while hardly extravagant, are clean and tasteful, typically decorated with a white marble mantelpiece, large bay windows and wicker furniture. The staff are friendly and welcoming, and the intimate dining room serves up a fantastic full English breakfast, of the sort the owl and the pussy cat could have done with before setting sail.