England

Relatively good central location and price. There is a pub around the corner and one block south there is a cafe, a Japanese restaurant, more pubs and a drugstore. From here its about 20 minute walk to Trafalgar Sq., 40 minutes Buckingham Palace, 1 hour to Victoria Station. Check out their web site. No telephone in the room, but there is a pay phone in lobby downstairs. No refrigerator. The propriator and his wife are very nice and helpful...

Take the Tube from Heathrow to the city, Picadilly Line. All day all zone ticket is 6GBPs, to destination only is about 3, many other options available, but not as easy to use as MetroCard in NY. Another quirky thing is you have to run your ticket through the gate on exiting the station. If you lose your ticket its a 20 GBP fine or so the signs warn. You buy the ticket from an automated machine or a booth, just like in NY, though you have to give destination which could get complicated, consult the map.

10 minute walk from hotel, about 3 blocks. The great hall is spectacular, I suggest getting some lunch there, or go up the great steps to the restaurant. You could spend couple of days there if you want to see it all, but if you rush through 2-3 hrs should be enough to see the major hightlights- Sutton Hoo ship burial treasure, Elgin Marbles, Living and Dying exhibition.

Decent enough, permanent collection is free.

Walked down Piccadilly to this place and happened to see a motorcade drive through this arch(from about 10 feet away.) No idea who was inside the limo, but later read in a guide only members of the royal family are allowed to drive through this arch...

Walked back towards Buckingham Palace, then through this park- the ducks, geese, squirrels are amazing here, they come right up to the people and beg for food, even saw some walking on the footpaths, near the benches etc.

Once you exit St James Park continue east and you can get a good look at Big Ben and House of Parliament, walk across Westminster Bridge for the most close-up and best views(from across the river) then walk over to the Town Hall, (McDonalds and couple of other places to eat junk).

Not as great a view as they advertise, and pricey. Positive side was the line to get in was not long...

Walk up north a bit and cross the river at Waterloo Bridge, then walk west until you get to...

Adm. Nelson is lit up in flood lights after dark, and it makes a big difference if the fountains are on, for some reason sometimes they were on, sometimes off when I was there...

Open late on Fridays, just off Trafalgar Square...free concerts in the lobby too, there was a traditional Peruvian band playing but they weren't very good. The permanent collection is free, set aside at least 1 hour for viewing...

Now dead beat tired, stop in at Sainsbury's at Tottenham Court Road and load up on cheese and sausage pasties, or other assorted food and drink, only a 5 minute walk from the hotel. Open until 11 PM

Got there 10:30 AM, spend about 1.5 hrs, so-so attraction.

Took the all day Leeds Castle, Canterbury, Dover tour. This was not a good tour, should have taken Premium Tours tour instead in retrospect...

Highlight of the day, had about 1.5 hrs to sightsee the town and had lunch as per tour operator. To see the Cathedral properly give it at least 1 hr, the Black Prince tomb and place of Thomas Becket shrine are highlights.

Had about 10 minutes to walk on the beach, then drove around on the highway looking at the cliffs, the port, and the Norman castle on the cliff. Other tours take you up to the castle, this one rushes through Dover and drives you to some village inn 20 minutes away for tea and a dreadful sandwich, I suggest you take the other tour company just for this reason...

You can watch sports from all over the world(Spanish La Liga fans rub shoulders with Americans watching Baseball and NFL) You can get full dinner or just Buffalo Wings and a Pint(about 10 GBPs).