Westminster
Westminster is a part of central London, and once upon a time Westminster and The City of London were twin cities. Westminster is bordered to the north by Trafalgar Square and Mayfair, to the west by Knightsbridge and Chelsea, and to the east by Covent Garden.
In the St. James part of Westminster, you will find Buckingham Palace, the Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament) and Westminster Park. East of Buckingham Palace is Belgravia, one of the most expensive residential areas in London. More affordable (yet still pricey) real estate can be found in Victoria and Pimlico to the south-west, and this is where a majority of all budget and mid-range hotels in Westminster is situated, often in revamped Regency buildings. This area is also home to Tate Britain where you can look at British art created from the year 1500 and onward.
Buckingham Palace is the main residency of Queen Elizabeth II, and each morning in May, June and July the Changing of the Guard ceremony takes place outside this castle at 11:30 AM. The rest of the year, the ceremony takes place on alternate days, weather permitting. During August and September, Queen Elizabeth II stays in her Scottish palace at Balmoral and 19 State Rooms at Buckingham Palace are open to the public. Places are limited and tickets are required.
The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament, is the seat of Parliament in the United Kingdom. Most of the current building hails from the 1800s when it was rebuilt after a fire, and is an attractive example of Victorian neo-Gothic architecture. The House of Lords is situated to the south, while the House of Commons is located in the northern part of the palace.
Westminster Abbey is the traditional scene of coronation for British kings and queens, and many of the British monarchs are also buried here. Westminster Abbey is open for tourists Monday – Saturday, while Sundays are for worshipers only. Tourists are charged an admission fee while worshipers who wish to attend a church service can visit for free. Depending on time of year, the evensong starts at 16:00 or 17:00 and is known to offer some of the most awe inspiring choral music in Europe. Westminster Abbey is also home to the Westminster Abbey Museum which is open 10:30 – 16:00 daily.
Budget
If you are looking for budget accommodation in Westminster, a good place to search the Pimlico and Victoria areas since they are home to several small B&B's which offer good value for money considering their central location.
One example of such a B&B is The Wellington on 71 Vincent Square, near the Pimlico tube station and roughly 10 minutes from Victoria station. Internet access and basic breakfast.
Mid-range
Jolly Hotel St Ermin's have small but neat rooms and is located near Westminster Abbey. The nearest tube stations are Westminster and Victoria.
Luna & Simone Hotel on 47/49 Belgrave Rd is a small hotel with a convenient location. The tube stations Victoria and Pimlico is just a short walk away.
Luxury hotels
The Grosvenor on Buckingham Palace Road is conveniently situated right next door to Victoria railway and tube station.
St. Jame's Hotel & Club on 7-8 Park Pl. is a luxurious townhouse hotel. It has a special concierge service for children.