Take 3: Cheap hotels in cultural quarters


Park 79, 117 West 79th street, New York
park79hotel.com
Sitting between the Museum of Natural History and the Children's Museum of Manhattan, this townhouse is across Central Park from New York's Museum Mile, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, MoMA and the Guggenheim. It's in a smart Upper West Side 'hood, and has its own garden for serenity in the city. Doubles from $119 (€88).

The Poet Hotel, Amsterdam
poethotelamsterdam.com
Just a block from Museum Square (Museumplein in the local lingo) with Amsterdam's cultural giants: the Rijksmuseum, van Gogh and Stedelijk museum, as well as Concertgebouw concert hall. It is in a townhouse on Jan Luijken street. Culture literally exudes from the walls, which are inscribed with lines such as: "Sing like no one hears you". Doubles from €45.

Kensington House Hotel, London
kenhouse.com
It's just a short walk from this 19th century Regency building to Kensington Gardens and across from it, in Hyde Park, is the Serpentine Gallery. A walk in the other direction brings you to the V&A, Science Museum and Museum of Natural History. Knightbridge, home of Harrods and Harvey Nics, and Kensington High Street are nearby. Doubles from £90 (€108).