Sea Containers London review – Metro checks in to a swanky hotel suite – Bundlezy

Sea Containers London review – Metro checks in to a swanky hotel suite

The bathroom, with a large metal tub bath, and living space with a dining table, at the Sea Containers suite in London.
Sea Containers is London’s latest lavish hotel offering (Picture: James McDonald)

Tourists stroll past as I take a sip of Whispering Angel, the golden hour light casting a honey-toned glow across the terrace.

It’s a ridiculously sunny Friday evening on London’s Southbank, and I’m having one of those ‘omg I love my city’ moments.

Any Londoner will know that living in the capital is not for the weak — but every now and then, you’re reminded why you put up with it all. A stay at five-star hotel will certainly do that for you.

When I was invited for a sleepover at Sea Containers London, I jumped at the chance. Southbank is one of the few tourist hotspots that even locals will agree, is pretty great.

While I’ve walked past Sea Containers countless times, I’ve never made it further than the restaurant — but thanks to the opening of four brand new cruise ship-themed suites, I was finally getting a look in.

Sea Containers recently opened four new Cabin Suites (Picture: James McDonald)

What’s the vibe? Paint us a picture

In case I haven’t already made it clear, Sea Containers’ location is 10/10.

You’re minutes from Shakespeare’s Globe, The Tate Modern and the London Eye. You can spot St Paul’s across the Thames, and if you look directly up, you’ll see the Oxo Tower.

When you walk in from the riverside, you’re greeted by the restaurant. The evening I stayed, the place was alive with the hum of diners chatting and glasses clinking.

The reception is a massive swath of copper, and there’s an old school cinema sign nearby (there’s also a Curzon cinema on the ground floor) that seemed to change every five minutes. ‘Fri-nally’ greeted me as I checked-in.

It’s kind of dark, but in a sophisticated Tom Dixon way (he’s been designing interiors at the hotel since it opened in 2014), rather than in a creepy, what’s lurking around the corner, way.

Ok, what are the rooms like?

The interiors felt chic, rather than themed (Picture: James McDonald)

The four cabin suites are the hotel’s luxury offering. They’re on floor 15 — the highest with rooms available — and each are inspired by a golden age of cruising.

According to Sea Containers the new suites are an ‘extension of the overarching narrative of the hotel with design reminiscent of a 1920s transatlantic cruise liner.’

You’ve got Edwardian, which is very much giving Titanic, Mid-Century, which is a modernist 1950s vibe, Dynasty, with its glam 1980s excess aesthetic, and finally Art Deco, where I stayed.

Each suite’s door is a nod to the design period it reflects, and the corridor outside is red carpeted, reminding guests that they are, indeed, the VIPs.

Hotel customer service assistant, Ellis, tells me that Art Deco is proving the most popular suite so far, and it’s not hard to see why.

Described as a ‘celebration of the roaring 20s and 30s’ it’s pretty snug for a suite at 47sq m, but oh-so-chic.

I am no Grand Design master — I wouldn’t know which pieces of furniture are lovingly resorted antiques, and which are new purchases, specifically for the suites — but I can recognise great taste when I see it.

That chic piece of art? Actually the TV (Picture: James McDonald)

You don’t feel like you’re standing in a themed room, but there are nods to the time period, like the black lacquer mini-bar and burl wood used throughout.

And you can’t miss the silver-plated free-standing bath that sits proudly in the marbled bathroom — perhaps the only thing that overshadows it is the view.

From bed, you can get an incredible scene over the Southbank, and there’s even a telescope so you can get a closer look.

A breathtaking bath tub (Picture: James McDonald)

Can you eat and drink at the hotel?

First things first, the not-so-mini-bar in your room is like no other. It’s huge, and the first round of everything is complimentary, from full bottles of Grey Goose and Bombay Sapphire, to crisps and chocolates.

You’ll definitely want to head downstairs though, and book a table at Sea Containers restaurant.

In a nutshell, the food and the vibes were spot-on. My plus one and I went for a starter of four cheese croquettes (divine), as well as bite-size seabass ceviche and yellow-tail tuna crudo. The main course was brick chicken, with a rich confit garlic jus, and finally, a sticky toffee pudding.

A delicious trio of starters (Picture: Kristina Beanland)

With full bellies, we headed up to the rooftop bar, 12th Knot. This would be ideal for any tourist: the views are, once again, amazing, the DJ plays music you actually want to dance to, and it’s got a vibey atmosphere.

For those living in the capital, it might feel a bit try hard.

Maybe it’s the crowd (lots of people who seem like they want to be seen) or the fact that the complicated cocktails took ages to arrive — although the staff were lovely, and very apologetic. If you’re an organic orange wine in Hackney kind of person, this isn’t the place for you.

The following morning, the hotel was keen to encourage me to order breakfast to the room, and I happily obliged.

You can order via your TV (which looks like a piece of art), although we were told the TVs were a bit glitchy, and resorted to calling down to room service instead (it’s a hard life).

Coffee and a hefty portion of fruit and granola, while admiring the view of London waking up for the weekend, was a lovely way to end my stay.

What about the facilities?

Sea Containers is home to the Agua Spa, which offers a range of treatments from hot stone massages to facials. There’s also an unusual ‘Bust Blossom’ bust massage.

You can book in for a mani or pedi at the beauty salon, plus, there’s a gym, though it doesn’t have a pool.

Perhaps slightly more unusual for a hotel, is the Curzon Cinema. The small, 56-seat screening room is open to the public and hotel guests Friday evenings, Saturdays and Sundays. You can catch the latest Hollywood releases; Spider-Man and Fantastic Four are currently showing.

How much does it cost?

Brace yourself. The Cabin Suites start from £765, with breakfast included within the stay.

Yes, it’s very expensive, but for five-star luxury in a prime London location, you do get a fair bit of bang for your buck.

Everything you need to know: at a glance

Check in/check out: 3pm and 12pm.

Standout feature: Location, the aesthetics and the Sea Containers restaurant.

Disability access? Yes. There are 36 wheelchair accessible rooms and accessible public toilets.

Perfect for: Couples or a pair of pals treating themselves to a boujee night in London.

Not right for: Young families.

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