This riverside hotel is home to a brand new Gordon Ramsay restaurant, award-winning cocktail bar, spectacular views and a buzzy rooftop bar.
The slightly imposing Sea Containers London hotel, which sits on the Southbank close to the Tate Modern, may seem familiar if you’ve visited London, and this area, a lot. Opened in 2014 as the Mondrian London, it officially changed its name and relaunched as this celebration of maritime in early 2019. Now home to a brand new Gordon Ramsay restaurant and swish new suites, it’s a modern, slightly edgy but not lacking in luxury hotel in the cultural heart of London.
Budget or boutique?
Rooms at this central hotel start at £539 for a new Thames Suite based on two people sharing with balcony rooms from £679 per night making this a very boutique option.
Room service
I stayed in one of the newly opened Thames Suites which had a balcony off the bedroom and living room in which to take in the uninterrupted view of the river and iconic sights such as St Paul’s Cathedral. Inside the room was a contemporary space filled with modern modular furniture, striking artwork, including a traditional metal diver’s helmet, and a bright colour palette of light blues, cerise pink and postbox red. The suite had a comfortable living room with a large sofa, bar area and kitchen and a huge bathroom with tub and walk-in shower. The bedroom had a king sized bed, seating area and dressing space. Both balconies had comfortable and modern seating with small tables. These new suites have been designed by Lore Group’s creative director, Jacu Strauss.
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Wining and dining
The hospitality draws here are big hitters; Gordon Ramsay at Sea Containers, which officially opened at the start of September, the multi award winning Lyaness cocktail bar on the ground floor, close to Ramsay’s and 12th Knot rooftop bar, which becomes a buzzy base for drinks and snacks on a weekend. We started our night on the rooftop with Golden Hour champagne cocktails and sharing plates of jalapeno and cheddar fritters, popcorn buffalo chicken bites, curly fries and beef sliders, which were all deliciously more-ish. When the music got louder and the crowd young enough to be our kids, we descended back down into the hotel to the much more chilled Lyaness bar. Winner of multiple global awards, this stylish space has an ingredient-led ‘boundary pushing’ cocktail menu including the intriguing Multi Milk, a celebration of the complexity of milk, which tastes a lot nicer than it sounds.
During our stay Gordon Ramsay at Sea Containers had opened on a soft launch, and this is where breakfast was served. It was chaotic to say the least, with a long queue and fairly harassed but very nice staff. A small but fresh buffet was on offer, despite there being an a la carte menu online. We just made a quick trip for some cooked items, along with a not great flat white (head out if you’re a coffee connoisseur as cult coffee shop Monmouth is a short walk away). But we returned for lunch and a much calmer atmosphere. The a la carte menu has items like the Idiot Sandwich flight, Gordon Ramsay fish and chips, brick chicken and beef wellington and, on Sundays, a full Sunday roast. The £25 smash burger was a moist and excellent dish, served with crisp chips and enjoyed while watching the river view.
Worth getting out of bed for
We stayed during the end of the stifling summer heatwave, and made the most of the sunny mornings by walking along the Southbank to the weekly book market. There are plenty of food and drink options along this stretch of the river and, before long, you’ll find yourself at the London Eye, which is about ten minutes walk away. Across the water along Victoria Embankment there’s boat tours and Somerset House, while on the other side, the Tate Modern is about a ten minute walk. Blackfriars station is five minutes away and will take you all over London. After a day out, the hotel’s agua spa offers treatments such as hot stone massage and prebiotic facial treatment, with the changing rooms offering a steam room and relaxation area for those getting treatments and guests who just want some time to unwind.
Little extras
If you’ve booked into a Thames Suite, there’s a dedicated check-in desk on the fourth floor which was very personalised and starts with a glass of fizz or soft drink. In the room there’s a small bar area, well stocked mini bar, robes, slippers and a steamer as well as full sized D.S. and Durger Debaser toiletries. The room service menu also includes an array of wellness options such as Sweet Bee Organics cacao and magnesium cream.
Guestbook comments
Located in the cultural heart of the South Bank and set directly on the River Thames, Sea Containers London offers a unique perspective of the capital. Inspired by the glamour of a 1920s transatlantic cruise liner, the hotel feels worlds away from the pace of the city, while remaining moments from London landmarks including Tate Modern, St Paul’s Cathedral, the National Theatre and the London Eye. From its striking design to its unrivalled river views, every stay feels distinctly different.
Hotel info
Sea Containers London
20 Upper Ground, London SE1 9PD
020 3747 1000