Sea Containers London Hotel

London

A striking slab of modernism on the Thames in central London combines bold architecture, nautically inspired interiors and newly refurbished top-floor Cabin Suites with theatrical flair

Big, bold and unapologetic, there’s nothing very English about Sea Containers London. Yet here it rests, moored on the Thames in the heart of the capital. Between the Oxo Tower and Blackfriars Bridge, with the river lapping at its base, it is a striking slab of 1970s American modernism by architect Warren Platner. The name may evoke corrugated steel and cargo vessels, yet inside it’s all soft lines andunderstated glamour. Tom Dixon’s oversized blue chain sculpture greets guests in the lobby, wave-like walls recall Atlantic rollers, and glass cases display model ships – ocean liners turned intricate playthings.

The design theme holds steady – a glamorous 1920s transatlantic liner reimagined for the South Bank. Originally planned as a hotel, it became offices for a shipping company before returning to its intended purpose and, like any good ship, it undergoes a periodic refit.

This latest one focuses on the top-floor Cabin Suites. Designed by Jacu Strauss, Lore Group’s creative director, with furnishings sourced from Vinterior, these rooms deliver pure escapism. My Edwardian-style suite – more than 500sq ft of polished brass and mahogany – comes with a working telescope, a copper bath and a knowing nod to Wes Anderson’s cinematic symmetry. Along the corridor, other suites lean into art deco, mid-century or Dynasty-era excess, depending on your preferred level of glamour.

Elsewhere, the star attraction remains Lyaness, Ryan Chetiyawardana’s award-winning bar – the first in the world to earn three Pins from The Pinnacle Guide, the new benchmark for cocktail excellence. With the river glinting beyond the windows and some of the most inventive drinks in London, it’s an easy place to linger long after the voyage is meant to end.

Words by Rod Mackenzie. Photography by James McDonald.

Doubles from £173. Cabin Suites from £727, including breakfast. 020 3747 1000, seacontainerslondon.com