London – one of the most iconic destinations in the world. There are so many hotels in the capital that it can be overwhelming choosing one. I’ve stayed at quite a few over the years, and one of my favourites is Sea Containers with its design reminiscent of a 1920s transatlantic cruise liner making for a unique stay.

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Location

Located on London’s South Bank, Sea Containers is within a 20 minute walk to attractions including Shakespeare’s Globe, St Paul’s Cathedral, Borough Market, The Shard, Thames River Cruises, The Sea Life Centre and Trafalgar Square.

One thing I also love about the location of this hotel is its proximity to nice bars and restaurants along the river front and lots of cool things to do on the doorstep – from Frozen yoghurt on a bus to riding the London Eye.

It is a slightly longer walk if you want to reach attractions such as The Tower of London or Westminster Abbey (roughly 30 minutes), or up to an hour to reach places like Buckingham Palace or Hyde Park by foot. But wherever you stay in London, something is going to be more than an hour’s walk away by the very virtue of the size of the city, and personally I love the slightly more laid back South Bank vibe.

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Accommodation

The accommodation at Sea Containers is incredible. I chose to stay in a balcony suite, which was huge. It was made up of a bed area with views out to the river Thames, a large seating area with a table, a separate toilet room, and then a large bathroom with another toilet, a big walk in shower and a lovely free standing bath.

The highlight of the room though was the balcony with its views spanning to St Paul’s cathedral and beyond. Perfect for some drinks in the room before dinner.

The rooms were completely spotless, with towels changed daily and butler service if needed. I stayed during COVID times so the mini bar wasn’t available but water was put in the room each day and bar service was available to order. The bed was huge and really comfortable so I got a great’s night sleep ready for sight seeing the next day!

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Food & Drink

There are 3 options for food and drink in the hotel.

Sea Containers Restaurant is an all-day dining experience along the River Thames based on sharing platters. Mid-weeks are quite casual and relaxed, and on the weekend the highlight is the Grey Goose bottomless Bloody Mary or Prosecco brunch offering.

There is also a bar called Lyaness, which offers a wide variety of interesting cocktails, and its highlight is a ‘spirited tea’, which is an English afternoon tea paired with various cocktails. What more could you want of an afternoon?

My favourite bar in the hotel though is 12th Knot which is the very special rooftop bar with views out over the city. The bar has a smart dress code and it gets super busy, so be sure to book a table at the weekend especially, even if you’re a staying in the hotel.

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Amenities & Experiences

Sea Containers offers a range of unique experiences.

It is home to Agua Spa, which offers a wide variety of treatments. It’s unique selling point is a range it offers called ‘Hedgerow’, which is the hotel’s seasonal house made, sustainable products.

Another unique offering of the hotel’s is its in house cinema. It has around 50 seats with lots of leg room and screens current blockbusters and classics. You can even enjoy dinner in the restaurant and then take a bottle of wine in to a film afterwards.

Finally, the hotel also offers a gym which is open 24/7, though I didn’t use it….I don’t like to go to the gym when I’m trying to relax and have a nice time (or actually any time)!

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So what do you think of Sea Containers? I really liked it as a unique stay and thought it was a good choice if you’re looking for something a bit different in the capital – maybe if you’re returning and have already done some of the main tourist sites, going a bit off the beaten track on the South Bank is a fun experience. Stay safe and happy travelling everyone!