Moored serenely at Royal Victoria Dock, with Canary Wharf’s glass peaks glinting in the distance, the Sunborn London Yacht Hotel makes quite the first impression. Sleek and imposing, this 108-metre floating hotel is more superyacht than cruise liner – all polished curves and wooden teak interiors. But step aboard, and it’s less nautical novelty, more quiet luxury – a grown-up retreat gliding somewhere between business base and city break bolthole.
This is not your average London stay. Opened in 2014, the Sunborn has since carved out a niche all of its own: luxury hospitality housed within a permanently moored vessel. The location – just metres from ExCeL London and a short glide via the DLR or Elizabeth Line into the heart of the capital – gives it broad appeal. Exhibition-goers and Canary Wharf corporates mingle with couples sipping cocktails on the deck at sunset, all drawn by the romance of the river and the rarity of the setting.
The 138 rooms and suites range from smart and efficient to indulgently spacious. Executive Suites come with private balconies, velvet-soft armchairs and, in some, their own sauna – a welcome luxury after a long day of meetings or sightseeing. Interiors avoid nautical clichés. Think understated wood panelling, crisp linens, warm lighting and sweeping dockside views. Service, too, is well-paced and unobtrusive – more European grande dame than themed destination.
Downstairs, Lands End Restaurant is the yacht’s culinary heart. Breakfast is a relaxed affair with buttery pastries and hot options served to the table, while dinner sees a more sophisticated turn. The menu leans Mediterranean with Asian notes – think saffron-poached halibut, roast duck with tamarind, and elegantly plated vegetarian options.
Just off the restaurant, Sundown Bar offers a mellow spot to nurse a Negroni or sip Champagne while watching the light fade over the O2 and the cable cars swinging silently overhead. With floor-to-ceiling windows, brushed gold finishes and hushed jazz in the background, it’s a calm, grown-up affair – a rare find in this part of town.
There’s a sense throughout the Sunborn that it knows its strengths. It doesn’t shout for attention but rather rewards those who discover it – the travellers who want to wake to the sight of morning mist over the dock, or wind down in a bar that feels a world away from the West End’s hustle and bustle.
For something a little different – but not outlandish – the Sunborn hits a sweet spot. Business travellers will appreciate the quiet efficiency; leisure guests will relish the novelty served with a side of style. A yacht hotel in East London might sound like a gimmick. In truth, it’s anything but.
Sunborn London Yacht Hotel offers nightly rates from £175 on a B&B basis, to book visit www.sunbornlondon.com
