Sunborn London - UK’s only Super Yacht Hotel
Located in London’s Royal Docks is the capital's only floating, luxury yacht hotel - the Sunborn London. The concept of Sunborn London is unique. It combines the style and luxury of a superyacht with a fun and vibrant waterfront setting making it a really exciting alternative to the more traditional hotel options. The sleek yacht is moored close to the ExCel Exhibition Centre thus it is an ideal base for those attending events at ExCel or simply a unique hotel experience for those visiting London.
We drove to London in our car. Sunborn has only 3 parking spaces in front of the yacht and these are reserved for blue badge holders. But there were other parking options nearby. We opted for the Royal Victoria Car Park (£15 for 24 hours) which was a short walk away. You can also arrive by train/tube/DLR. The Royal Victoria station is a few minutes walk away. So connectivity wise, the Sunborn is in an excellent location.
We arrived at the hotel a little after 3 pm. The reception staff were very welcoming and checked us in right away which was great. The entry lobby/galleria was sumptuously decorated and the interiors were just like you would expect in a traditional yacht or cruise liner - a grand chandelier, spiral staircase and teak wood panelling. Everything together imparted a luxurious feel.
The same kind of decor was seen in the room as well. Passageways were spacious. But there were a couple of sliding doors in the passageways that opened slow. Really slow!
Sunborn London has 135 spacious guest rooms (131 rooms and 4 suites), all with bespoke furnishings. We stayed in one of their executive rooms which came with a private balcony to enjoy the riverside views. To our right we could see the O2 and the Emirates Air Line while to the left was the Royal Victoria Bridge.
A welcome note and some delicious truffles added a personal touch and we loved and appreciated this.
Our room was spacious with a luxurious king-sized bed, sofa, all mod cons including tea making facilities, Lavazza Coffee maker, a mini bar, TV, ironing facilities, digital safe and even a good selection of books. Most importantly the room was clean and had a neutral odour. There is nothing worse than walking into a room with a lingering odour!
The bathroom was also up to the mark and functional. The compact shower room was clean and stocked with luxury Molton Brown toiletries and bathrobes.
All rooms on the Sunborn London are provided with a tablet which has all the information you need for your stay (room amenities, city guide, travel tips, restaurant menus etc.).
Overall, the room was good and comfortable. If you're looking for that extra bit of luxury, then you could go for one of the four suites on the Sunborn. The suites are more spacious and come with private sundecks.
Dinner at Lands End restaurant was enjoyable although we would have loved to see more variety for vegetarians. The restaurant seemed to be busy but we were seated straight away which was good. The staff was polite and attentive making our dining experience a pleasant one.
The restaurant is headed by Head Chef Franck Katemesha and offers the best of British cuisine with Asian and Mediterranean influences. We enjoyed our three-course set menu with the starter being the highlight. The Beetroot salad which was served with French melon, orange goats cheese mousse, pistachio crumble and balsamic dressing was as delicious as beautiful it was in the presentation. The Saffron risotto with wild mushrooms, butternut squash and pea truffle sauce was also well cooked and nicely flavoured. For dessert, I decided to have Banoffee pie while Bhavin opted for the lemon ginger cheesecake. Both were delicious.
Overall, we loved our stay at the Sunborn London. The room was spacious, well appointed and clean. The dining experience was good, and the staff, in general, were attentive and friendly. But the USP of the hotel is definitely its concept and location. Sunborn London is an excellent choice if you are attending an event or conference at the ExCel and it is equally perfect for a luxurious and unique city break to London.
The Sunborn Yacht even has its own wedding license and so is proving popular with guests looking to celebrate weddings and other special occasions. In addition to the Lands End restaurant, the hotel also has a lounge bar, day spa and an events suite for special occasions.
Check-in time on the Sunborn is from 3 pm while the check-out time is a leisurely 12 pm.
Prices for a Classic dock facing room starts at £140.00 while Classic river view rooms are priced from £160.00 onwards. Prices for the Executive rooms are from £210.00 (dock facing) and from £230.00 (river view). Junior suites start from £360.00 and the Executive suite starts from £560.00 dependant on season.
Sunborn London | Royal Victoria Dock, London, E16 1AA
Phone | 44 (0) 203 714 8111
Our stay at the Sunborn London (operated by ISS Hotel Division London) was complimentary in exchange for this review. All views, as always, are genuine and our own.
Arrival and Check-in
We drove to London in our car. Sunborn has only 3 parking spaces in front of the yacht and these are reserved for blue badge holders. But there were other parking options nearby. We opted for the Royal Victoria Car Park (£15 for 24 hours) which was a short walk away. You can also arrive by train/tube/DLR. The Royal Victoria station is a few minutes walk away. So connectivity wise, the Sunborn is in an excellent location.
We arrived at the hotel a little after 3 pm. The reception staff were very welcoming and checked us in right away which was great. The entry lobby/galleria was sumptuously decorated and the interiors were just like you would expect in a traditional yacht or cruise liner - a grand chandelier, spiral staircase and teak wood panelling. Everything together imparted a luxurious feel.
The same kind of decor was seen in the room as well. Passageways were spacious. But there were a couple of sliding doors in the passageways that opened slow. Really slow!
Spacious and Comfortable Room
Sunborn London has 135 spacious guest rooms (131 rooms and 4 suites), all with bespoke furnishings. We stayed in one of their executive rooms which came with a private balcony to enjoy the riverside views. To our right we could see the O2 and the Emirates Air Line while to the left was the Royal Victoria Bridge.
A welcome note and some delicious truffles added a personal touch and we loved and appreciated this.
Our room was spacious with a luxurious king-sized bed, sofa, all mod cons including tea making facilities, Lavazza Coffee maker, a mini bar, TV, ironing facilities, digital safe and even a good selection of books. Most importantly the room was clean and had a neutral odour. There is nothing worse than walking into a room with a lingering odour!
The bathroom was also up to the mark and functional. The compact shower room was clean and stocked with luxury Molton Brown toiletries and bathrobes.
All rooms on the Sunborn London are provided with a tablet which has all the information you need for your stay (room amenities, city guide, travel tips, restaurant menus etc.).
Overall, the room was good and comfortable. If you're looking for that extra bit of luxury, then you could go for one of the four suites on the Sunborn. The suites are more spacious and come with private sundecks.
Dining
Dinner at Lands End restaurant was enjoyable although we would have loved to see more variety for vegetarians. The restaurant seemed to be busy but we were seated straight away which was good. The staff was polite and attentive making our dining experience a pleasant one.
The restaurant is headed by Head Chef Franck Katemesha and offers the best of British cuisine with Asian and Mediterranean influences. We enjoyed our three-course set menu with the starter being the highlight. The Beetroot salad which was served with French melon, orange goats cheese mousse, pistachio crumble and balsamic dressing was as delicious as beautiful it was in the presentation. The Saffron risotto with wild mushrooms, butternut squash and pea truffle sauce was also well cooked and nicely flavoured. For dessert, I decided to have Banoffee pie while Bhavin opted for the lemon ginger cheesecake. Both were delicious.
The Verdict
Overall, we loved our stay at the Sunborn London. The room was spacious, well appointed and clean. The dining experience was good, and the staff, in general, were attentive and friendly. But the USP of the hotel is definitely its concept and location. Sunborn London is an excellent choice if you are attending an event or conference at the ExCel and it is equally perfect for a luxurious and unique city break to London.
The Sunborn Yacht even has its own wedding license and so is proving popular with guests looking to celebrate weddings and other special occasions. In addition to the Lands End restaurant, the hotel also has a lounge bar, day spa and an events suite for special occasions.
Book your stay
Check-in time on the Sunborn is from 3 pm while the check-out time is a leisurely 12 pm.
Prices for a Classic dock facing room starts at £140.00 while Classic river view rooms are priced from £160.00 onwards. Prices for the Executive rooms are from £210.00 (dock facing) and from £230.00 (river view). Junior suites start from £360.00 and the Executive suite starts from £560.00 dependant on season.
Sunborn London | Royal Victoria Dock, London, E16 1AA
Phone | 44 (0) 203 714 8111
Our stay at the Sunborn London (operated by ISS Hotel Division London) was complimentary in exchange for this review. All views, as always, are genuine and our own.
wow, this is going on my bucket list, what an amazing hotel! Great post :) really enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jules. The yacht would be the perfect venue for celebrating special occasions like weddings, milestone birthdays etc.
DeleteWow I would go just for the desserts their making me hungry 😁
ReplyDeleteThey also have an Afternoon Tea with a selection of sea themed, assorted cupcakes!
DeleteI really enjoyed reading this article. What a novel idea to have a yacht hotel and if I was ever flush, I would definitely book it just for the experience.
ReplyDeleteIt is a different experience and would be an ideal venue to celebrate any special occasion.
Deleteso glad found this daughter getting married 2019 seperate hen night for the mature ladies i think this will be fabulous
ReplyDelete