A floating super yacht hotel with serious novelty factor
Moored right opposite Excel conference center
Minutes' walk from DLR train station
Easy access to London's City Airport
Relatively spacious rooms, most with water views
In-room Lavazza coffeemakers and Sony tablets
Restaurant and terrace bar with water views
Free Wi-Fi
Far from tourist
center
No fitness facilities
The 136-room Sunborn London is an upper-mid-range hotel in the form of a 394-foot super yacht moored in London's Royal Victoria Dock. Rooms are pleasant, surprisingly spacious, and most have views over the water, though decor is more cruise liner than luxury yacht. Some rooms have spacious decks and big soaking tubs; all have coffeemakers, minibars, and flat-screen TVs. Eating and drinking options are solid though lack of fitness facilities feels like an oversight. Overall, for maritime enthusiasts with business in the area it's perfect, but tourists wanting to explore the capital's attractions should look elsewhere. Wi-Fi is free throughout.
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Scene
An upper-mid-range floating hotel set on a super yacht
The Sunborn London is not only the capital's only floating hotel, it's the only one occupying a 394-foot super yacht. Built without an engine, however, it was towed from its native Finland and opened as upper-mid-range water-based lodgings in 2014. From the outside -- with its sleek marine lines -- it looks every inch the luxury vessel. Inside, however, the look and feel is deliberately more traditional, with polished brass railings, teakwood paneling, and the occasional nautical touches across all five of its floors. The resulting vibe is certainly more cruise ship (albeit an attractive one) than billionaire's playground. There's plenty of outside space on deck for enjoying the surrounding docks -- if not the most attractive of views -- accompanied by the sound of planes taking of and landing at the nearby City Airport. A solid pick for the novelty factor and for guests with business at the nearby conference center, this hotel is a bit far from main tourist attractions.
Location
Moored in Royal Victoria Dock to the east of London's Canary Wharf
The hotel is permanently moored in the London’s Royal Victoria Dock in the Docklands area in the east of the capital. The city's largest conference and events venue -- the Excel Center -- is located right opposite while the DLR (Dockland's Light Railway) station of Custom House is just minutes away on foot. From here it's just about 15 minutes by train to London's business district of Canary Wharf. While it's not ideally located for tourists, public transport links to the city center in around half an hour. City Airport however is right nearby and takes less than 10 minutes by car.
Rooms
Relatively spacious rooms with Sony tablets and Lavazza coffeemakers
The hotel's 136 rooms are certainly a lot larger than your average cruise ship cabins, but all follow cruise liner styling with plenty of polished teak, brass trim, and maritime touches. Unlike a cruise ship, all rooms are outward facing and most have large picture windows overlooking the water (some have small furnished balconies too). Amenities include free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs plus sitting areas, and a Sony tablet for web browsing and ordering room service. Lavazza coffeemakers and minibars with free water also come standard. Clean, well-maintained bathrooms provide wall-mounted hairdryers, walk-in showers, and Molton Brown products. The top-end Yacht Executive Suite we saw had its own private sauna and large balcony.
Features
Restaurant and terrace with water views, free Wi-Fi, and a small spa with massage treatments
The hotel's Lands End restaurant provides a pleasant space awash with mirrored glass and teak paneling with large windows overlooking the water. A la carte and set breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus are served with British, Asian, and Mediterranean influences. The adjoining bar provides house cocktails, snacks, and meals as well as an outdoor terrace with views of Canary Wharf and the O2 arena. A small spa also provides a range of massage treatments though there are no fitness facilities on-site. Wi-Fi is free throughout.
