With its sleek riverside façade and playful nods to nautical glamour, this design-led property is far from your standard city hotel.
Perched on the buzzing South Bank, Sea Containers invites guests to experience London through a cultural lens. This ethos is fully realised in its ‘Culture Vulture’ package, which seamlessly blends luxury accommodation with art immersion and fine dining.
Opting for this curated experience, I checked in for a night of creative exploration and culinary indulgence, punctuated by a visit to the Hayward Gallery’s highly anticipated Yoshitomo Nara retrospective.
The lowdown
Sitting on prime real estate at 20 Upper Ground, the hotel is right in the heart of the South Bank; one of the capital’s most vibrant cultural corridors. Positioned between the Tate Modern and the National Theatre, it’s an ideal base for gallery-hopping, riverbank strolls, or catching a show. The OXO Tower, BFI Southbank, and Royal Festival Hall are also mere minutes away on foot.
Occupying a former 1970s office block, the space has been reimagined with flair by renowned designer Tom Dixon. Inside, expect bold brass fittings, ambient lighting, and nods to vintage cruise liners (think porthole mirrors and curved walls that evoke the hull of a ship). The aesthetic is playful yet polished, making the hotel feel more like a stylish riverside residence than a conventional stay.
The rooms
We stayed in a Deluxe River View Room, where floor-to-ceiling windows framed panoramic views of the Thames and monuments such as St Paul’s Cathedral and the city skyline glittered in the distance. The room’s design walks the line between sleek and soothing, seeing dark wood panelling contrasted with crisp white linens, while brushed brass accents and a velvet armchair add warmth and texture.
A plush king-size bed provided the kind of sleep you only get when the day’s itinerary has been satisfyingly packed, and the rainfall shower in the marble-clad bathroom was the perfect antidote to a day spent sightseeing. There’s also thoughtful attention to detail for the modern guest, featuring Malin + Goetz amenities, an in-room cinema system and a fully stocked minibar curated with local treats.
While Sea Containers does offer higher-category suites, the Deluxe River View feels like the sweet spot. It’s luxurious yet laid-back and ideal for those who want to soak up London’s skyline from bed.
The Yoshitomo Nara Exhibit
The heart of the Culture Vulture package are the exclusive tickets to Yoshitomo Nara at the Hayward Gallery. Running until August 31, the retrospective marks the largest European survey of the Japanese artist’s work to date, with more than 150 pieces on display, spanning four decades.
Known for his wide-eyed, childlike characters that simultaneously evoke innocence and rebellion, Nara’s works are deceptively simple at first glance. But delve deeper, and the underlying themes of alienation, protest, and introspection quickly surface. Highlights of the exhibition include Hazy Humid Day (2014), the sculptural installation Fountain of Life (2001/2014/2022), and My Drawing Room (2008), which recreates the artist’s personal creative space in meticulous detail.
The exhibition is curated thematically rather than chronologically, allowing visitors to experience Nara’s recurring motifs and social commentary in a way that feels intuitive and immersive. It’s playful but provocative, much like the artist himself.
The Hayward Gallery’s location, just a 10-15 minute riverside walk from Sea Containers, makes this cultural add-on both convenient and seamless. Post-gallery, the hotel awaits with a riverside terrace and cocktail in hand which feels like a perfectly balanced day out.
The Dining
Dining at Sea Containers Restaurant is another highlight of the experience. The menu champions seasonal, ingredient-led dishes with an international twist, served either in the striking art deco-inspired dining room or, in our case, alfresco on the terrace. Everything about this setting was perfect for catching the golden hour glow over the Thames.
We started with the jumbo shrimp cocktail, a clever reinterpretation of a nostalgic classic. Plump, sweet shrimp are paired with a punchy Bloody Mary sauce, heavy on the horseradish, and served with a side of riverside people-watching.
The beef tartare was equally impressive, finely chopped and mixed with capers and horseradish, then crowned with a golden egg yolk and served alongside crisp focaccia.
For mains, the brick chicken is a must-order. Cooked under the weight of a brick (yes, literally), the skin achieves next-level crispness while the meat remains juicy and tender, all finished with garlic confit jus and salsa verde for brightness. The Suffolk pork belly was another standout: perfectly rendered fat, melt-in-the-mouth meat, and balanced with bramley apple ketchup and a wholegrain mustard jus.
Come morning, guests can enjoy a leisurely buffet breakfast, with classics like eggs cooked to order and fresh juices on offer.
The verdict
The ‘Culture Vulture’ package is more than a hotel stay, it’s a curated cultural immersion. From the design-led comfort of the Deluxe River View Room to the exclusive access to one of London’s most exciting art exhibitions, every element has been thoughtfully considered.
Whether you’re a London local looking for a cultured staycation or a visitor wanting to combine the city’s finest art, food, and hospitality in one easy booking, Sea Containers London makes the process seamless. It’s a testament to how travel can be both indulgent and enlightening and in this case, come with a killer river view to match.
Sea Containers London
Address: 20 Upper Ground, South Bank, London SE1 9PD
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