The South Bank hotel has always leaned into its cruise liner fantasy
Now the hotel has doubled down on it, unveiling a new era for its suites, including refreshed Riverview Suites and a new Riverview Studio category. I checked into a Riverview Balcony Suite and, frankly, it’s the kind of room that makes you consider cancelling your dinner plans just to stay in and take in the views.
The transatlantic narrative is still the backbone of the design, but it’s been evolved rather than overhauled. Creative Director Jacu Strauss has taken the original Tom Dixon vision and pushed it somewhere warmer, more playful and more residential. Think nautical curves, brass detailing and a palette that feels lifted from the river at dusk. It’s less theme, more mood.
Inside, the suite is a dream pad. The furniture is all bespoke and unapologetically statement-making. A semi-curved sculptural sofa, the kind you sink into with a Negroni and a book you pretend you’re reading, anchors the living space. Coffee tables are crafted from reclaimed ship propellers, sourced from antique dealers around the world. Tabletops shimmer with terrazzo-style surfaces made from recycled plastics once destined for the sea.
Lighting is where it really gets clever. There are lamps everywhere, layered and low, creating a soft, golden glow. From certain angles they look like jellyfish suspended mid-drift, hovering above the room. It’s subtle, but the effect is cinematic. The bed is vast and cloud-soft, dressed in crisp white with a view straight out to the river. The bathroom is bigger than most London kitchens I’ve been in, complete with a freestanding bath that practically demands a slow soak.
And then there’s that backdrop. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the Thames in full spectacle mode. St Paul’s Cathedral rises in the distance. Bridges arc across the water. Boats cut through the current. By day, it’s all light and movement. At night, the city shifts gear, with reflections rippling across the river and traffic glowing in ribbons. The people watching, especially from the balcony, beats anything on Netflix.
Mornings are surprisingly peaceful. No road roaring outside your window, just the river easing into the day. Breakfast, whether downstairs or via room service, is properly thought through. Yes, you can go full English. But if you’re after something lighter, there’s more range than the usual eggs-and-pastry routine. I ordered scrambled eggs with avocado on sourdough, plus yoghurt and fruit. It arrived with strong coffee and enough toast to set you up for the day properly.
Location-wise, it’s hard to beat. Londoners know what the South Bank offers. The Tate is a short stroll away. Borough Market is about 15 minutes on foot. When the sun’s out, the riverfront is glorious and you don’t even need to leave the building for one of the best cocktail bars in the world as Lyaness sits on the ground floor.
Sea Containers has always understood theatre. With these new Riverview Suites, it’s sharpened the script. The maritime story feels richer, the materials more intelligent, the layouts deliberately composed to show off London at its best. It’s not just a room with a view, it’s a front row seat to the city.
Riverview Studio Suites start from £650 per night
Key Infomation
Address | 20 Upper Ground, South Bank, London, SE1 9PD
For more information | seacontainerslondon.com
