Containing Your Excitement On London’s South Bank

Leva’s smiling face greeted us at the smart looking restaurant inside London’s Sea Containers hotel on the South Bank: little did we know that this lovely Lithuanian had just made history.

It didn’t take long for us to discover that as well as being a trainee midwife, she had recently been home to her nation’s capital, Vilnius, to take part in the 100th Lithuanian Song Festival, and had been one of more than 9,000 dancers marking a century of the nation coming together to celebrate Lithuania’s cultural heritage, through dancing and singing.

“It was absolutely wonderful,” she beamed. “It happened almost by accident but, here I am, back in London, being a mum to two children, studying midwifery and serving you!”

And, with no more ado, she showed us to our table with the confident smile of someone who knew they had just been part of something momentous.

And in that moment Leva summed up those people that we met in this unique hotel, situated just a short walk from the Tate Modern, National Theatre and Shakespeare’s Globe: they smiled, were charming and couldn’t do enough for us.

Me and Mrs H had earlier taken the Circle Line from King’s Cross to Blackfriars, making the short walk across Blackfriars Bridge before hanging a right for the 200m stroll to the hotel’s riverside entrance.

“Ooh, look! What’s that?” said Mrs H just before we began our 10-minute walk from the tube station. Never one to miss a gem, I turned my head and spied the diminutive Rennie Garden, so named after John Rennie who lived from 1761 to 1821, built Waterloo Bridge and even designed the original London Bridge, now in Arizona USA!

In 1862 the Corporation of London secured the preservation of the garden through an Act of Parliament.

Now, it’s just a picturesque corner on the edge of Blackfriars Bridge where you can sit and enjoy your lunchtime sandwiches, whilst pondering the achievements of one of London's great civil engineers.

And that is the joy of London: gems on every corner, stories in ancient brickwork, history at every pass!

The interestingly named ‘Sea Containers’ hotel also has its own tale.

Sea Containers House was originally designed by noted American Modernist architect Warren Planter in 1974, as a luxury hotel but subsequently became office space, opening four years later when it took its name from the building’s former long-term tenant, Sea Containers.

It did eventually become a hotel taking on its current guise some five years ago and, nowadays, its internal design is reminiscent of a 1920s transatlantic cruise liner.

The property boasts award-winning food and drink outlets...

...and an electric energy, best illustrated by the ever-changing old ‘rail announcement’ type board just to the side of reception.

It changes regularly, displaying philosophical phrases to keep guests amused!

The hotel is a destination where glamour meets brutalism and the building, with its 56-seat Curzon Cinema, 12th Knot eclectic rooftop bar overlooking the River Thames, and oasis of tranquillity that is the aguaSpa, Sea Containers London stands as a testament to the Big Smoke’s maritime legacy

“Let’s go to the Tower of London,” said Mrs H, “it’s only a 25-minute walk from here” she added, so off we tootled, passing the Tate Modern and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, where dozens of tourists queued eagerly for a private tour of the Bard’s alma mater.

Inside the Tower of London we were lucky enough to not only see the Crown Jewels, on display there since 1661, but one of the Tower’s seven ravens.

It is not known when the ravens first came to the Tower of London but their presence is protected by legend.

Traditionally with birds of ill omen, it is their absence rather than their presence that is feared at the Tower of London.

There is debate as to when the legend dates from, but it says that if the ravens leave, the Tower and Kingdom will fall.

Consequently, Charles II decreed that there must always be at least six here.

Needless to say, the Tower of London, with its myriad of stories, myths, legends, blood and battles, is excellent value at £34 per adult.

It is also a place where you can happily spend four or five hours.

En route back to the hotel we thought it prudent to visit the Bank of England Museum in Threadneedle Street.

This fascinating, free-of-charge, place has a brilliant way of making complex finance appear simple.

I tried to ‘control inflation’ by endeavouring to balance a glass tube that the museum had used to symbolise the UK economy. Within seconds I had taken the country into recession!

“Good job you’re not at 11 Downing Street,” quipped Mrs H, “we’d all be in the mire or at the bottom of the Thames,” she grinned.

A couple of hours later we were feasting like kings in the Sea Containers hotel, oblivious to the new politics of the UK, after the best part of a day on our feet.

Our relaxed dining experience not only celebrates seasonality and ingredient-led cookery, but also comes with stunning views across the River Thames, at no extra charge!

‘We could have had a banquet in our own room’ I thought, ‘the views are equally magnificent on the 5th floor’. Hardly surprising considering that we were in one of the hotel’s magnificent apartments.

Whether you opt for a standard room, or book into a river view suite, you’re guaranteed a memorable evening, since every aspect of this boutique hotel reflects a commitment to luxury and style as well as old-fashioned hospitality.

So, whether you are seeking a romantic getaway, a cultural adventure for all the family, or a cosmopolitan retreat, Sea Containers, at the very heart of London’s cultural and entertainment district, offers an immersive and unforgettable experience that celebrates the spirit of travel and exploration.

We’d travelled south on one of LNER’s First Class Azuma trains, enjoying breakfast on the 7.45am service: I had the crumpets and Mrs H enjoyed the vegan sausage sandwich.

Timing our return for the 17.05pm, we were just in time for dinner, another vegetarian feast that was substantial enough to ease us through the 40-minute signalling delay just outside King’s Cross.

We’d seen Stranger Things in the West End, travelled Back To The Future with Marty McFly at the Adelphi, and spoken with a Lithuanian restaurant host who had danced with 9,000 of her countrymen in one of her homeland’s most important festivals ever.

It had been a fascinating weekend of tales galore with a great hotel to boot. Cheers!

Fast Facts
Sea Containers Hotel: www.seacontainerslondon.com
Prices at Sea Containers London start at £262 for a Standard room. Superior rooms are available from £416, featuring spacious and luxurious accommodations with oversized ivy-clad patios and outside seating. Suites, including the Ship Shape Suite which offers a generous bedroom with a separate living area and is fully equipped with exercise tools, start from £478.

Tower of London: www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london
Bank of England Museum: www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum