Sea Containers London

Sea Containers London occupies a converted 1970s riverside building on the South Bank, between Blackfriars Bridge and the OXO Tower, with the Thames running past its windows. Tom Dixon designed the original interiors around the golden age of transatlantic ocean liners, a theme that still carries through the copper, brass and deep blues of the public rooms. The hotel traded as Mondrian London until 2019, when it went independent under Lore Group and took the name of the building it sits in. A series of 2026 renovations by Jacu Strauss has since refreshed the suites, the restaurant and the rooftop.

For private events the appeal is the smaller, characterful rooms rather than a grand ballroom. The Curzon screening room seats fifty-six in blue velvet beneath a sculptural acoustic wall, with 4K projection and surround sound for launches, presentations and private film nights. The private dining room sits within the riverside Sea Containers Restaurant, panelled in dark timber and lit by twin ring chandeliers, with its own south-facing terrace and room for around twenty-two. Lyaness, the ground-floor cocktail bar overlooking the water, takes over for receptions; its green marble counter and blue-panelled walls are the work of Jacu Strauss.

Up on the roof, 12th Knot opens onto a terrace with a clear line to St Paul's and the City skyline, running DJs and live music into the evening for birthdays and celebrations. An in-house events team handles food, drink and production across the building, and arrivals can be kept separate from the main hotel. Music and DJ logistics are arranged on enquiry rather than fixed as a permanent install.