The imposing Sunborn Hotel, moored in the
shadow of London’s Canary Wharf, gives
the first-class dining and entertainment
experience you would expect from a cruise
holiday without the hassle and inconvenience
of ever leaving port.
Although the 108-metre superyacht has
fully-functioning propulsion, it is designed to
be permanently moored. So say goodbye to
seasickness as you enjoy its luxury rooms,
elegant restaurant, lounge bar and day spa.
The five storey property, with 136 spacious
guest rooms, takes pride of place in Royal
Victoria Dock next to London’s ExCel centre
and a short stroll for trains into the city on the
Docklands Light Railway.
(sunbornhotels.com)
UP ON THE ROOF
The Rooftop Rockets of Brooks Guesthouse
in Bristol take the joys of luxury caravanning
to new heights. The four Airstream caravans
on their landscaped roof offer a view over
the city’s St Nicholas Market normally
reserved for pigeons and gulls.
Co-owner Carla Brooks says: “They really
sum up the spirit of the area, which is
boho and bursting with character. There
is no other hotel in the UK offering this
unusual accommodation option, so it will be
completely unique to Bristol.
“I am thrilled that the craning of the
four caravans went smoothly. They are
luxuriously kitted out with power showers,
heated towel rails, demister mirrors, electric
shaver points, pocket sprung mattresses
and designer guild interiors curtains and
cushions.” (brooksguesthousebristol.com)
PALACE OF FLOWERS
The Rubens is the closest hotel to
Buckingham Palace and, thanks to its newly-
installed Living Wall, it is also the closest
thing in London to the Garden of Eden. Its
350 square metres is covered with 10,000
herbaceous plants chosen to provide waves
of seasonal colour throughout the year.
It also helps keep the hotel cooler in summer
and warmer in winter. And it has inspired a
selection of cocktails and dishes combined
with edible flowers offered to guests in the
Cavalry Bar. (rubenshotel.com)
THE ART OF RELAXING
The ultimate treat for art lovers is actually
staying inside a statue designed by Antony
Gormley. The signature “Room” suite at the
Beaumont Hotel allows you to do just that.
Part hotel room, part sculpture, it sleeps
guests in a sparsely decorated room formed
of a giant steel figure crouching on one wing
of the building. Gormley said he designed
the room as “a hermit’s cave; a primal space
within the city, but removed from the city
entirely.” (thebeaumont.com)
SUNBORN HOTEL
THE BEAUMONT HOTEL
RUBENS AT THE PALACE
