kings cross to sunborn yacht hotel

A night on the water at the Sunborn Yacht hotel in London

London's floating hotel in royal victoria dock is a unique place to stay.

A stay at the Sunborn Yacht – London’s boat hotel

Spending a night at the Sunborn Yacht hotel in London was a rather pleasant if surreal experience, not least because I saw the hotel first from high up in the sky – not a usual occurrence! This floating hotel is located at Royal Victoria Dock in East London which is just a short walk from the cable car which crosses the Thames from North Greenwich. This means you can easily see the gleaming white yacht which is the Sunborn hotel from 90 metres up in the air, along with the sparkling water and the nearby London City Airport.

Our first glimpse of the Sunborn Yacht hotel London was from the cable car across the Thames

Getting to the Sunborn

We had decided to arrive like tourists, so rather than getting the DLR or Elizabeth Line to Customs House station, which is just a few minutes walk from the Sunborn, we instead caught the river bus with Uber Boat by Thames Clippers from the Embankment to North Greenwich.

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The hour-long cruise sailed past iconic London sights such as Tower Bridge, the Tower of London and HMS Belfast while we enjoyed a civilised drink along with the views, chatting to friendly travellers on the boat, far more pleasant than a tube journey underground.

The Sunborn is located in Royal Victoria Dock in East London

View of the O2 music venue at Greenwich, formerly known as the Millennium Dome

From North Greenwich, home to the O2, we took the cable car – officially called the IFS Cloud Cable Car – over the Thames to Royal Victoria Dock, where the Sunborn Yacht hotel is located. Both journeys were unexpectedly delightful and total novelties to me, a long-time London resident; why should tourists get to do all the fun things?

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Arriving at Sunborn London

From the cable car stop it was just a short walk along the riverside to the Sunborn, which we had already spotted from our lofty vantage point, and it certainly looks impressive from any angle. Rather than being converted from a previous life sailing the Mediterranean, as I had imagined, the Sunborn London was constructed specially for its London mooring, and is the closest hotel to ExCeL , the vast conference centre and exhibition hall which is just a few metres away.

The ExCeL conference and exhibition centre is just a few steps – literally – from the entrance to the Sunborn Yacht hotel London

The entrance to the Sunborn Yacht hotel London

Talking of metres – the Sunborn London has around 10,000m2 of floorspace, which means it feels pretty roomy inside, with 138 bedrooms and suites over five floors, plus a bar, restaurant, conference facilities and several terraces for those sunny days and warm evenings.

Book Sunborn Yacht hotel London on Booking.com

Visit Sunborn Yacht hotel London on TripAdvisor

There is a sister hotel, the five-star Sunborn Gibraltar , which seems to be rather more luxurious, with a swimming pool and casino onboard, but I am told there are plans for the Sunborn London to find another spot in London and for a larger Sunborn to moor up here instead.

The impressive reception lobby at Sunborn Yacht hotel London

That is all some way in the future, though, with plans yet to be finalised, and for now the Sunborn London remains London’s only yacht hotel, and it certainly offers a unique place to spend the night. The entrance is certainly a good first impression, with a lift from the quayside opening out onto an impressive double spiral staircase, all gleaming glass and gold. Check in was quick and efficient, and before too long we were walking up the staircase to the 4th floor where our Yacht Executive Room with River View was located.

Bedrooms at Sunborn Yacht hotel

The 138 bedrooms at Sunborn London  start at Yacht Classic, then go up in size and facilities to Yacht Executive and then to the Suites. Our Yacht Executive, was fairly smart, with a large double bed, sofa, TV (which wasn’t very easy to watch from the bed), coffee table, writing desk and lots of mirrors, lights and plug points.

Our Yacht Executive room at Sunborn London was spacious and well-designed, with a large bed, sofa, desk, bathroom with shower and private balcony

The carpet was a little tired but the small ferry-style bathroom with shower was bright and clean and best of all, we had a small balcony with a view up and down the dock.

The bed was comfy and there were enough lights and powerpoints for all

For sitting outside and soaking up the views though, the best option is the terrace on the third floor at the back of the ship which gives great views down to the cable cab and beyond it, the O2 arena at Greenwich. Staff were efficient and helpful, serving us a beer and Bloody Mary cocktail, but be warned, the prices on the Sunborn are pretty steep – a glass of Prosecco will set you back £9 while a pint of lager is £7.50, cocktails are around £18 and a G&T will cost you £20.

Soaking up the sunshine with a cocktail on the terrace of the Sunborn London

A more sensible option is to check out some of the nearby bars and restaurants on dry land, such as The Fox – popular during ExCeL events – or even get a cheap bottle of fizz from the nearby Tesco and enjoy on your balcony, as paying £50 for two rounds of drinks seems a little excessive, even for central London prices, and we certainly weren’t in central London. There’s also a selection of bar snacks, such as whitebait, £9.50, or larger plates like fish and chips at £22, but we had reserved a table at the Sunborn’s Land’s End restaurant and decided to wait.

Dinner at Sunborn Yacht

Dinner on the Sunborn is served on the fourth floor, in the open-plan Land’s End restaurant, and guests are advised to book as it can get busy. Staff kindly let us switch from our initial table under some over-enthusiastic air-conditioning to a warmer one and it was nice to dine while seeing the views of the water outside.

Sadly, the food didn’t match the venue or its prices, which was a shame considering the unique location. The Sunborn itself doesn’t shy away from making extravagant claims about its restaurant, as its website proclaims: ‘In our beautiful and elegant restaurant, you’ll find an array of striking and memorable flavours, an inspiring range of local and seasonal ingredients, and menus and wine lists specifically curated to take you to new heights of sensory pleasure…To dine on board Sunborn’s luxury superyacht is to go on a voyage into a realm of flavour, aroma, and texture, and to treat yourself to something truly out of the ordinary.’

The Pressed Rabbit and Parma Ham Terrine to start

Sweetcorn chowder

We hadn’t read this blurb before dining but even so, the prices and venue meant that we had been really looking forward to something special. The starters were perfectly adequate, with Pressed Rabbit and Parma Ham Terrine (£15) and my large, warming bowl of Sweetcorn Chowder (£9.50) but the mains weren’t up to expectations; my seared Tuna Steak Nicoise (£34) was very odd, with the tuna having been seemingly brined or treated in some way that it tasted more like gammon, with oddly sliced eggs and an over-powering balsamic dressing, while my partner’s vast Lobster Tagliatelle (£32) was slightly better, but needed more flavour and more lobster. We decided to take one dessert to our room (Vanilla Creme Brûlée, £12) and were surprised to find it was really rather tiny.

My seared Tuna Steak Nicoise

Lobster Tagliatelle

It was a shame as dining on a boat certainly felt very special and the prices certainly hinted that the food would be a cut above the usual fare, but reluctantly I have to say I didn’t feel it matched the venue or the cost. ‘There’s something for everyone in the UK’s most exclusive and one of a kind venue’ says the website, so it does seem like a severe case of over-writing and under-delivering, at least on the evening we were there. The glass of red wine we had with our meal was very nice though and the Pina colada-style cocktail which came in a giant glass pineapple glass was fun and showed a bit of imagination and verve.

Cocktails at dinner were fun, especially the one served in a massive pineapple

Breakfast at Sunborn

Judging by the reviews on Tripadvisor breakfast at Sunborn yacht hotel, the breakfast is a hugely popular part of guests’ stay, but I think they were having an off-day when I visited (or maybe my expectations were too high?). Breakfast is buffet-only, so you help yourself from a variety of cooked options on hot plates, which range from sausages to bacon, scrambled eggs, fried eggs, baked beans and hash browns as well as a selection of cold meats, yoghurt, smoked fish, cereals and bread.

The yogurt was fine but the scrambled eggs were cold (even from the tray freshly brought from the kitchen), the sausages not very tasty and the bacon very patchily cooked, so for a hotel which claims to offer a ‘five-star, luxury experience’ I found it rather lacking – plus the coffee available was only filter coffee and staff were not very pleased with my request for a proper espresso – although they did oblige in the end. It is always tricky for a hotel to manage expectations but as breakfast is a highlight of most hotel stays, it surely isn’t too hard to make sure that food is well cooked and piping hot when served.

The lounge at the Sunborn Yacht hotel London

That said, staying at the Sunborn yacht hotel was certainly a unique London hotel experience and if you’re visiting ExCeL then it is the ideal place for location and convenience, plus sitting on the terrace in the sunshine next to the sparkling water of Royal Victoria Dock was a lovely way to spend the afternoon – I look forward to the arrival of Sunborn’s more luxurious replacement which will no doubt be a great addition to the area, whether you choose to travel by land, sea or air.

Sunborn Yacht hotel London at night

Hotel information and to book Sunborn Yacht hotel London

Sunborn Yacht hotel , Royal Victoria Dock, London E16 1AA, United Kingdom. Phone: +44 20 3714 8111

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Sarah Bridge

Every review is personally researched and written by me, Sarah Bridge, who, when I'm not writing about leisure for a national newspaper, spends my time seeking out the best leisure experiences, from city centre boutique hotels to country house estates, Michelin-starred dining to the newest openings. Some of the links on my reviews are affiliate marketing links, which means if you click through I get a small commission if you end up buying on these sites. This in no way affects the independence of my reviews, but helps with website running costs and I just wanted to let you know so as to be fully transparent.

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How to get to Sunborn London Yacht Hotel in Canning Town by bus, train, Tube or DLR?

Directions to sunborn london yacht hotel (canning town) with public transport.

The following transport lines have routes that pass near Sunborn London Yacht Hotel

How to get to Sunborn London Yacht Hotel by bus?

Click on the bus route to see step by step directions with maps, line arrival times and updated time schedules.

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Click on the train route to see step by step directions with maps, line arrival times and updated time schedules.

How to get to Sunborn London Yacht Hotel by Tube?

Click on the Tube route to see step by step directions with maps, line arrival times and updated time schedules.

Dlr stations near Sunborn London Yacht Hotel in Canning Town

• Custom House, 2 min walk, VIEW
• IFS Cloud Royal Docks, 8 min walk, VIEW

Bus stops near Sunborn London Yacht Hotel in Canning Town

• Leslie Road / Custom House Station (E), 5 min walk, VIEW
• Custom House Station (G), 6 min walk, VIEW
• Custom House Station (D), 6 min walk, VIEW
• Boxley Street (W), 13 min walk, VIEW

Train stations near Sunborn London Yacht Hotel in Canning Town

• Custom House - Dkt, 6 min walk, VIEW

Bus lines to Sunborn London Yacht Hotel in Canning Town

• 241, Silvertown, Royal Wharf, VIEW
• 300, Canning Town, VIEW
• 325, Prince Regent, VIEW
• 678, Stratford, VIEW
• 304, Custom House Station, VIEW
• 147, Ilford, VIEW
• 474, Canning Town, Barking Road, VIEW
• N551, Gallions Reach, Shopping Park, VIEW
• 330, Pontoon Dock, VIEW

What are the nearest stations to Sunborn London Yacht Hotel?

The nearest stations to Sunborn London Yacht Hotel are:

• Custom House is 113 meters away, 2 min walk.
• Leslie Road / Custom House Station (E) is 378 meters away, 5 min walk.
• Custom House - Dkt is 403 meters away, 6 min walk.
• Custom House Station (G) is 414 meters away, 6 min walk.
• Custom House Station (D) is 432 meters away, 6 min walk.
• IFS Cloud Royal Docks is 549 meters away, 8 min walk.
• Boxley Street (W) is 641 meters away, 13 min walk.

Which bus lines stop near Sunborn London Yacht Hotel?

These bus lines stop near Sunborn London Yacht Hotel: 147, 241, 300, 474.

Which train line stops near Sunborn London Yacht Hotel?

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The nearest train station to Sunborn London Yacht Hotel in Canning Town is Custom House - Dkt. It’s a 6 min walk away.

What’s the nearest bus stop to Sunborn London Yacht Hotel in Canning Town?

The nearest bus stop to Sunborn London Yacht Hotel in Canning Town is Leslie Road / Custom House Station (E). It’s a 5 min walk away.

What’s the nearest DLR station to Sunborn London Yacht Hotel in Canning Town?

The nearest DLR station to Sunborn London Yacht Hotel in Canning Town is Custom House. It’s a 2 min walk away.

What time is the first train to Sunborn London Yacht Hotel in Canning Town?

The ELIZABETH is the first train that goes to Sunborn London Yacht Hotel in Canning Town. It stops nearby at 07:05.

What time is the last train to Sunborn London Yacht Hotel in Canning Town?

The ELIZABETH is the last train that goes to Sunborn London Yacht Hotel in Canning Town. It stops nearby at 23:05.

What time is the first bus to Sunborn London Yacht Hotel in Canning Town?

The N551 is the first bus that goes to Sunborn London Yacht Hotel in Canning Town. It stops nearby at 03:01.

What time is the last bus to Sunborn London Yacht Hotel in Canning Town?

The 474 is the last bus that goes to Sunborn London Yacht Hotel in Canning Town. It stops nearby at 03:29.

What time is the first DLR to Sunborn London Yacht Hotel in Canning Town?

The DLR is the first DLR that goes to Sunborn London Yacht Hotel in Canning Town. It stops nearby at 06:54.

What time is the last DLR to Sunborn London Yacht Hotel in Canning Town?

The DLR is the last DLR that goes to Sunborn London Yacht Hotel in Canning Town. It stops nearby at 23:57.

See Sunborn London Yacht Hotel, Canning Town, on the map

Public Transit to Sunborn London Yacht Hotel in Canning Town

Wondering how to get to Sunborn London Yacht Hotel in Canning Town, United Kingdom? Moovit helps you find the best way to get to Sunborn London Yacht Hotel with step-by-step directions from the nearest public transit station.

Moovit provides free maps and live directions to help you navigate through your city. View schedules, routes, timetables, and find out how long does it take to get to Sunborn London Yacht Hotel in real time.

Looking for the nearest stop or station to Sunborn London Yacht Hotel? Check out this list of stops closest to your destination: Custom House; Leslie Road / Custom House Station (E); Custom House - Dkt; Custom House Station (G); Custom House Station (D); IFS Cloud Royal Docks; Boxley Street (W).

Bus:  147 ,  241 ,  300 ,  474 ,  325 ,  678 ,  304 ,  N551 ,  330 . Train:  ELIZABETH . Tube:  JUBILEE . DLR:  DLR .

Want to see if there’s another route that gets you there at an earlier time? Moovit helps you find alternative routes or times. Get directions from and directions to Sunborn London Yacht Hotel easily from the Moovit App or Website.

We make riding to Sunborn London Yacht Hotel easy, which is why over 1.5 million users, including users in Canning Town, trust Moovit as the best app for public transit. You don’t need to download an individual bus app or train app, Moovit is your all-in-one transit app that helps you find the best bus time or train time available.

For information on prices of bus, train, Tube and DLR, costs and ride fares to Sunborn London Yacht Hotel, please check the Moovit app.

Use the app to navigate to popular places including to the airport, hospital, stadium, grocery store, mall, coffee shop, school, college, and university.

Location: Canning Town, London

Attractions near Sunborn London Yacht Hotel

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Travelling around London has never been so easy. See step by step directions as you travel to any attraction, street or major public transport station. View bus and train timetables, arrival times, service alerts and detailed routes on a map, so you know exactly how to get to anywhere in London.

When travelling to any destination around London use Moovit's Live Directions with Get Off Notifications to know exactly where and how far to walk, how long to wait for your line , and how many stops are left. Moovit will alert you when it’s time to get off — no need to constantly re-check whether yours is the next stop.

Wondering how to use public transport in London or how to pay for public transport in London? Moovit public transport app can help you navigate your way with public transport easily, and at minimum cost. It includes public transport fees, ticket prices, and costs. Looking for a map of London public transport lines? Moovit public transport app shows all public transport maps in London with all Bus, Train, Tube, Tramlink, River Bus and DLR routes and stops on an interactive map.

London has 6 transport type(s), including: Bus, Train, Tube, Tramlink, River Bus and DLR, operated by several transport agencies, including London Underground, London Buses, Transport for London, London Tramlink, National Rail, Bluestar, Berry's Coaches, Oxford Bus Company, Stagecoach West, Community First Wessex, Cresta Coaches, D & P Boat Hire, First Portsmouth, Fareham & Gosport, FYTbus, IFS Cloud Cable Car

Public transport routes with stations closest to Sunborn London Yacht Hotel in Canning Town

Train lines with stations closest to sunborn london yacht hotel in canning town, custom house - dkt, bus lines with stations closest to sunborn london yacht hotel in canning town, leslie road / custom house station (e), custom house station (g), custom house station (d), boxley street (w), dlr lines with stations closest to sunborn london yacht hotel in canning town, custom house.

Reservations: +44 (0) 203 714 811

Rooms & Suites

Style meets comfort.

Sunborn London’s 133 guest hotel rooms and 5 suites tell a story of timeless quality. Designed to provide light and spacious accommodation, each room has river or dock views, in most cases, framed by large french windows. Yacht Executive Rooms lead on to a private terrace or balcony. Classic furnishings, pristine bathrooms and contemporary amenities combine to create an indulgent retreat.

Yacht Executive Suites

Sunborn London’s two Yacht Executive Suites transform an exquisitely finished 45m² living space into a unique experience thanks to the amazing views from the extensive sundeck that stretches towards the yacht’s sleek bow.

Yacht Junior Suites

Sunborn London’s Yacht Junior Suites are primed for luxury. The beautifully crafted 35m² living space with private sundeck makes a splendid retreat in a thriving and historic London Docklands location.

Yacht Executive Rooms

Luxuriate in 19-23m² of beautifully appointed accommodation in one of Sunborn London’s Yacht Executive rooms. Featuring first-class furnishings, immaculate bathrooms and a fabulous private balcony to make the most of the panoramic vistas.

Yacht Classic Rooms

Choose Yacht Classic accommodation aboard Sunborn London and you’ll enjoy a generous 19-23m² of space in which to relax and unwind. Expect sumptuous beds, luxurious shower room and excellent views of the river or dock.

Benefits of Booking Direct on our Website

• Priority upgrade to next room category*
• Late check-out*
• Complimentary Lavazza coffee
• Lowest Rate Guaranteed
• No Credit Card Fees

Guest Services

Expect a prompt, round-the-clock response to every request, and impressive attention to detail – from private cocktail parties to personalised floral displays.

Guest can relax and enjot a first-class expericne every step of the way. Rooms and suites are immaculately prepared, staff are discreet and attentive, and services are tailored to suit individual needs.

Naturally, service is second to none and yacht staff are on hand to provide assistance, day or night. Reception stadd are always available to assist with taxi, theatre and restaurant bookings as well as advice on visitng local attractions. Secure parking is available close by at the Royal Victoria car park and Excel Undercroft car park.

For any further guest services please contact [email protected]

Great offers

Ultimate romantic package.

A unique Romantic Getaway in the heart of London, onboard the UK’s only Super Yacht Luxury Hotel with city views and exquisite cuisine. Book direct via our website.

Afternoon Tea Break

Our new afternoon tea break package is now available to book online. Join us for a midweek break and explore the docklands in London with a stay on board the yacht.

Sunborn Gateway

A unique Sunborn Gateway in the heart of London, onboard the UK’s only Super Yacht Hotel with city views and exquisite cuisine. Book direct via our website.

Taxi fare from Kings Cross Station to Sunborn Yacht Hotel

Initial fee: 2.50 GBP Cost of ride time: 8.20 GBP Cost of distance: 10.05 GBP

Total Fare: ~ 20.75 GBP

Initial fee: 3.50 GBP Cost of ride time: 8.20 GBP Cost of distance: 16.23 GBP

Total Fare: ~ 27.93 GBP

Initial fee: 4.00 GBP Cost of ride time: 12.30 GBP Cost of distance: 18.55 GBP

Total Fare: ~ 34.85 GBP

Distance between Kings Cross Station and Sunborn Yacht Hotel is approx. 7.73 miles (12.43 km) with 41 min travel time.

This taxi fare estimate from Kings Cross Station to Sunborn Yacht Hotel was updated 503 days ago . Update the estimate to see the real-time fare prices in London .

Did you know that we have all the fare rates for Uber London? *   See all the taxi services and find your next cheap London ride.

* Taxi fare estimate from Kings Cross Station to Sunborn Yacht Hotel may vary due to weather and traffic. Our estimates in London N1C 4TB, UK do not include any discounts or promotions.

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