Hotel of the week

Sunborn London WHERE AND WHY

We spotted the sleek five-deck super yacht as we emerged from Custom House Station on the new Elizabeth Line, anchored in East London’s Royal Victoria Dock. We were about to get a taste of life on a multi-million pound super yacht without setting sail as the 394ftlong yacht hotel is permanently moored beside the EXCEL exhibition centre.

Boarding was via a dockside lift and when the doors opened on to the third deck reception we were greeted by a dazzling double spiral staircase and chandelier, echoing the Great Gatsby era.

Our Yacht Executive River View room, one of 138, was surprisingly spacious, helped by a huge wall mirror, and French windows which opened out on to a balcony and the sight of ducks bobbing on the dock lined with steel grey decorative cranes. With polished wood fittings, gleaming brass and Art Deco wall lamps it felt we were on a traditional liner but with 21st century touches including a Lavazza coffee machine and free wifi.

ON THE MENU

Sipping an aperitif cocktail in the Sundown Bar on the third deck is a must as you watch the sun set over the O2 Dome and the Canary Wharf skyline. Then head up to the next deck for Land’s End restaurant.

From the modern European menu, we kicked off with pan-fried scallops on a bed of pea puree with pearl onion and pancetta (£16.50), and smoked salmon with horseradish and a caper and shallot dressing (£14.50).

Our main dishes were lobster tagliatelle with sauce Americaine, parmesan crumble and grated truffle (£28) and wild mushroom risotto with vegan cheese and grated truffle (£22).

Portions were very generous but we somehow managed to find room for desserts: mango, passionfruit and pineapple salad topped with raspberry sorbet (£11) and potted chocolate fondant with pistachio ice cream (£13.50).

WHILE YOU’RE THERE

Just a stone’s throw away, you can walk with dinosaurs at the EXCEL centre’s current attraction, Jurassic World: The Exhibition (until January 15, jurassicworldexhibition.com/uk)

Concert goers should check out what’s on at the O2, one of Europe’s biggest indoor arenas.

For a little retail therapy, trawl the malls in Canary Wharf Shopping Centre.

And it’s just a 16-minute ride on the excellent Elizabeth Line to Tottenham Court Road to catch a show in the capital’s West End.

WAKE-UP CALL

A night in a Yacht Classic Room starts at £129 based on two sharing. sunbornhotels.com/ london