New Wellness Hotel: Westin London City On River Thames

London’s newest five star wellness hotel, The Westin London City, nestled on the north bank of the River Thames, is Marriott’s 1000^th EMEA hotel. It’s also the premium Westin brand’s UK debut. As well as 222 stylish rooms and suites, this newest hotel in the capital’s financial district features a large and beautiful spa with an indoor swimming pool, an impressive hot tub and a fitness centre.

The Westin London City is not what you’d expect from a business hotel. Indeed it has all the facilities a business traveller would expect but the vibe is far from sterile and corporate. The design by Dexter Moren is sophisticated, minimal and inspired by its riverside setting and history. The Queenhithe Dock (the oldest in London) is just outside the hotel. Modern artwork throughout the hotel has been thoughtfully chosen and the paper art installation in the lobby by Peter Gentenaar is stunning.

The focus at the newest Westin hotel is on wellness and it embodies the brand’s six pillars of well-being – Sleep Well, Eat Well, Move Well, Feel Well, Work Well and Play Well – through its engaging programming. The Heavenly™ Spa is spread across 370 square meters, with six treatment rooms and a 12-metre indoor pool, plus a state-of-the-art fitness studio complete with TRX® exercise equipment and Peloton bikes. Guests are encouraged to explore the local area with the renowned RunWESTIN™ program offering specially created running routes that take advantage of the newly completed final part of the Thames Path, connecting Embankment and the Tower of London. Yoga, breathwork sessions and other health and fitness activities are also a possible future addition to the wellness offering. A recent breathwork session was with the Michael James Wong, founder of the Just Breathe Project and Tamara Jones led a yoga workshop.

The food and drink options at the Westin London City also have a healthy focus. Mosaic, the hotel’s all day dining destination, is the ideal spot for anyone seeking healthier choices with a special “Eat Well” menu offering a sustainably sourced selection of fresh and vibrant dishes, from crispy prawn stir fry to hand dived scallop ceviche.

The gourmet offering is at Hithe & Seek, a chic riverside bar with unobstructed views across the river to the Tate Modern and Tower Bridge. Hithe + Seek is located on Queenhithe, a natural inlet known for being the place where Alfred the Great arrived in 886 to rebuild the city after it was abandoned by the Romans. It took the name of Queenhithe when Queen Matilda was granted the dues from the dock in the early 12th century. Today it is known as the oldest Anglo-Saxon dock in the world.

Executive Chef Jorge Colazo oversees the Modern British cuisine at the hotel. The Argentinian born Chef had stints at top restaurants including the three-Michelin starred Arzak in San Sebastián, La Bourgogne in Buenos Aires, two-Michelin starred Aquavit New York and Aquavit London. From grilled Galatian octopus, set on a bed of ‘forbidden’ rice with saffron aioli, to wild trout tiradito accompanied by crispy quinoa, the plates have been created to perfectly complement a glass of red, white, sparkling or orange. In keeping with the stellar wine list, a new wine club, Seekers at Hithe + Seek launched last month to offer guests an eclectic wine list of 80 references, plus a culinary offering combining recipes from old and new world wine producing countries – with plates that have been created to perfectly complement a glass of red, white, sparkling or orange. Each month, Seekers will join Wine Curator Erin Summers in Hithe + Seek’s Curator Corner, where they’ll be guided through a selection of undiscovered gems that can’t be sourced on the high street.

Westin London City, 60 Upper Thames Street, London EC4V 3AD Rooms from £309 per night.