Flexible cancellation available. Cancel without charge up until 3pm the day before arrival. Read our cancellation policy.

Flexible cancellation available. Read policy.

Close
Close

Book Direct on our website for exclusive benefits

  1. Enjoy offers you won't find elsewhere
  2. Best room rates and terms
  3. Priority room allocation
More than 5 rooms? Enquire here. *from 12noon daily
Error

There was an issue submitting the form.

Please ensure all fields are filled in correctly, or try changing your parameters.

If this issue persists, please try booking by clicking here.

close icon
Villareal lights London

Villareal lights London

London, it's often said, is a series of villages connected through a cosy proximity. With each village comes a culture and a pulse specific to it, but there’s a unifying thread running through London – the River Thames. Lately some have come to consider its potential as a canvas for artistic expression.

Enter internationally acclaimed American artist Leo Villareal, whose team recently won the pitch for the ‘Illuminated River’ project, a unified artwork conceived to light central London’s bridges along the River Thames. Coined as an “art and architecture commission of unprecedented scale”, Villareal is himself a trained sculptor and also the creator of major light installations and public projects across the globe. His work can be found at MoMA in New York, the National Gallery of Art in Washington and has previously been exhibited at the Hayward Gallery.

Recently green lit by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, ‘Illuminated River’ sees Villareal collaborate with renowned British architects and urban planners, Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands and curators Future/Pace. The full list of partners is Atelier Ten, Beckett Rankine, Bradley Hemmings, Core Five, Futurecity, Greenwich+Docklands International Festival, Montagu Evans, Pentagram and Price & Myers. The City of London is home to some of the most iconic and scenic bridges in the UK, and this initiative seeks to bind connected boroughs and neighbourhoods through an engaging and thought provoking method.

Launching in 2018 the bridges will serve as the perfect canvas for the delicate, softly changing light installation, which seeks to not only celebrate, but also to reveal each bridges unique architectural quality, heritage and innate beauty. 

illuminatedriver.london

Image courtesy of Leo Villareal, LDS Architects and Future\Pace

Villareal lights London

Further Reading

Read all >
28th March, 2025

Darren Riley Art at The Pilgrm

The Pilgrm is now showcasing over 100 pieces by artist Darren Riley

Read on >
6th March, 2025

15% off rooms + Earl of East candle this spring

Enjoy 15% off your rooms AND a free Earl of East Wildflower candle when you stay this spring

Read on >
2nd January, 2025

How to Drink without Drinking with Fiona Beckett

Delve into the world of low and no alcohol with our Wine Writer in Residence this January

Read on >
18th December, 2024

Winter 2025 offer

Enjoy 10% off your room and £20 to spend on drinks when you stay before April

Read on >
29th November, 2024

10 reasons to visit London in early 2025

Why a trip to London has to be on the cards for the new year.

Read on >
25th October, 2024

Ben Wilson Chewing Gum Man

We’re very excited to announce our new exhibition with Ben Wilson - aka chewing gum man.

Read on >

Hello lovely guests, friends and neighbours

Enjoy 15% off rooms + and an Earl of East candle this spring!

Click here to find out more
close icon

Subscribe

Sign up to The Pilgrm for good news, edits and invitations to the things we love to share and enjoy.

close icon