The Ark · Canary Wharf
in London, UK 🇬🇧
→ arkcoliving.com book at app.mews.com
✉️
A haven of community and creativity in vibrant East London, just a few minutes walk from Canary Wharf. Stay for a night or a year and discover new faces and life-enriching experiences in London’s largest co-living space.
Whether you’re staying for a few nights or moving in for months, we want you to feel at home. Relax, work, and connect in consciously designed co-living spaces – or retreat back to your self contained studio.
Formerly operated by The Collective. [–Ed.]Reviews please interpret other's opinions per your own needs and values
I have stayed many times and enjoyed it in the past. The last few times have been disappointing, the new staff seem to lack care and refused to let us keep our bags in the back room after checkout. The jacuzzi/ hot tub has been cold for months and my most recent time I went both the sauna and the steam room were both out of order which wasn’t stated. In our room some of the towels had some strange stains on them which wasn’t nice. The hallways also had a strong smell of illegal substances which sometimes came into the room. Overall the place is really declining as you can see by all the recent reviews too, which is sad as it used to be very well managed.
I booked last minute and did not read the reviews. It all turned out well, had no issues at all with service. Everyone was friendly. My booked studio apartment was available.
Room was clean, it was indeed very hot. Strange, because outside it wasn’t that hot, the hallways seemed as if they had a heater on even. And inside the room it was impossible to sleep without cracking the window and keeping the blinds up. Luckily I had a nice sleep mask and ear protection, otherwise it would’ve been tough.
Indeed strange that there is a kitchenette and a kettle, even some tea and sugar but not even a styrofoam cup or any cooking Utensils.
Pool was nice for a quick swim with a view.
Location quite accessible.
Probably wouldn’t stay here again, but for last minute and having paid around 90GBP it was totally fine.
I recently had the absolute pleasure of staying in a hotel room so delightfully compact, it made me question if I had accidentally booked a closet instead. The rooms were incredibly small – cozy to the point of claustrophobia – and lacked any form of air conditioning. Upon arrival at the reception, we were informed that the sauna was “temporarily out of service.” Well, luckily for us, we enjoyed a fully private sauna experience right in our own room! And by sauna, I mean the blazing heat with no AC except for the magical “moving air” created by barely-opening windows. Opening the windows was out of the question anyway because outside was basically a nonstop DLR train concert. Unless you’re a fan of loud rattling trains as your lullabies, sleep was a no-go.
Now, the bathroom deserves a special mention—or maybe an award for compactness. It was so tiny that you could sit on the toilet and simultaneously wash yourself in the shower without even moving. Multi-tasking at its finest! As for the bed, the description suggested a double, but in reality it was more like a single bed suffering an identity crisis—small, uncomfortable, and definitely not the place to dream sweet dreams.
All in all, I’ve stayed in prison cells that offered more comfort and privacy than this “hotel” room. If you’re a fan of tight spaces, sauna-like heat, and the soothing sounds of London’s busiest trains, then by all means, book away. For me, this stay was a lesson in how not to do hospitality.
Awful for the price, i expected a room that didn’t resemble a prison cell. You had to request cutlery and it gets brought to you. Spoons and cups are standard in any hotel room, not upon request. It was 30°C and 72% humidity outside, the day I checked in, the window only opens slightly, no air con throughout the building apart, from in the main entrance. The whole point of a hotel is a place to go, relax and rest, that room was far from relaxing, especially in the heat! I didn’t need no sauna, the room was a sauna. The fan wasn’t fit for purpose. The toilet is next to the kitchen area. No ventilation in the bathroom. How this passes health and safety inspections, I do not know. The bed isn’t a double standard bed either. £100 deposit fee upon arrival, for what I do not know. Especially when there is not even a cup or spoon in the room, unless you request and they are noted down and brought to you, let alone tea, coffee, sugar sachets. There was someone complaining at reception that his room wasn’t cleaned from the last guest, the bedding hadn’t been changed and hair in the shower. The lady on reception said the best she can do is have it cleaned tomorrow! I checked out early, never checked out so fast and found another accommodation. They won’t refund the £100 deposit fee until your original check out date either. Even though i checked out and the room is available. So unless prison cells, don’t mind using the bathroom next to where you make drinks, food, and don’t mind not having ventilation, this place is for you.
I was extremely worried when I booked this hotel after reading reviews online. However it was a very pleasant stay. Upon check in Shiva helped us and was very polite with the room being ready right away. Our room was clean and tidy unlike many reviews. The pool was enjoyable and well maintained for its price and location I honestly recommend and I would not let some reviews scare you! For the £101 I paid on booking.com it was worth it
The service at reception was disappointing—staff came across as unhelpful and at times rude.
The amenities were quite limited and did not meet expectations. For example, we were unable to watch TV without first going to reception to present a TV license, which was inconvenient. The room lacked air conditioning, and being located next to the train tracks, the noise throughout the night was quite disruptive.
The shower was very small, and only basic toiletries (small bottles of low-quality shampoo and body wash) were provided. There was no hairdryer in the room, which we would have expected as standard.
The bar was shut, and looked like it was shut for a while, which is a basic thing we expected, especially at the height of the summer season. It was also quite confusing as to whether the pool was opened or closed, having some signs to say it was closed but people being in it.
Given the hotel’s appearance, price point, and location, we anticipated a higher standard. Unfortunately, many basic features were missing. Which impacted the overall experience especially when this hotel came recommended. It didn’t meet the high level of recommendation. Can not recommend.
Review of Hotel Ark Canary Wharf
The building is beautiful, and the location is truly fantastic. Public transport connections are excellent, and the area around the hotel is stunning – with a supermarket and several restaurants just around the corner.
However, there are several aspects that need serious improvement. First of all, the room was not clean when we arrived, which made a very bad first impression. During our three-day stay, the room was never cleaned, despite us hanging the housekeeping request sign. Honestly, the level of cleanliness was unacceptable – the room felt dirty throughout our stay.
The overall service was also disappointing. I got the feeling that my questions were annoying the staff, and there was no proper welcome or introduction at check-in, which would have been much more professional.
Also, for a hotel that wants to compare with quality restaurants and accommodations, a mattress protector should be standard. The bed sagged in the middle and was uncomfortable. On top of that, the area can be quite loud, especially in the evenings, which made it hard to get a good night’s sleep.
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