ARK Canary Wharf – Our Worst Hotel Experience in London

London is our comfort city so if only we have an opportunity, we take it. This time we’ve stayed at ARK Canary Wharf – co-living hotel concept that seemed interesting and sounded like fun experience. This was, however, so far from true.

Location – ARK Canary Wharf

Ark Canary Wharf is one of two locations in the ARK Co-Living group, alongside their Wembley site. Ideally situated between two DLR stations, South Quay and Crossharbour, it’s just a five-minute walk to either station.

Canary Wharf itself is a vibrant district known for its stunning skyline and bustling atmosphere. The area boasts a wide variety of dining options, from upscale restaurants to cozy cafes, making it a food lover’s paradise.

Additionally, there’s a Tesco Express nearby for convenient grocery shopping, perfect for picking up essentials for breakfast, dinner, or snacks as well as Pret where you can alternatively grab your lunch from. Commuting to central London is a breeze, taking only about 25 to 30 minutes, depending on your destination and route.

Amenities at ARK Canary Wharf

ARK Canary Wharf offers an impressive range of amenities to make your stay comfortable and convenient. The co-working space, complete with a small buffet, café, and restaurant all in one, provides an ideal setting for both work and casual dining. Breakfast is also available here for those who opt for it.

Additionally, the hotel features a playroom, a wellness studio, a library, and a swimming pool. The swimming pool, located on the top floor, offers stunning views, though it didn’t quite meet our expectations when we tried it on our first evening.

Swimming Pool at ARK Canary Wharf

We used the pool only once, during our first evening at the hotel. Unfortunately, the changing rooms and showers were flooded and appeared dirty. Although lockers were available for pool guests, several were occupied, and the rest were broken, making it impossible to secure our valuables like phones, which we had to leave on the loungers.

We only used the pool for a few minutes, as we were concerned about its cleanliness and overall condition. The floor was covered in hair and dust, and the water contained floating debris. It was a rather unpleasant and disappointing experience. We also briefly tried the jacuzzi, but given the questionable cleanliness, we decided to leave quickly.

We initially planned to use the sauna but ultimately decided against it, fearing similar issues. The only highlight was the stunning view of Canary Wharf, but the overall experience left us unwilling to return or recommend this hotel, especially for the pool. It was a letdown, particularly since we had chosen this hotel partly for its pool facilities.

ARK Canary Wharf – Co-working Area

The co-working area at ARK Canary Wharf is spacious and conveniently connected to a café where you can purchase coffee, snacks, and breakfast. Although we didn’t opt for the breakfast, preferring to prepare our own meals in the room, the co-working space was well-equipped with fast internet, plenty of power outlets, and comfortable seating, making it a great place to work efficiently. We have no complaints in this regard.

ARK Canary Wharf – Check-in

Our flight was very early in the morning, so we arrived at Ark Canary Wharf around 10 a.m. from Stansted Airport. The standard check-in time is 3 p.m., so our room wasn’t ready yet. However, the hotel offers complimentary luggage storage, which allowed us to store our bags after taking out the essentials. We then headed out to explore the city and grab something to eat.

Upon our return in the afternoon, our room was ready. Check-in was straightforward; we filled out the necessary forms, provided our details and documents, and within about ten minutes, we received our room keys. We weren’t quite prepared for the disappointment awaiting us in the room.

Our Traumatising Room Experience

Booking our room via Agoda, we didn’t realize our stay coincided with Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” in London, which left most good, reasonably priced accommodation options fully booked. Thankfully, using my Agoda discounts, we managed to reserve a small studio at ARK Canary Wharf, featuring a kitchenette and a compact bathroom. We prioritized having a space where we could comfortably prepare breakfasts if needed, hence the choice.

We knew the room was small and lacked air conditioning, which wasn’t initially a problem for us. However, upon entering, we discovered not only was there no air conditioning, but the ventilation system also wasn’t functioning. The room was extremely hot and stuffy, making it difficult to breathe and triggering a panic attack, something I had never experienced before. Overwhelmed by the idea of spending a week in such conditions, I immediately searched for alternative accommodations.

After a short rest with the door wide open to let in some air, we decided to go to the reception and explain our situation. The receptionist promised to provide a fan for the room, but it was small and quite dirty, and ultimately ineffective. Despite keeping the door open, the room remained unbearably hot. We returned to the reception, requesting either a room change or a refund as we intended to leave. Another fan was offered but proved equally ineffective.

Eventually, after much persistence, we were moved to a room on a lower floor and on the opposite side of the building, which received less sunlight. Though still not perfect, with two fans running and the window open, the room became bearable enough to sleep, though I still woke up due to the heat.

Given the situation, and with no significantly better alternatives available due to the Taylor Swift concert, we decided to stay for the rest of our trip.

Kitchenette at ARK Canary Wharf Rooms

The kitchenette in the room was equipped with a two-burner stove and a sink. However, it lacked basic utensils like plates and pots, which we later found out are only provided for long-term stays of a month or more. This was a bit inconvenient as we planned to prepare our own meals. Instead, we opted for local options like Pret A Manger for wraps, sandwiches, and smoothies, or the Tesco meal deals for a budget-friendly combination of a drink, sandwich, and snack. For dinners, we mostly ate out or ordered through Uber Eats from a local Chinese restaurant.

ARK Canary Wharf – Service and Staff

The service and staff at ARK Canary Wharf initially left a positive impression. Everyone was friendly and helpful during check-in and when we stored our luggage. However, when issues with our room arose, the experience took a downturn.

Initially, the staff attempted to help by providing a fan, but when that proved ineffective, our request for a room change was ignored. We were asked to wait while a solution was promised but never followed through. The manager we initially spoke to was unavailable, forcing us to re-explain the situation to new staff. After spending considerable time waiting in the common area and expressing our need for a solution, we were eventually moved to another room.

Although the new room wasn’t significantly better, the staff’s dismissive attitude left a negative impression. It felt as though they were gaslighting us and downplaying our concerns. After that, we avoided interactions with the staff as much as possible.

Additionally, despite hanging a “Do Not Disturb” sign to ensure our room wasn’t cleaned due to work equipment, housekeeping ignored it and entered anyway. This disregard for our requests added to the overall disappointment.

Overall Experience

In summary, I wouldn’t recommend staying at ARK Canary Wharf during the warmer months or when temperatures exceed 20°C. The ineffective ventilation makes the rooms extremely hot and stuffy, making it difficult to sleep comfortably. I would also avoid rooms on higher floors or those with south-facing windows for the same reason.

The rooms are very small, which might not be an issue if space isn’t a priority. They are relatively clean, although the showers could use some improvement in terms of cleanliness.

I also wouldn’t recommend the hotel for its pool. Despite the great view, it was disappointingly dirty, and we ended up using it only once. On the other hand, the co-working space is convenient and provided a comfortable place to work, especially since the room’s ventilation made it difficult to work in there.

Considering the price, there are certainly better alternatives available. If you have other options, I would suggest avoiding this hotel. It’s not the worst option, but perhaps only suitable for late autumn or winter stays.