"How did it strike you on arrival?There are several ‘floating hotels’ in London, but none quite like this: a huge, barge-like ‘building’ (it was designed as a Dutch jail barge), moored in East London’s Royal Victoria Dock, topped with fake green grass and its name lit up in big block lettering at night.
Nice. What’s the crowd like?A mix of those who are here for the ethos—it’s staffed by the former long-term unemployed—and business travelers here for the nearby Excel exhibition center, as well as locals using the ground-floor co-working spaces.
The good stuff: Tell us about your room.Good Hotel's 148 rooms have a hotel-meets-cruise-ship vibe, with square, chunky windows, and a judicious use of space (there’s lots of hipster storage spaces, including wooden shelving and hidden electrical sockets). They’re small—either 13 or 30 square meters, depending on the category (corner rooms are essentially two standard cabins knocked together) but well put together. In lieu of a wardrobe, there are wooden hangers slung artistically on the walls. Think Ikea, but with a Brooklyn hipster-bent.
We’re craving some deep, restorative sleep. They got us?The bed is the focus of the room. In the smaller units, it’s slung against the windows, almost like a sofa.
How about the little things, like mini bar, or shower goodies. Any of that find its way into your suitcase?In lieu of a mini-bar, there’s a 24-hour shop downstairs, and every night, you’ll find a traditional Guatemalan “worry doll” placed on your pillow. (The hotel has its origins in Guatemala, and legend has it that if you confide your worries in them, they’ll dispose of the pesky fears overnight.)
Please tell us the bathroom won’t let us down.Again, think cruise ship. These are small—as in, the bathroom door folds back to double as the shower door, small—but well thought out nonetheless.
Maybe the most important topic of all: Wi-Fi. What’s the word?Free Wi-Fi throughout the building.
Room service: Worth it?There’s no room service onboard.
Anything stand out about other services and features? Whether it’s childcare, gyms, spas, even parking—whatever stuck with you.The rooftop terrace bar is the place to drink in the views during summer. Downstairs, the Living Room has a good tapas menu.
What was most memorable—or heartbreaking—about your stay?Every time you leave the room, an alarm goes off (this was designed as a prison, remember). That’s either a good or a bad thing, depending on how your day is going.
Bottom line: worth it, and why?A completely different take on London, in a less trammelled part of the city." - Julia Buckley
