Located less than a five-minute walk from DLR trains and foot tunnel across the Thames
No kids allowed keeps the party atmosphere going
Shared dorm rooms come with personal storage lockers, some Thames River views
Free continental breakfast
English pub with drinks, comfort food, and billiards
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Walking tours are free
Historic building from the 19th century
Not close to central London attractions
Breakfast spread is limited
Some rooms and bathrooms have cleanliness and maintenance issues
Occasional noise problems with other guests
PubLove at The Great Eastern Hotel is a solid budget choice for travelers willing to share a dorm room and stay in the Isle of Dogs well away from central London attractions (Westminster is a half-hour away by public transportation). A DLR train station and the Greenwich foot tunnel are within a five-minute walk. The hostel serves a limited free continental breakfast and has an English pub. Most of the eight mixed and female-only dorm rooms share bathrooms, all beds are of the bunk variety, and there are some cleanliness and maintenance issues with both rooms and bathrooms. In addition, guests must bring their own towels. Note that kids are not allowed. Travelers who want to stay in this area at a hotel with en-suite bathrooms might consider the Ibis London Greenwich across the river.
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Scene
Affordable hostel with traditional British charm
PubLove at The Great Eastern Hotel is part of the small PubLove group of London hostels attached to pubs. The property is located in the quiet Isle of Dogs area on a residential street and housed in a Grade II-listed building from the 19th century. The public spaces have genuine traditional British charm. The English pub and guest lounge feature dark-wood furniture and leather armchairs, and colorful national flags hang on the walls. The outdoor patio features artificial grass, picnic tables, and a miniature golf hole. The atmosphere overall is fun and casual, and the guest list skews heavily towards the young budget traveler. Kids aren’t permitted as guests, so it’s not a great spot for families.
Location
Quiet Isle of Dogs location near the Thames, about a five-minute walk from Island Gardens DLR station
PubLove at The Great Eastern is in the Isle of Dogs, a quiet non-commercial area of the East End a short stroll from the green expanse of Millwall Park/Mudchute Park and Farms. The George Green’s School (Stop K) and Isle of Dogs Police Station (Stop C) bus stops are a two-minute stroll. The Island Gardens DLR (Docklands Light Railway) is a little less than a five-minute walk. The Canary Wharf tube station (Docklands Light Railway) is about 15 minutes by bus or DLR. The Greenwich Foot Tunnel across the Thames is a five-minute walk from the hostel. It’s a 10-minute walk through the tunnel to reach Greenwich Pier with its river cruise and river bus boats. Next to the pier is the famous 19th-century clipper ship Cutty Sark and Old Royal Naval College, with the north end of Greenwich Park (which contains the Royal Observatory and famous Greenwich Meridian) a little more than a five-minute walk from the pier. The hostel is not close to central London attractions: the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, and Buckingham Palace are all 30 minutes or more away by DLR and tube. Greenwich train station is a little less than 10 minutes by DLR from the hostel. Heathrow Airport is about an hour's drive, or a little more than an hour by a combination of DLR, tube, and Heathrow Express train.
Rooms
Simple multi-bed dorm rooms with security lockers and most with shared baths
PubLove at The Great Eastern has eight mixed and female-only dorm rooms, ranging from two to 15 beds per room, with all beds as bunk beds. Space is tight and rooms are quite simple in their look, with bare white walls, hardwood floors, and plain white bedding (with cheap mattresses) on metal frames. Each room has personal storage lockers (guests must provide locks or buy them from the front desk) and free Wi-Fi, but rooms do not have TVs or electric kettles. Irons are available for a fee, and bed linens are provided but guests need to bring their own towels (or buy one from the front desk). Most rooms share a bathroom with other rooms. Bathrooms include toilets, sinks, and towels, but hairdryers must be rented from the front desk. Previous guests have raised concerns about the smell and cleanliness of the bathrooms, non-functioning or overflowing toilets, and showers with low water pressure and/or no hot water. Some previous guests have complained about issues like noise from fellow guests, cracked or non-functioning electric sockets, a need for improved maintenance in the rooms, and a lack of privacy curtains on the bunk beds. Some rooms have Thames River views.
Features
Free continental breakfast and traditional English pub with billiards and live music
PubLove at The Great Eastern Hotel offers a fairly limited range of property features. It serves a free continental breakfast of cereal, toast, and instant coffee and tea. Some previous guests have complained about the quality and variety of the spread. Guests receive a discount in the hostel’s traditional English pub, which pours a wide range of beers, ciders, scotches, and other alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. The food menu is English and American comfort fare, and the pub is known for its burgers. An outdoor section with picnic tables is available, and the pub also features a billiards table, daily happy hours, and nights with live music and karaoke. Unlike many other hostels, The Great Eastern lacks a TV lounge for guests. It does offer a 24-hour front desk, free luggage storage, and a communal bathroom with a shower. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the building. The hostel has no parking, but there is street parking (free for at least some of the day) and paid public parking nearby. Free walking tours provide a fun way to get to know the neighborhood.
