Clean rooms with flat-screen TVs and spacious closets
Hotel-owned pub next door hosted Iron Maiden concerts
Free Wi-Fi
Free continental breakfast
Good value
Far from central London
A 10-minute walk from the nearest tube station
Located in a rougher neighborhood
The Ruskin is a small hotel located on the outskirts of East London with basic but clean rooms. The area is a little on the rough side, and the journey into central London takes about 30 minutes by metro or bus. However, the hotel's low rates, intriguing history, and modern decor help tip the balance in its favor. While not as plush as other Stratford City hotels such as the Holiday Inn and Staybridge Suites, The Ruskin is less expensive and lacks any corporate stiffness.** **
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Scene
A modern, value hotel with musical roots
There admittedly isn’t much of a scene at this value hotel -- the hotel itself is a bit more modern than its residential surroundings and feels slightly out of place. The lobby is bright and youthful, with exposed concrete, a wood-paneled front desk, and Union Jack kitsch amounting to an almost hostel-like style. For a taste of classic English pub culture, venture next door to the hotel-owned Ruskin Arms, which used to host Iron Maiden concerts and now has live DJs on weekends.
Location
In the middle of nowhere East London
The Ruskin is far from the central London action. Olympic Park, the closest point of interest, is about 25 minutes away by train, and the nearest tube station, East Ham, is a 10-minute walk from the hotel. Set in the middle of one of London’s cheapest real estate boroughs, some locals are rough around the edges while others are friendly and open. As with any area of London, have your wits about you and you should be fine. The neighborhood has some good ethnic eateries, particularly Indian, if you know where to look.
Rooms
Clean and spacious with simple, modern furnishings
The hotel renovated in 2012, and room furnishings are fresh if plain, with white linens and clean carpets. The pared-down aesthetic and sense of open space -- even in the closets and bathrooms -- are striking when compared with rooms in other budget London hotels, which generally have dated furnishings and are crammed into narrow Victorian buildings.
Features
A pub with a heavy metal history
The pub next door, also owned and managed by the hotel, used to host Iron Maiden concerts in the late 1970s before the heavy metal band became famous. Now pleasantly bright and clean, it plays the role of a traditional English pub: worn wood floors and tables, red Chesterfield sofas, and a pool table make for an inviting scene. Guests can take breakfast here in the mornings, have lunch and dinner daily, and catch live DJs spinning on weekends.
