💅 Dream Nails Royal Wharf, London - Review

wanderingazuki
Sep 5
4 min read

Updated: Sep 10

Rating ⭐⭐

Badge: 🚫 Azuki Pass

Services Tried: Manicure, Feet Polish, Eyebrow Threading

I really wanted to love this place – it's local, the branding looks polished, and you can book online (which I always appreciate). But sadly, this one didn’t quite hit the mark for me. Read below for my Dream Nails Royal Wharf, London - review.

🧾 The Details

🛜 Website: dreamnailsbeauty.com

❤️ Instagram: @dreamnails_uk

📌 Location: Royal Wharf, London

🖥️ Booking: Online booking available via their website (though not the easiest to navigate)

Opening Hours:

Monday to Friday: 10am – 7pm
Saturday: 10am – 6pm
Sunday: 11am – 5pm

Services Offered: Manicures, Pedicures, Nail Art, Waxing, Threading, Lash Extensions

Note📝: The branch is part of a wider chain with multiple locations across London, so experience may vary by site.

🚇 Getting There

🚆Nearest DLR Stations: West Silvertown or Pontoon Dock (about 5–7 mins walk)

🚅Nearest Tube Station: Custom House (about 25–30 mins walk)

🚌Bus Routes:

Bus 241 stops nearby (Royal Wharf Pier stop)
Bus 330 runs through the area with stops a short walk away

Note📝: The area feels very modern and newly developed, but it can be a bit confusing to navigate if you haven’t been before. Google Maps was helpful!

✨ First Impressions

I booked three services through their website – a manicure, basic feet polish, and eyebrow threading – and managed to find back-to-back timeslots in their calendar view. While it’s great that booking is available online, the user journey wasn’t very smooth. I had to go back and forth just to read descriptions and then add services to the cart.

When I arrived, I was a bit flustered and running late. The staff were kind and welcoming, which I really appreciated – especially as I had a meeting to dash off to after. I waited around 10 minutes, which made me a little nervous as I thought one treatment might be rushed or rescheduled, but eventually a colleague jumped in as the specialist originally assigned to me was still finishing up with someone else.

🧖‍♀️ The Services

Feet Polish

This was probably the most underwhelming part. It wasn’t a pedicure but a normal foot polish, but even so – no foot soak, no foot wash. My usual spot in Hackney still washes your feet even for a basic polish, so this felt a bit... lacking. The towel had polish stains, and I started to question the cleanliness. Tools were taken straight out of a drawer, and I didn’t see any disinfection process. They did turn on the massage chair though.

Gel

The nail stations were fairly cramped – three tables per row, with not a lot of space between them. Again, the towel had stains and I wasn’t sure about the cleanliness of the wrist rests. I didn’t see the station being cleaned between clients. On a positive note, the staff did help me pick a colour to match my toes, which I appreciated. Unfortunately, during the cuticle work, I bled in a few places – I do have tough cuticles, but it felt a bit too rough. She apologised, and I could tell she was trying, but the result didn’t feel worth it.

To top it off, my gel manicure started chipping after just one week – not ideal right before a holiday.

Eyebrow Threading

It was quick and relatively painless, but I don’t think she got the smaller stray hairs, and I didn’t notice any trimming either. I’m only aware of this stuff afterwards so I would like the professionals to just do things without prompting.

🪑 Space & Ambience

The salon layout is long – one end has massage chairs for feet and brows, the centre has reception and waiting, and the far end holds the nail stations. While it looks big, it felt crowded. There wasn’t a sense of calm or relaxation, which is something I usually look forward to when getting my nails done.

There was also no proper storage around the stations for my stuff, and so I had to make do with any space near by.

💰 Cost Summary

Gel + Basic Feet Polish + Eyebrow Threading = £75

The price was reasonable for three treatments, but considering the overall experience and quality, I don’t think it was great value.

🌕 Reflections 🫶

Dream Nails Royal Wharf looked promising, but unfortunately it didn’t meet my expectations. The staff were lovely, and the branding feels polished from the outside, but the lack of attention to cleanliness, rushed service, and poor longevity of the gel nails mean I likely won’t return – which is a shame for a local spot.

This is unfortunately an 🚫 Azuki Pass.

🧳 Your Turn to Wander In 🧋

Have you tried any Dream Nails locations around London? Did your experience differ from mine? I’m curious if it was just an off day.
Do you have any nail salon recommendations?

Let me know in the comments or drop me a message.