The Gyle

Hotel Description

Honestly, I walked past The Gyle twice before realizing this was my hotel – it sits so naturally on Argyle Square that it almost feels like someone converted a particularly grand Georgian townhouse (which, let’s be real, they probably did). The thing is, Camden gets a bad rap for being all punk rock and tourist chaos, but this little pocket near King’s Cross is actually pretty civilized. You’re literally a three-minute walk from the madness of Camden Market if you want it, but Argyle Square itself? Dead quiet at night, which is golden when you’re trying to sleep.

What really got me was how they’ve kept all the period details without making it feel like a museum. The staircase has this gorgeous bannister that’s probably been there since Victoria was on the throne, and the rooms – well, they’re not huge, but they’re thoughtfully done. I mean, someone actually considered where you’d plug in your phone and put your coffee cup, you know? The bathroom in my room was one of those compact British affairs, but the water pressure was surprisingly decent and the towels were properly thick. You know what really impressed me though? The staff actually knew the neighborhood. When I asked about getting to Borough Market on a Saturday morning, the guy at reception didn’t just point me toward the Tube – he told me which bus to catch to avoid the weekend engineering works and mentioned this little coffee spot on Judd Street that locals actually use.

The whole area’s changing pretty rapidly – there’s all this King’s Cross development happening just south of you, but Argyle Square still has that proper London residential feel. Mornings are lovely actually, you’ll hear the garden square birds before the traffic really kicks in. And parking, if you’re driving, is typically London nightmare, but there’s a decent NCP about five minutes away on Euston Road. I wouldn’t say The Gyle is trying to be anything fancy – it’s just solid, comfortable, and run by people who seem to genuinely care about getting the details right. That 8.3 rating makes perfect sense to me because it’s exactly what it promises to be: a proper London hotel that doesn’t cost a fortune and puts you right in the middle of things without the chaos of staying directly on Camden High Street. Sometimes that’s exactly what you need.

Rooms

• Feature Twin with 2 single beds for 2 adults, 1 child
• Feature King with Vaulted Bathroom with 1 large double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
• Junior Suite with 1 large double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
• Large King with 1 large double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
• Feature King with Balcony with 1 double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
• Tiny King with 1 double bed for 2 adults, 1 child
• Apartment with 1 large double bed and 1 sofa bed for 2 adults, 1 child

Facilities