The House of Toby

The House of Toby Overview

You know what caught me off guard about The House of Toby? The name made me expect some quirky boutique place, but when I walked up Swinton Street – which is honestly one of those Camden roads that feels properly residential until you’re suddenly in the thick of things – I found this surprisingly solid 4-star spot that doesn’t try too hard to be cool. The entrance is understated in that way good London hotels do, where they don’t need to shout about themselves because the location does the talking.

The thing about this part of Camden is you’re actually in a sweet spot most tourists miss. Sure, you’ve got the chaos of Camden Market about a 10-minute walk south, but Swinton Street sits in this pocket where you can grab proper coffee (there’s a brilliant little place called Caravan just around the corner on Exmouth Market) and still feel like you’re experiencing real London rather than tourist London. I mean, King’s Cross station is close enough that you’re not lugging your bags forever, but you’re not dealing with that constant stream of people with wheelie cases either. The staff at Toby seemed to get this balance – they’re friendly without being overly chatty, which I appreciate when I’m trying to figure out my day over breakfast.

Honestly, the 7.6 rating feels about right. It’s not going to blow your mind, but it’s the kind of place where everything just works. The rooms are comfortable without being flashy, the WiFi actually reaches every corner (tested this because I had some work calls), and – this is key for light sleepers – the windows do a decent job blocking out street noise, though you’ll still catch the occasional late-night Camden character wandering past. What really sold me was the neighborhood feel once you step outside. You’re a stone’s throw from the British Museum if you cut through the Bloomsbury streets, and Gray’s Inn Road has some proper pubs that aren’t packed with stag dos. Plus, if you’re the type who likes exploring food markets, Exmouth Market is right there with vendors who actually know their stuff. The hotel itself might not have all the bells and whistles of those massive chain places, but sometimes you just want a clean, comfortable base where the shower pressure is decent and you can walk to three different tube lines without breaking a sweat.

The House of Toby Accommodations

Facilities