What’s The Gyle like?
This quirky boutique hotel, in London’s King’s Cross, is quite something. Spread across three Victorian townhouses, it has a real steampunk vibe going on… and a love affair with Scotland. The hotel takes its name from leafy Argyle Square, where it is located, and has a Scottie dog called Archie as its ‘voice’.
How dog-friendly is The Gyle?
Very. Ernie had a lovely soft bed waiting for him in our room, as well as two bowls and some treats. The staff made a real fuss of him and nowhere was off-limits, either. He joined us for drinks in the lounge in the evening and was also allowed down for breakfast.
The hotel overlooks Argyle Square Gardens so is perfect for early morning and late night ablutions. There’s an additional charge of £40 per night for dogs to stay.
Tell me more about The Gyle
There are 33 rooms at the hotel that come in six categories, ranging from Tiny King to Junior Suite. No two rooms are the same but they all have oak flooring, repurposed airline trolleys for storage and coffee tables made from Victorian coal hole covers. There are also lots of nods to Scotland, such as textiles sourced from across the border, Scottie dog cushions and Argyle stitching on the headboards.
We stayed in Room 16 – a Junior Suite on the ground floor. It had a spacious lounge and a walk-through bathroom – with separate loo and shower – separating the living and sleeping areas. There was a stylish green and grey colour theme throughout, and I loved the Gyle robes and lush Arran toiletries. My husband was also quite taken with the tablet that doubled up as a TV remote but also acted as a ‘portal to our stay’. As well as guide to the hotel and local area, it had links to newspaper and weather websites.
Our trip to The Gyle came soon after the first coronavirus lockdown had lifted so there were signs around the hotel reminding guests to practise social distancing. It was compulsory to wear masks in all public areas and there were also several hand sanitisers dotted around. A small bottle of this and two complimentary masks were also left in the room for us to use when out and about.
What’s the food like at The Gyle?
The B&B in the hotel’s colourful Toast B&B Lounge stands for booze and breakfast – and that pretty much sums it up. The Scottish theme features strongly here and if whisky is your thing, you’ll be in for a treat. Staff can also make cheeseboards and provide haggis crisps – but make sure you’ll be hungry enough for the continental breakfast.
This feast can be served either in the lounge or your room, so we decided to order in. Our veggie version consisted of croissants, rolls, cheese, fruit and yoghurt, plus juice and coffee in Archie-branded cups. Ernie was also presented with his own plate of ham so he was a very happy chappy!
Guests have to go elsewhere for dinner but The Megaro – The Gyle’s equally-quirky sister hotel – comes highly recommended. When we visited, you could eat at its dog-friendly pop-up pasta restaurant but it was sadly closed at weekends. Several other places nearby welcome pets though, such as The Fellow, The Betjeman Arms and The Lighterman.
Are there resident dogs at The Gyle?
Yes, two border terriers called Molly and Mojo. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to meet them on our visit but they are usually around.
Where are the best dog walks near The Gyle?
The hotel is just steps from bustling King’s Cross, which has recently been regenerated. Be sure to walk up to Gasholder Park, near the Granary Square area with all its shops. The green space – framed by one of the iron gas holders that once dominated the skyline – may only be small, but it’s one of London’s most unusual parks.
You can also enjoy a stroll along peaceful Regent’s Canal, which is a couple of minutes’ walk from hotel. It runs for a total of 8.6 miles. Look out for the Word on the Water book barge, where you can buy some reading material to take back to your room.
The Gyle is around two miles from Regent’s Park, which is a fantastic place for a dog walk. And be sure to head to Hogwarts – or Dogwarts – from Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross Station. When we queued up to have our photo taken pushing the famous trolley, the staff made a fuss of Ernie. He was even allowed to shop for souvenirs at the Harry Potter shop, too.
What Ernie loved about The Gyle
The plate of ham for breakfast, having his own comfy bed, the fuss from staff
What I loved about The Gyle
The quirky decor, the chilled out vibe, the cool range of Gyle accessories
How to book The Gyle
Double rooms start from £159, including breakfast. For more information or to book, call 020 3301 0333 or visit The Gyle website. Join the free KX Club to get discounts on dinners, drinks and free upgrades.