The Hoop & Toy

Pub in South Kensington
The Hoop & Toy image

8 / 10 from 3 reviews
Address
34 Thurloe Place
South Kensington
London
SW7 2HQ
Map
Telephone
020 7589 8360
Nearest Station
South Kensington
0.04 miles
Category
Pubs
Opening Summary
Mon - Sat
11:00 - 00:00
Sunday
12:00 - 23:00
Venue Facilities

Children Welcome

The Hoop & Toy is the oldest established pub in the South Kensington / Knightsbridge area and opened in 1760, originally called the Hoop and Grapes.

Our range of drinks includes cask ale and an extensive wine list as well as a great range of soft drinks and coffees.

The Hoop & Toy Picture Gallery

The Hoop & Toy Picture
The Hoop & Toy Picture

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All In London Review

South Kensington's post museum resting place for those thirsty for more than culture.

Review Image
After collecting a serious case of ‘Museum Head’ (that fuzzy feeling inside from the combination of too much staring and a whole lot of lingering) from wandering around one or more of South Kensington’s venerable institutions you’ll be right about ready for some liquid refreshment.

The Hoop and Toy sits on Thurloe Street, midway between South Kensington Tube and The Natural History Museum and just around the corner from uber-posh nightclub, Boujis. In a land of history, cash and culture the Hoop and Toy is refreshing. You want a regular pub and some classic pub grub? That’s what you’ll get.

Carpeted throughout in that flowery darkness that pubs seem to love it is as much of a traditional local as you’ll find in any London enclave. There are plenty of tables and hardly ever a queue at the bar, which is honestly all you really want in a pub like this. Peroni is likely to be the best beer you’ll find on tap and along with it the pub runs a recurring list of real ales.

Food is all about the staples. Fish and chips, burgers and roasts will appeal to locals as much as the tourists who seek out our hackneyed classics. The Hoop and Toy isn’t the cheapest pub but in the heart of South Kensington it is reasonable enough.

If you’re after somewhere quiet to rest your feet and clear your head after the museums then this is the place. You never know, you might even stumble on one of the pub’s infrequent comedy nights at the end of a long day spent surrounded by dinosaurs, textiles and all manner of scientific gobbledygook.

Reviewed by T.A.O
Published on Mar 13, 2013


User Reviews

T.A.O

Dec 6, 2013

The Hoop and Toy is in a good area just shy of being on the main museums' doorsteps, which means it is always full - and expensive.

But if you can handle the slightly inflated prices, it makes a good after work staple. And they host comedy nights, which are well worth going to!
Anonymous

May 20, 2010

We called into the Hoop and Toy for a quick pint on the way to The Natural History Museum, and loved it so much we went back afterwards for more beer and the biggest Fish and Chips I have ever seen. The food is a bit pricey, but then it is in Kensington I suppose, the beer on the other hand is about average priced for the area, and Was the best pint of Rev James Ive had outside of Wales. They have 4 real ales on at anytime so Im told, I was given a taster of all to try before I made my decision, which I think is fantastic, The Manager was happy to chat about their differences and tastes. If fact it was very much like a "Real Pub", the type You used to see before everyone became too busy to care!
I will definately be going again if We are in the area and recommend it to all, tourists (there are a lot in the area, so obviously they cater for that trade) and Brits alike.
From a traveller far from home : )
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