Her father was a linguist working abroad so consequentially she spent a lot of time out of the country gaining her education in French schools until her family returned to the UK.

[2] In 1884, she and her mother moved into a new house and she and Alfred Milner edited her husband's Lectures on the Industrial Revolution in England.

[3] She also served on the committee aiming to create a settlement in Oxford, the result, Toynbee Hall, was named for her husband.

[1] Other notable members of the co-operative movement in Oxford included Sybella Gurney who was brought in by Toynbee.

[4] Toynbee served as Poor Law Guardian for thirty years as part of a system which she wanted replaced.

[1] Toynbee looked after the management, and contributed to, the finances of Lady Margaret Hall (LMH) for forty years.