London King’s Cross district in historic North London has become a hot destination for locals and travellers alike. It features stunning architecture, busy eateries and bars, revitalized shopping and a gorgeous river walk with canal locks. The area is London’s newest, busiest tech hub, home to companies such as Google, Facebook, Expedia, and many others. I first visited late last year and have become a big fan of the area.
A newly revitalized hub for entertainment, education and culture only a few minutes by tube from Central London this up-and-coming area is packed with attractions. One of the most connected areas in London it with three major rail stations, and the terminus of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link connecting the UK to mainland Europe by rail on the Eurostar.
What to See: the stunning architecture of St. Pancras and King’s Cross stations, a plethora of trendy restaurants, outdoor cafes and markets, a cool outdoor food hall, Posh Coal drops Yard shopping and a stunning river walk with houseboats. Don’t miss the cool floating book barge at Kings Cross, an inviting little bookshop on a converted Dutch barge.
Markets at King’s Cross
King’s Cross Real Food Market sits outside the station at King’s Cross Square. It Operates every Tuesday–Friday, 11 am – 7 pm, and offers a selection of quality artisan foods for sale such as cheeses, fresh breads, donuts, teas and more. Website.
Lower Stable Street Market: located off of a cute little hidden backstreet behind Coal Drops Yard. The market is filled with market stalls and food, the market runs weekly, from Thursday to Sunday.
Classic Car Boot Market where vendors sell out of the ‘boots’ or trunks of their cars.
King’s Cross Must-See Things To Do in London’s North End
Coal Drops Yard — once a place where barges quite literally dropped coal for the railway, it is a beautifully revitalized shopping, eating and outdoor performance area. Posh boutique shops, restaurants and outdoor terraces are featured beautifully in this trendy complex along the Reent’s Canal next to Granary Square. gas holder park
Granary Square — right next to Coal Drops Yard is Granary Square: glow at night, great outdoor cafe
Word on the Water – the London Bookbarge: a floating book lover’s paradise, this eclectic bookshop sits along the river near Coal Drops Yard. This lovely find is packed with plenty of new and used books, as well as a stage where they have live music and events. What a lovely place to dig through the hidden corners of this little shop on a converted 100-year-old wooden Dutch barge. You can find more info and events on the Word on the Water Facebook page.
Explore St Pancras station – In my opinion, one of the most incredible-looking railway stations I’ve ever seen. The station is home to St. Pancras public piano featured in thousands of YouTube videos and played by many celebrities like Elton John, Alicia Keys, and John Legend as well as incredible amateur players alike. I’ve gone to the station in the past just to see if anyone was playing the Piano! Check out the amazing Renaissance Hotel and the ‘Spice Girls staircase’ at the station, all hidden gems.
Harry Potter Platform 9 3/4 – King’s Cross Railway Station is featured in the ever-popular Harry Potter books as the start of the line for the Hogwarts Express via a ‘hidden Platform’ at the station. The rail station has a busy Harry Potter Platform 9 3/4 gift shop and features a monument of a luggage trolley partially embedded in the station’s wall — it’s an extremely popular tourist attraction.
Lafayette London: this recently opened concert and events venue is just a stone’s throw from Coal Drops Yard and Granary Square. It features a 600-person, two-floor auditorium and hosts live music, comedy, and club nights. Located at 11 Goods Way, London N1C 4DP. Open on Map.
Cool Fact: a hidden river runs through it – the River Fleet quietly runs below the streets of London King’s Cross area. It was once a prominent river in the city until it was tunneled under the streets. It once shaped the architecture and layout of the area.
Where to Eat in Kings Cross
There are hundreds of great eateries, pubs, bars and dining options in the area to choose from. A local colleague of mine loves Caravan Kings Cross at Granary Square for drinks and light food. For a Mexican flair, check out El Pastor, it has a great vibe inside the large eclectic restaurant. It has a very lively patio as well.
The Canopy Market food hall at Granary Square is perfect to check out for a quick meal on weekends. Check out the food traders under this historic Victorian steel and glass-covered London Market. Located right next to Granary Square, a 5-minute walk from the King’s Cross and St. Pancras stations. Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Getting to London King’s Cross
You can find the area from 6 tube lines, with access from three major rail stations: King’s Cross Station, St. Pancras and the nearby Euston station. Euston is a major rail station serving Northern UK, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Ireland via rail connection.
The area is also very bicycle-friendly, with lovely riverside paths taking you along the
Conclusion
A London-local friend and colleague of mine originally recommended this area as a great place to get out of the hustle and bustle tourist trap that can be central London. I find there is a lot to like in this up-and-coming trendy and stylish area. Its well worth the short tube ride to the London King’s Cross area to the revived industrial architecture explore by foot, see a market or two and grab a meal and drink in one of the many eateries and bars in the area. This is now one of my favourite off-the-beaten-path areas (if you can call it that) when visiting London.