London area of King's Cross guide

What to do and where to stay in London's King's Cross neighbourhood

Named after a vast monument dedicated to King George IV in 1835, which used to stand where the station is today, King's Cross cropped up on the site of a village previously known as Battle Bridge. This village was located by an ancient crossing of the River Fleet and was rumoured to be the setting for a major battle between the Romans and Queen Boudicca's Iceni tribe. King's Cross was one of London's poorest districts in the 19th century and was the playground of Dickens' Oliver Twist. Post World War II, the area declined further, with many industrial buildings left to go derelict. A big redevelopment push, however, has transformed the make-up of King's Cross, which is now home to all manner of cultural institutions, including The British Library, King's Place, The Wellcome Collection, The Foundling Museum, London Canal Museum, Gagosian Art Gallery, the offices of The Guardian and The Observer newspapers, and The Place, London's specialist venue for contemporary dance. The seemingly out-of-place Camley Street Natural Park is a two-acre wildlife reserve a stone's throw from the area's redevelopment on the banks of the Regent's Canal, while the Greek-style St Pancras Parish Church is London's most expensive church after St Paul's Cathedral. King's Cross is dominated by the imposing (and newly restored) Grade I listed St Pancras railway station, arguably one of the finest stations in the world and now, with the Eurostar service, a gateway to Europe. The famous Platform Nine and Three-Quarters from the Harry Potter films is located in the main train terminal, providing quick access to Hogwarts (provided you can walk through the brick wall).

See our recommended nearby King's Cross Hotels, Entertainment, Sights and Attractions, Shopping, Restaurants, Pubs, Nightlife, Leisure, Education, and Meeting Venues.

King's Cross Hotels

in or near King's Cross
Crowne Plaza Kings Cross
London > Hotels > Mid-Range Chain Hotel
1 Kings Cross Road, WC1X
Halfway between the City and the west End, the Bloomsbury area is an oasis of calm in the very heart of the capital. It's a lovely ... More
 
 
 
Holiday Inn London Bloomsbury
London > Hotels > Mid-Range Chain Hotel
Coram Street, WC1N
This is a smart, modern hotel located in one of the Capital's oldest and most beautiful areas. Bloomsbury is a great place to stay since it's ... More
 
 
 
The Montague on the Gardens
London > Hotels > Mid-Range Chain Hotel
15 Montague Street, WC1B
Overlooking the gardens of Montague Garden Square, this sedate hotel has a peaceful feel even though the British Museum is right next door and Covent Garden's ... More
 
 
 

King's Cross Entertainment

in or near King's Cross
PICK
King's Cross Theatre
London > Entertainment > Theatres
Cnr Of King's Boulevard And Goods Way, King's Cross, London N1C
A purpose built 1,000-seat theatre, complete with a railway track and platforms, created especially for Mike Kenny's Olivier Award-winning adaptation of E. Nesbit's 'The Railway Children'. ... More
 
 
 
PICK
Platform Theatre
London > Entertainment > Theatres
1 Handyside Street, King's Cross, London N1C
Part of the University of the Arts London's award-winning campus for Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design, Platform Theatre has four performance spaces and ... More
 
 
 
PICK
Kings Place
London > Entertainment > Arts Centres
90 York Way, King's Cross, London N1
Just 150 metres from King's Cross and St Pancras stations and with a waterside setting, the Dixon-Jones designed Kings Place combines the offices of The Guardian ... More
 
 
 

King's Cross Sights and Attractions

The best museums, galleries, attractions in or near King's Cross
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Granary Square
London > Attractions > Good's Way, King's Cross, London N1C
The same size as Trafalgar Square, Granary Square is at the heart of King's Cross where the Eurostar departs and emerged as part of the ... More
 
 
 
PICK
King's Cross Pavilion
London > Attractions > Sights
Granary Square, King's Cross, London N1C
Designed by Stirling Prize winning architects Stanton Williams, the firm behind the nearby Granary Complex which includes Central Saint Martin's, King's Cross Pavilion occupies an enviable ... More
 
 
 
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King's Cross Tunnel
London > Attractions > 1 Pancras Square, King's Boulevard, King's Cross, London N1C
The 90 metre long pedestrian tunnel designed by Allies & Morrison, the architects who designed the masterplan for the entire King's Cross redevelopment, links St Pancras ... More
 
 
 

King's Cross Shopping

The best shops and markets in or near London's King's Cross
PICK
Lola's Cupcakes, King's Cross
London > Shopping > Delicatessens
Northern Ticket Hall, King's Cross St Pancras Station, Euston Road, King's Cross, London N1
Sweet to taste, cute to look at and made with natural ingredients, Lola's Cupcakes can hold their own when it comes to the coveted title of ... More
 
 
 
PICK
Drink Shop & Do
London > Shopping > 9 Caledonian Road, King's Cross, London N1
Drink Shop & Do is a unique fusion of design shop and café bar, selling products from emerging designers alongside vintage furniture and home wares. Located ... More
 
 
 
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Foyles St Pancras International
London > Shopping > Books
St Pancras International, Pancras Road, King's Cross, London NW1
The family-run Foyles book shop has been in the book selling business since 1906. Books on a broad range of subjects from fiction and poetry to ... More
 
 
 

King's Cross Restaurants

What are the best dining options in or near King's Cross London?
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Yalla Yalla
London > Restaurants > Middle Eastern restaurants
King's Cross Station, Mezzanine Level, King's Cross, London N1C
Light mezze, wraps and superior Lebanese street food is served from a kiosk on the mezzanine level of King's Cross station by Yalla Yalla, a restaurant ... More
 
 
 
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Benito's Hat
London > Restaurants > Mexican restaurants
King's Cross Station, King's Cross, London N1
Following the success (read queues) of their first restaurant in Fitzrovia, Benito's Hat are springing up all over London bringing their unique brand of ... More
 
 
 
PICK
The Parcel Yard
London > Restaurants > British restaurants
Unit M8, C/o Network Rail, West Side offices,Kings Cross Railway Station, King's Cross, London N1
Set within the Grade I-listed building of Kings Cross Station, The Parcel Yard serves up traditional British pub cuisine. The edgy industrial interior spans 2 floors, ... More
 
 
 

King's Cross Pubs

The best pubs in or near London King's Cross.
PICK
The Betjeman Arms
London > Restaurants > Gastropub
Unit 53, St. Pancras International, King's Cross, London NW1
Gastropub... More
 
 
 
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The Harrison
London > Nightlife > Pubs
28 Harrison Street, King's Cross, London WC1H
Originally built in the 1880s by Samuel Harrison to refresh the workers in his shoe factory, The Harrison pub's current building dates back to 1934. Owned ... More
 
 
 
PICK
Marquis Cornwallis
London > Nightlife > Pubs
31 Marchmont Street, King's Cross, London WC1N
Always a popular choice for local workers and tourists taking in the delights of Bloomsbury, Marquis Cornwallis , located on Marchmont Street, close ... More
 
 
 

King's Cross Nightlife

King's Cross clubs, bars, cabaret nights, casinos and interesting nightlife.
PICK
VOC
London > Nightlife > Bars
2 Varnishers Yard, Regents Quarter, King's Cross, London N1
VOC is a 17th Century-inspired Punch House from Fluid Movement, the people behind speakeasy bars The Whistling Shop and Purl. Taking its name from Vereenigde Oost-Indische ... More
 
 
 
PICK
GNH Bar
London > Nightlife > Bars
Great Northern Hotel, King's Cross, London N1C
The GNH Bar takes up almost the entire ground floor of the Great Northern Hotel and opens directly onto the western concourse of King's Cross Station. ... More
 
 
 
PICK
Vinoteca King's Cross
London > Nightlife > Wine Bars
One Pancras Square, King's Cross, London N1C
Ten years after Vinoteca founders Charlie Young and business partner Brett Woonton opened their first restaurant, wine bar and shop in Clerkenwell the pair bring their ... More
 
 
 

King's Cross Leisure

King's Cross gyms, sporting activities, health & beauty and fitness.
PICK
St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel Spa
London > Leisure > Health and Beauty
St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, Euston Road, King's Cross, London NW1
Taking inspiration from its surroundings and the great train journeys that set off from St Pancras station, the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel Spa pays homage ... More
 
 
 
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Pancras Square Leisure
London > Leisure > 5 Pancras Square, King's Cross, London N1C
Located in the heart of Kings Cross, Pancras Square Leisure centre offers a 25 metre swimming pool, smaller teaching pool, two exercise studios with over 25 ... More
 
 
 
PICK
Skip Garden
London > Leisure > Parks and Gardens
Tapper Walk, King's Cross, London N1C
A sustainable urban garden on the King's Cross development site, The Skip Garden puts construction workers' big bins to green use. Built on one of the ... More
 
 
 

King's Cross Education

in or near King's Cross
PICK
The Place
London > Education > Evening Classes
17 Duke's Road, King's Cross, London WC1H
London's specialist venue for contemporary dance, The Place plays a role in every aspect of this fast-growing art form. The London Contemporary Dance School offers degrees ... More
 
 
 
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The Bartlett School of Architecture
London > Education > Universities and Colleges
Wates House, 22 Gordon Street, King's Cross, London WC1H
The Bartlett School of Architecture, on the corner of Huntley Street and Capper Street, is part of The Bartlett: UCL's global faculty of the built environment. ... More
 
 
 
 

King's Cross Meeting Venues

Where to have your meeting, conference, exhibition, private dining or training course in or near King's Cross.
PICK
Kings Place
London > Business > Venue Hire
90 York Way, King's Cross, London N1
Just 150 metres from King's Cross and St Pancras stations, the Dixon-Jones designed Kings Place offers conference organisers two auditoriums, two art galleries and a wide ... More
 
 
 
PICK
British Library Conference Centre
London > Business > Venue Hire
96 Euston Road, King's Cross, London NW1
As the national library of the United Kingdom the British Library is renowned for its world class collection of books but its Conference Centre is something ... More
 
 
 
PICK
The Foundling Museum
London > Business > Venue Hire
40 Brunswick Square, King's Cross, London WC1N
The Foundling Museum is one of London's real hidden treasures. Originally established in 1739 as a hospital which looked after abandoned children, the museum now tells ... More
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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