Photo © Steve Debenport
King’s Cross is a bustling and vibrant area in North London. Centred around the grand King’s Cross St Pancras train station, KX (as it has been nicknamed) has seen plenty of change since the arrival of the Eurostar in 1994. The direct link from London to Paris renewed interest in this once relatively unknown area of London.
But it is only in the last few years that KX has really started to get popular. Like many London areas with slightly lower property prices, KX began to attract a creative, young crowd. Now, it is becoming increasingly cool, and the place to be for forward-thinking Londoners and visitors alike.
Partly as a result, KX is undergoing a massive regeneration in order to create a beautiful and sustainable community area, packed with things to do. Travelodge has a hotel really close to King’s Cross station, making it a perfect option for a stay in London – whether you’ve journeyed across the channel or simply want to experience what KX has to offer. Here are just some of the top reasons you must visit King’s Cross:
1. King’s Cross Natural Swimming Pond
The latest news to hit KX is the planned arrival of an outside swimming pond. Taking inspiration from Hampstead Heath, but with a King’s Cross twist, the swimming pond is being proposed as a cool art installation with a difference. Completely man-made, the pond will be in the middle of the regeneration site, and have space for up to 160 bathers to enjoy splashing about among the natural reeds and plants. Going for a dip beside a railway station might not be everybody’s idea of bliss, but on super hot summer days in the city, this green space is sure to be a winner.
2. Granary Square
Situated just behind the station is a newly opened hub of creativity and great food. Granary Square has been completely redeveloped and houses the über cool Central Saint Martins, as well as daily street-food markets, a lovely seating area with stunning fountains, and two top restaurants: the Grain Store and Caravan. Central Saint Martins is one of the leading art schools in the world, and sitting on a yellow deck chair, scoffing a gourmet burger whilst sipping on a Roman cocktail provides the perfect opportunity for people-watching and spying on all the crazily dressed creative types walking around.
Photo © thehague
3. The Skip Garden
The Skip Garden is a sustainable and moveable community garden, right in the middle of the scene. Made by ‘the Generators’, the young locals who worked on the project, the garden is built inside building skips so that it can be repositioned within the regeneration site. The Skip Garden is an interesting place to visit, and the produce grown is sold to local restaurants and cafes including the Guardian newspaper’s canteen. You can pop across from the Kings’ Cross Travelodge and enjoy a nibble at the pop-up Skip Garden café or lunch at the Hatch nearby.
4. The Canal
Built around part of the Regent’s Canal, the regeneration project has also livened up the waterway, making it a lovely place to wander, sit and relax. A few top-notch restaurants, such as Rotunda, are situated on the canal. While King’s Place, which is a music, art and theatre venue, has direct access. There are also a number of popular events happening along the canal, including pop-up waterside cinema. Hipsters flock to sit on the faux grass leading down to the water from Granary Square, and it’s worth joining them to enjoy a drink with friends or to relax reading a book.
