Things to do in King’s Cross London

Much to the amusement of passing commuters, there’s always a steady stream of people having their photograph taken as they push a trolley through the wall to Platform 9 3⁄4 – which sadly doesn’t lie between platforms 9 and 10, but beside a small supermarket. Potterites will need to join the queue, but the snaps will be worth the wait. 

Book fans of all kinds can also delight in the miles of shelving which make up the British Library, permitted by law to collect one of every book published in the English language. It is also responsible for looking after some of the most important documents in British history.

Displayed in its ground-floor exhibition hall is a Shakespeare First Folio and an original copy of the Magna Carta. Agreed by King John in 1215, it prevents unlawful arrest and was the start of trial by a jury of peers. Other important artefacts include the hand-painted pages of the Lindisfarne Gospels and the Beatles’ lyrics in the writing of Paul McCartney.

The temporary exhibitions at the multi-million-dollar biomedical research establishment, the Crick Institute, are no less insightful, helping to bring to life advances in the understanding of the way our bodies function that are resulting in new and better treatments for the world’s biggest health risks.

The nearby Foundling Museum was created to help tell the story of the Foundling Hospital. Set up by a wealthy philanthropist in the 1730s, it became the first home for at-risk children in Britain. But its collection has a far broader remit, containing paintings by some of the country’s most important artists of that time, including William Hogarth, Thomas Gainsborough, and Joshua Reynolds.

Another King’s Cross museum worth consideration is the London Canal Museum, whose collection of stories and artefacts details the emergence of the capital’s canal network as well as its relatively rapid decline at the hands of the railways.

They may not be the barnstorming likes of the Natural History Museum or the Science Museum, but if you’re looking to engage your brain in King’s Cross, you’ll do that and then some.

Stepping out from beyond the red brick edifice of the British Library, or shining glass and steel of the Crick Institute, you’ll be mere paces from Regent’s Canal. Reborn as a place to spend your leisure time after a generation of being ignored, its towpath provides an alternative behind-the-scenes view of the neighborhood, as well as little gems, including the Word on the Water floating bookshop.

In fact, the canal leading up to and through King’s Cross has grown its own little community of sorts. Boats will often be open to the public, offering plenty of weird and wonderful opportunities to curious travelers. You can also watch a film on the canal thanks to Everyman on the Canal. 

Now, King’s Cross’ green spaces may not boast the physical grandeur of Kew Gardens, but Camley Street Natural Park is a wonderful green space off the beaten path. The park’s visitor center is worth stopping by, although nothing can beat a pleasant few minutes beside the pond as wildlife envelops you from all around. It’s an all the more impressive feat given the tracks running to London Saint Pancras International – the capital’s Eurostar terminus – run across the back of it.

Should you get hungry, Granary Square has become a solid choice when it comes to food, with plenty on offer, whatever your tastes. Perhaps Granary Square’s biggest claim to fame is its innumerable water jets that take centre stage. There are plenty of places to sit and take in the view, or people-watch if you’re so inclined. Around the square, you’ll find myriad shops, bars, and restaurants worth a look, including London staples such as Indian juggernaut Dishoom.

In the summer months, you’ll often spy a big screen showing Wimbledon, the Olympics, and other big sporting events that are free to all. However, the live entertainment gets even better than that, with both the Shaw Theatre and the Bloomsbury Theatre only a short distance away. Between them, they host high-quality dramatic work from international playwrights, which often make their way to Broadway and off-Broadway. And hey, what’s better than knowing about something great before it was cool?

The Gagosian Gallery may not have the same heritage, but it does display some of the best 20th and 21st-century artworks from Pablo Picasso to Damien Hirst. And, if shopping is your raison d’etre, there’s Coal Drops Yard, whose stores are sure to inspire you to get your wallet out.