King's Cross Square London

Things to do in King’s Cross London

By Ian Packham

Don’t let fans of the wizarding world of Harry Potter hear you say it, but there are many more things to do in King’s Cross London than attempt entry to Platform 9 3⁄4 for the Hogwart’s Express...

No longer an area to be avoided, a huge amount of effort has gone into making King’s Cross a London neighborhood where people want to live, work and relax. Long before Google and Microsoft, one of the earliest institutions to recognize the potential was the newly formed British Library. But beyond its exhibition space you’ll also find a refreshed canal side and plenty of places to enjoy a cup of tea or pint of ale with new friends.

Let’s take a look at London’s King’s Cross in a little more detail.

Delight in being bookish

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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 ten but beside a small supermarket.

Book fans of all kinds can also delight in the miles of shelving which makes 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 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 Beatles’ lyrics in the writing of Paul McCartney.

Check out the King’s Cross museums

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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.

The upper floor then describes the hospital’s connection with composer George Frideric Handel, who lived in London for many years. In an interesting twist, the house next door would also be occupied by Jimi Hendrix.

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

Enjoy nature in the heart of London

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Stepping out from beyond the red brick edifice of the British Museum 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.

It may not have the physical grandeur of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew but Camley Street Natural Park is one of several pockets of green space you wouldn’t even know existed without being told. 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.

On the opposite side of these tracks you’ll be able to find a similarly idyllic spot, the churchyard of St Pancras Old Church. In its churchyard is the Grade I registered mausoleum to Sir John Soane, founder of the British Museum, which became the unlikely starting point for another recognizable London sight – its red telephone boxes. Meanwhile, on the other side of the canal is Gasholder Park, a small but ingenious reinvention for old engineering.

Take in a show

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Should you get hungry, Granary Square has become a solid choice when it comes to food, with plenty on offer whatever your tastes. A new public square featuring a thousand bubbling water jets that move and light up in different colors, its food options include national restaurant chains like the monolithic Dishoom and authentic British pubs alongside the canal.

In the summer months, there’s often a big screen by the waterside showing tennis from Wimbledon amongst other big sporting events like World Cup soccer matches and the Olympic Games.

The live entertainment gets even better than that though, with both the Shaw Theatre and the Bloomsbury Theatre only a short distance away. Between them, they host high-quality drama from the UK regions, which often see their way to Broadway and off-Broadway, alongside providing residencies for orchestras and regular live comedy and music nights.

The Gagosian Gallery may not have the same heritage, but it does display some of the best 20th and 21st Century artworks outside of a national collection and has shown the works of everyone 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.

Visit King’s Cross with Go City

King’s Cross has moved on a lot since the statue of George IV at a road crossing was removed to build its station in 1845. Having existed in various guises since then, today it’s a neighborhood that has rediscovered its mojo and has become a choice place to spend time in the capital once more.

Make the most of your trip to London by traveling with Go City and you can make incredible savings on top attractions such as the Tower of London and the Cutty Sark, the only remaining tea clipper ship of its kind in the world. Be sure to share the resulting snaps with @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook to show us just what a good time you’re having exploring all the things to do in King’s Cross London!

Ian Packham

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Things to do in Covent Garden London

Part of London’s West End leisure district, Covent Garden is a lively mix of museums, performance spaces, independent traders and traditional British boozers (pubs). Seemingly a contraction of ‘convent garden’, the area comprised orchards and farmland owned by the church until Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries, after which a fruit and vegetable market flourished until the 1970s. It is also a part of London’s ‘theatreland’, second only to Broadway in scope and talent. Although best-known for the street performers that occupy its pedestrianized piazza each day bar December 25, there are many more things to do in Covent Garden London and ways to spend your time. These are some of our favorites. Take in the market stalls The era of fruit and vegetable sales may be well and truly in the past – with New Covent Garden Market in Nine Elms fulfilling this function – but that doesn’t mean the neighborhood has said goodbye to its traders completely. Almost all the images you’ll see of Covent Garden are of the green-painted ironwork and glazing of the Apple Market, dating to its reconstruction in the 19th Century. Along its flanks are stores recognizable from any British high street, with its center given over to stall holders selling a range of gifts, clothes and antiques. The Jubilee Hall Market, completed in 1904, sits on the south side of the piazza with another pick of stalls. Their goods range from the so-bad-they’re-good souvenirs to genuine antiques. Open daily, Mondays are dedicated to the antiques trade whilst Saturdays and Sundays are given over to London’s artists and craftspeople. The rest of the week you can expect an assortment of stalls. Towards the neighborhood’s northern reaches lies Seven Dials, incorporating Neal’s Yard. This area’s stores can come as something of a shock to those used to the grand stone facades of much of London. That’s because their mishmash of brickwork and colorful exteriors are an indication of their independent ownership and style. Delve into the museums On the east side of the piazza you’ll find the flower market turned London Transport Museum. Packed with old buses, trams (streetcars) and trains, as well as era-defining imagery and early versions of the London Underground map, this child-friendly celebration of transportation isn’t just for nerds. One of the newest things to do in Covent Garden is visit the London Film Museum, first opened in 2008. Dedicated to the movie industry, its collection includes a variety of costumes and props you’ll recognize from the big screen, with the James Bond franchise one of dozens of movies represented. But for the lowdown on London’s top cameo appearances, you’ll want to join a Brit Movie Tour. With 10 different tours to pick from, now’s the chance you’ve been waiting for to enter the world of movies such as Harry Potter or James Bond and television hits including Downton Abbey and Killing Eve. Straddling the southwest corner of the neighborhood is Trafalgar Square. Constructed to commemorate the victory over Napoleon in 1805, Nelson’s Column was erected by public subscription in the 1860s. It stands in pride of place outside of the National Gallery and connected National Portrait Gallery. Together they form one of the world’s most important art collections. Paintings by Vincent Van Gogh, Leonardo da Vinci and Johannes Vermeer are joined by the many greats of British painting, from John Constable to J M W Turner. Enjoy a night at the theater Back in the heart of Covent Garden, the Royal Opera House began life in the 1730s as one of just two spaces in London permitted by the king to put on plays. Several rebirths later, it was chosen by Germano-British composer – and favorite of George III – George Frideric Handel as the auditorium to debut many of his works and has also been the home of the Royal Ballet since 1946. To take a peek inside when there’s no performance scheduled opt for a guided tour instead. Another big name in the neighborhood linked to the arts is the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane – the oldest theater in London to be in continuous use as a playhouse. It has a history that dates back to 1663 and includes performances by Nell Gwyn – the actress mistress of Charles II – and comedy troupe Monty Python. The latest big name in comedy might well be discovered on the cobblestones of the piazza, since its street performers have to audition in front of Covent Garden’s management before being given a location and time slot in which to hit the heady heights of stardom or flop into oblivion. Admire Covent Garden’s architecture Not to be confused with the nearby cathedral, St Paul’s Church is literally unmissable since it stands immediately opposite the Apple Market. Also known as the actors’ church because of its close association with the neighborhood’s theaters – it hosts its very own acting company. Originally designed by Inigo Jones alongside the piazza, its small churchyard provides a much-needed area of greenery too. In an area so rich in architecture it can be difficult to see the wood for the trees – or the sculpture for the stone – but somewhere you’re not going to want to miss Somerset House. Its central courtyard has been widely-adopted by the public, with fountains and movie screenings in the summer and an ice rink during the Christmas period. Inside, the main exhibition space to look out for belongs to the Courtauld Institute. Spanning several centuries of European art, its bright galleries contain works by Botticelli and Bruegel. Uncover Covent Garden with Go City If you’ve been wondering about the things to do in Covent Garden London, here’s you answer. Still home to market stalls as it has been for centuries, there’s also historic performance spaces like the Royal Opera House and museums including those dedicated to art, transportation and the movie industry. That’s a lot to add to your London itinerary! Travel with Go City for substantial savings on admission to many of the top attractions. It not only covers Covent Garden but the entire British capital from Hampton Court Palace in the west to the Tower of London in the east to ensure you don’t face any nasty credit card bills when your return home!
Ian Packham
A typical Mayfair Street scene
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Things to do in Mayfair London

Mayfair is one of London’s most upmarket neighborhoods. Just mentioning its name will probably bring to mind high-end shopping and extravagant meals to any Londoner, whilst anyone who’s played the London version of Monopoly will know Park Lane is a dangerous square to land on. Located in the leafy West End between two royal parks and two of London’s main shopping streets, many of its properties were once the London townhouses of the British aristocracy. Although you may want to indulge if you visit, you certainly don’t have to spend big to enjoy all the things to do in Mayfair London, as you’re about to find out! Seek out a bargain There are two forms of shopping that take place in Mayfair – the real kind and the window kind. Despite its high-end reputation, Mayfair does allow those on more modest budgets than the Duke of Westminster (one of the UK’s richest men) to enjoy the thrill of picking up the latest must have item. Oxford Street runs along the neighborhood’s northwestern boundary and has most of the main high street shops as well as Selfridges’ flagship store. Turn onto Regents Street and the ambience seems to rise another notch. The two big names to look out for here are Hamleys and Liberty. Very different in their target markets, Hamleys is the world’s oldest and largest toy shop, with seven floors and 50,000 items of stock. The mock Tudor edifice of Liberty meanwhile has been at the center of the arts and crafts scene – promoting individual handmade items – since it first opened in 1875. Mixed-use Shepherd Market was the site of the original May fair from which the neighborhood takes its name. Its current buildings date from the 1860s and contain deli-like food stores alongside antiques emporia, restaurants and pubs. But if one single location in Mayfair speaks of decadence and extreme luxury it’s Burlington Arcade, whose storefronts manage to maintain an essence of the covered walkway’s origins in 1819, whilst Old and New Bond Streets coming a close second with their pick of designer brands. Soak up Mayfair’s cultural side Predating Burlington Arcade by a couple of generations is the Royal Academy of Arts (RA) in Burlington House next door. The oldest institution of its kind anywhere in the world, it regularly hosts exhibitions, most notably its Summer Exhibition, which sees its walls packed frame to frame with works of original contemporary art submitted by the public. One of London’s top private museums, the Handel House Museum on Brook Street has recreated the rooms in which the German-born composer created many of his most influential works including those still used in coronation ceremonies and his oratorio Messiah with its Hallelujah chorus. From time to time the museum also celebrates Jimi Hendrix, who lived in the neighboring property some 200 years later. If science and engineering are more your thing, don’t miss the Faraday Museum. Located in the basement laboratory where the scientist conducted many of his experiments on electricity, it contains instruments the great man used as well as various awards he received for his research. Alternatively, you can honor Faraday by taking a seat at one of the screens of the Curzon Mayfair Cinema and make the most of his achievements with a bucket of caramel popcorn. Picnic in its open spaces When the weather’s playing ball there may be nowhere better in Mayfair than Hyde Park, whose footpaths and cycleways form one of central London’s largest green spaces. They are connected together by various memorials and monuments, whilst also incorporating the Serpentine Lake, Kensington Gardens and Kensington Palace as its major attractions. At its northernmost tip – somewhat forgotten about – stands Marble Arch. The main entrance to Buckingham Palace until the horse-drawn carriages got too big, it was moved in 1851 close to the site of Tyburn Tree – one of the city’s traditional places to publicly hang criminals. A spot without such a grisly history is Berkeley Square. Pronounced ‘Barclay’ and made famous by the 1940 tune A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square, the shade cast by its 200 year old London plane trees makes it a pleasant spot to relax on its benches surrounding by some of the capital’s most impressive private homes and what’s said to be London’s most haunted house at number 56. Have an afternoon tea to remember Mayfair has some of London’s oldest and most-prestigious hotels, many of which are open to non-guests looking to celebrate their time in the UK capital with the most British of mealtimes – afternoon tea. Opening its doors in 1837, Brown’s flies a little under the radar, but has a history which includes visits from Queen Victoria, Agatha Christie and Theodore Roosevelt as well as being the location of the country’s first telephone call. Claridge’s foyer and reading room is another popular afternoon tea destination, where the scones, finger cakes and petite sandwiches match perfectly with the art deco surrounds and the sound of a live pianist. For foodie souvenirs you can take back home there’s also a number of options. H R Higgins is where the royals get their coffee – although naturally tea tends to be their drink of choice. The Royal Arcade’s Charbonnel et Walker have chocolates and truffles that will win over even the most critical of diners whilst Hedonism Wines has developed a name for itself by bringing in unusual vintages from around the globe. Delve into Mayfair with Go City Known for its exclusivity, Mayfair is more than a playground for the British aristocracy and their modern equivalents. Visit for yourself and you’ll discover there are an array of things to do in Mayfair London, from almost-endless shopping opportunities to afternoon tea. Explore London with Go City and you can visit many of London’s top attractions whilst making huge savings on admission so you don’t need to own a house in the neighborhood to enjoy all Mayfair and beyond have to offer!
Ian Packham

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