King’s Cross is the Coolest Place to Stay in London!

King’s Cross is well-known as a central transportation hub. Being home to St Pancras International and King’s Cross Station means that it is vital to London’s busy transportation system. You might pass through King’s Cross on your travels and not explore the area. Well, you would surely be missing out as Kings Cross is in my opinion the coolest place to stay in London. The area is full of hidden gems and has plenty to do, if you are looking for a place to stay then King’s Cross has a lot to offer. King’s Cross is the perfect blend of new and old London coming together in a bustling urban area.

King's Cross Station

King’s Cross Station is one of London’s most famous transportation hubs, almost every Londoner has traveled through this station at some point. The station is connected to the Victoria Line, Northern Line, and Picadilly Line. All of which leads to some of London’s best sights within a few stops. Check out the tube map for a better idea of how central Kings Cross Station is. You will be able to reach almost anywhere in London with ease, whilst also having the National Railway nearby, which connects you to most destinations in the United Kingdom. Having King’s Cross station on your doorstep is extra convenient for going on a day trip, so if you like to explore then this is huge asset when talking about the coolest place to stay in London.

The station’s interior is famous for Platform 9 3/4 which was a part of the station filmed in the Harry Potter movies. This means it is a massively popular tourist sight and you will see tourists and Harry Potter fans queuing up to take photos at this location. Some great shops and restaurants are also available at the station, making it easy to grab some food for your commute.

The exterior of King’s Cross Station is just as iconic. It was designed in 1852 by the famous English architect Lewis Cubbit. The station’s facade is basically untouched and has remained intact throughout history. The beautiful exterior of this historic landmark building means it is by far the best-looking station in London. Being within reach of such a vital transportation hub means King's Cross is the coolest place to stay and definitely the best area to stay in London for first-time visitors.

St Pancras International Railway Station

St Pancras International Station also known as St Pancras Railway Station is yet another reason why King’s Cross is the coolest place to stay in London. The station first opened in 1868 and is a historic marvel of the Victorian era. If you’re interested in Euro Star travel to destinations like Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels then it doesn’t get more convenient than this.

*View of St Pancras International Station*

St Pancras International is located in the heart of King’s Cross so hopping on a train to your next European destination couldn’t be easier. The station also has plenty of shops, restaurants, and supermarkets to enhance convenience. Being connected so easily to other European destinations is another factor which makes King's Cross the coolest place to stay in London.

Coal Drops Yard

Coal Drops Yard is a newer addition to the area. It was built in 2018 and has been designed as a multi-purpose shopping complex. Without an awesome shopping area like this King's Cross wouldn't be the coolest place to stay in London. The complex has an industrial traditional look to it which matches the area’s more historic architecture. Here you can find small boutique shops along with some nice cafes. With a total of over 50 stores, Coal Drops Yard is a great place to shop. The stand-out feature of the complex is the architecture and if you’re not much of a shopper then it’s worth a look just to appreciate the architectural beauty of the area.

University of Arts

The coolest place to stay in London wouldn’t be complete without one of the best art universities in the world. Central Saint Martins is renowned for being one of the most integrally important Art universities in the country. The university is Located upon the banks of the Regents Canal, in a historic building originally designed as a warehouse for the adjacent King’s Cross Railway Station. The Campus is a work of art architecturally and has some of the most beautiful buildings in the area around the campus. If you are planning to attend this university then living in King’s Cross is a wise choice.

Granary Square

Of course, the coolest place to stay in London has to have a beautiful city square. Granary Square is a large city square outside Central Saint Martins University. The square is right next to the Regent’s Canal. It is a large open space with some beautiful fountains and some benches to sit on and relax.

Granary Square is a nice place to sit and eat lunch, read a book or watch the world go by. People like to sit along the riverside area right in front of the square. It’s a very popular location especially in the summer when it is warm enough to eat outside. The riverside area is particularly busy when it is warm as many students and locals sit there to socialize.

Markets

The Canopy Market is an indoor market located within a minute’s walk of Granary Square outside Central Saint Martins University. The canopy market has many street food vendors, small stalls selling handcrafted goods, and dessert stalls. The market is usually open Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The market is an awesome place to get some street food and hang out for a few hours.

The Real Food Market takes place outside the main entrance of King’s Cross Station. Similar to the Canopy Market The Real Food Market sells some delicious street foods, baked goods, cheeses, and many other amazing foods. Stalls here pride themselves on homemade cooking and the prices are quite reasonable considering these are just local sellers. The market is open from Tuesday to Friday and usually around 12.00 pm – 7.00 pm.

*The Real Food Market outside King's Cross Station*

Small markets like this selling delicious food and handmade goods are a nice addition to the area. The markets add to the convenience factor of the area and in my opinion, street food like this is a must for the coolest place to stay in London.

Restaurants Shops and More

The coolest place to stay in London wouldn’t gain such a title if it wasn’t a foodie’s paradise. King’s Cross is blessed with an abundance of cuisines from all over the world. From Vietnamese food to pizzas, burgers, British Pub food, or healthier options, it has a huge variety. Dessert places and cafes can also be found all around King’s Cross.

*Restaurants, shops, and cafes in Coal Drops Yard*

As for bars and nightlife, it is only 2 subway stops away from Old Street station which has a ton of bars and many more restaurants if you are not satisfied with the already wide variety of food in King’s Cross. Angel is also within walking distance and has many more restaurants shops and bars. Many of the UK’s most popular supermarkets can be found within King’s Cross, along with some more local type shops.

For King’s Cross to be the coolest place to stay in London it has to have plenty of Co-working spaces. The good news is it has tons of shared office and coworking spaces. Making sure those digital nomads and self-employed techies are very much catered for. Fitness enthusiasts will equally find no shortage of Gyms here. King’s Cross has a load of gyms, fitness studios, or whatever other extracurricular activity you like to take part in. The chances are that you can find almost any class nearby.

The Regent’s Canal

The Regent’s Canal is undeniably one of the reasons why King’s Cross is the coolest place to stay in London. The waterway begins at Little Venice and spans 9.3 miles with the other end lying at the mouth of the River Thames. If you're wondering Where should I stay in London to walk everywhere? Kings Cross is a great start, the canal paths can take you to many destinations by walking.

The canal can be found just behind King’s Cross Station. Nearby areas like Camden and Angel are within walking distance through the canal footpaths. Cycling is another way to navigate the paths of the Regent's Canal. This can be useful if you want to reach another area of London without taking public transport. You can also map out great walks and cycling routes through the canal. The Regent's Canal is also quite romantic and you can easily reach Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill Park which are around a 20-minute walk along the canal. The romantic canal and easily walkable trips to Regent's Park and Primrose hill also mean that King's Cross is one of the best area to stay in London for couples.

*Architecture along the Regent's Canal in King's Cross*

The British Library

The British Library is another iconic part of history located in King’s Cross. You might think why would I want to live near a library? Well, it’s not just your average library. The British Library is huge and is the largest library in the UK. It is also thought to be the second-largest library globally, and It houses countless collections of books, exhibitions, and historical artifacts from all over the world.

The British Library is classed as a museum and the best part is, you can enter for free. If you would like to access the reading rooms of the British library and read some of their amazing books then you will need to register and attend an interview. This process is easy and is certainly worth doing if you enjoy reading. Being nearby such a cool library is yet another factor that makes King’s Cross the coolest place to stay in London.

Gasholder Park

Gasholder Park is another example of redeveloped architectural history along the Regent’s Canal riverside. The park was renovated from a Victorian Gas Holder and Grade II listed structure. The park is unique and lends itself to the artistic theme of the King’s Cross area. Large metal gas holder architecture with benches all around it.

The architectural structure of the shiny metal is somewhat futuristic but old at the same time. An old type of structure renewed into something more contemporary. I really appreciate the architecture of this small park. Rather than getting rid of historic landmarks, King’s Cross renovates them into something useful like this park. I believe the renovation speaks to the area’s historic integrity. This historic rejuvenation of old landmarks is yet another reason why King’s Cross is the coolest place to stay in London.

A tech hub

Not just an art hub but also a tech hub! Tech giants like Google and Meta have their headquarters here. Many media outlets also have their offices located in the King’s Cross area. The coolest place to stay in London is also becoming the place to be for media outlets and tech giants. The Google headquarters show that King’s Cross is already a tech hub and more tech companies are constantly joining the area. So, if you are interested in tech and enjoy living near some major offices then King’s Cross fills that criteria.

*Cityscape of office buildings in King's Cross*

The coolest place to stay in London is a hard title to attain in such a large and diverse city. King’s Cross is still developing at a fast rate with new high-rise buildings being built even today. There is always something going on in this area and the convenience of having one of the best transportation hubs on your doorstep is a big plus. Add to that the famous Regent’s Canal, an amazing arts university, and tons of restaurants and shops, and you have an awesome area. All of which makes King’s Cross the coolest place to stay in London.