King's Cross: Things to do, restaurants, bars, pubs and coffee near St Pancras station

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Jochan Embley2 May 2019

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For many people, King’s Cross is the gateway to London.

The opening of the Eurostar terminal at St Pancras in 2007 made the area the first port of call for many tourists arriving from the continent. It was part of a hugely ambitious regeneration of the King’s Cross area, one which began in the 1990s and has since changed much of it beyond recognition.

The wave of development has brought with it a cultural shift — scores of new restaurants, bars and arts venues have opened in King's Cross since people began flocking to this part of north London.

Things to do in Kings Cross

Bookworms' paradise: The British Library
Getty Images

The British Library is one of London’s most famous institutions. No library in the world has more books catalogued within it — in fact, a copy of every single book published in the country is stored there. It runs a whole range of exhibitions and events, from talks by cultural luminaries to world-beating exhibitions.

Granary Square is the heart of the area’s redevelopment. Its home to many of King’s Cross’ best restaurants and bars and its fountains are always good for a summertime frolic. Running alongside the square is Regent’s Canal. Walk along it towards the east and it will take you into the heart of Islington — go west and you’ll travel all through London. It’s great for a cycle ride, too.

Both of the main stations, King’s Cross and St Pancras International, are architectural highlights and worth visiting even if you don’t have a train to catch. Harry Potter fans will have a particular interest in going to King’s Cross station, home to JK Rowling’s fictional Platform 9 ¾.

Best King’s Cross restaurants

Meat-free for me: Foodilic

Since its regeneration, King’s Cross has welcomed a score of foodie favourites, turning it into a genuine restaurant hotspot.

Caravan will see you through from brunch to dinner, with dishes that draw influence from cuisines around the world, including Spain, Italy and Mexico. Dishoom is worth going to just for its fabled bacon naan, but its King’s Cross restaurant, inspired by the Bombay cafes of old, has plenty more Indian goodness on its menu to get stuck into. Pizza Union may not be the absolute finest purveyor of the Italian classic that north London has to offer, but it is definitely the best value for money — Margheritas are just £3.95 and the wine is priced very reasonably, too. Be warned, it's always packed. From Italy to Spain, tapas and lots of it can be found at Camino — just be sure to pay a visit to its neighbouring Bar Pepito for a glass of wine afterwards. German Gymnasium focuses on cuisine inspired by the country it's named after and the cheddar-and-tomato-stuffed schnitzel is highly recommended. A taste of Australia comes courtesy of Granger & Co, a place known for its delicious, health-conscious breakfasts but that serves food throughout the day.

Challenging certain stereotypes about Japanese food is Itadaki-zen, an entirely vegan restaurant without a piece of raw fish in sight. In fact, it’s something of trailblazer, claiming to be the first vegan Japanese restaurant in Europe. More top-notch meat-free fare is on offer over at Foodilic. Its all-you-can-eat breakfast, replete with vegan sausages, is a particular favourite.

Marcus Wareing's elegant Gilbert Scott specialises in the best of British — fresh, seasonal produce served within the grand, Gothic surroundings of the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel. The bar next door is well worth a visit, too.

For street food, head to KERB on Granary Square, a collection of traders offering up everything from generously stuffed tacos to Cypriot pita pouches.

Best King’s Cross pubs and bars

Right royal knees up: The Star of Kings

There are pubs aplenty in King’s Cross. The Queen’s Head is a charming old boozer, with a fine selection whiskies alongside its beers and ciders. The King Charles I is a small, tightly packed pub, but that only adds to the atmosphere once you’re inside. The decor is interesting, too — the stuffed animal heads keep a watchful eye over punters.

Perfect for a pre or post-train journey pint is The Parcel Yard, just up the stairs above Platform 9 ¾ at King’s Cross station. It’s a big old place and there’s a display board to make sure you don’t slip into tipsy reverie and miss your train. If its a departure from St Pancras instead, head to The Betjeman Arms, another great station pub.

The Boot is an Irish boozer that looks pretty rough around the edges, but there’s always a friendly atmosphere inside. It’s an ideal place to spend the evening in, working your way through a few pints with mates. The Scottish Stores, meanwhile, has no relation to Scotland but does serve a top selection of craft beers and ales.

The Star of Kings does it all — Sunday roasts, pub quizzes, DJ nights, comedy, karaoke… the lot. It’s got a Funktion One soundsystem, so the music reliably sounds excellent.

The Driver is one of the area’s best gastropubs, with sharp, elegant interiors and a number of event spaces to hire out for special occasions. The Norfolk Arms also works for a bite to eat, with an excellent selection of wines to wash everything down with. The Lighterman doesn’t look like your traditional pub — its exterior is more Grand Designs than it is Red Lion — but inside you’ll still find a thoroughly stocked bar and delicious food. It’s canalside terrace is a particular favourite when the weather obliges. The Fellow, another fine gastronomically inclined boozer, wins points for being so close to King’s Cross station (it’s literally just across the road) and should be your point of call if you step off the train with a rumbling tummy and a thirst to quench.

German Gymnasium is great for food, as mentioned above, but its Meister Bar serves some pretty special cocktails, backed up by a superb list of whiskies.

The Booking Office, the bar at the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, is a beautiful place. Sit back with one its finely crafted cocktails and admire the high, wood-panelled ceilings and ornate window arches. The Racketeer, meanwhile, has much more a cosy, local-favourite feel to it. Whether it’s for a glass of wine, a classic cocktail or a relaxed, it’s worth stopping by.

After a meal at Dishoom, there’s only one place to go: the restaurant’s bar, the Permit Room. The drinks hardly reinvent the wheel — think juleps, sours and martinis — but they’re done well and the inviting leather seating is ideal to recline into.

Vinoteca is all about the wine. The space is light and airy, with huge windows and high ceilings. We’d recommend it for a long lunch on a Friday afternoon.

Best King’s Cross coffee shops and cafes

Caffeine hit: Notes
Justin De Souza

Notes roasts all of its coffee beans in east London and then ships them out to various branches around the city, including this one in King’s Cross. It serves seasonally inspired menus throughout the day, bringing out the wine and cocktails in the evening. There are live jazz performances every Wednesday and Saturday evenings, too. Moreish Cafe Deli is a quiet spot on a street corner, ideal for a laid-back Sunday morning. The home-made gelato is a must-try. Halfcup gets its coffee from Nude Espresso, and east London roastery, and offers up some intriguing caffeine-free lattes — try the beetroot for something out of the ordinary.

Caravan is one of our favourite restaurants in King’s Cross, as we mentioned above, but it’s also a great spot for coffee. It’s got its very own roastery on-site and you can taste that freshness whenever you pop in for a cuppa. Yumchaa has more of a focus on tea than coffee, with more than 40 blends ready for your supping pleasure. Its sandwiches and cakes are delicious, too.

Best nightclubs and live music in King’s Cross

Rock on: Scala

King’s Cross’ music venues are a varied bunch. Scala puts on lots of great live music — expect anything from indie rock to electro pop — and, at the weekends, is host to some fairly raucous club nights. The Water Rats, meanwhile, is steeped in history. When Bob Dylan, Oasis and the Pogues each played live in London for the first time, it was here. These days, it still puts on a lot of live music, as well as stand-up comedy. Intimate acoustic gigs can be found over at St Pancras Old Church, a Grade II-listed building with little a capacity that barely reaches into triple figures. It’s a beautiful place to watch a performance.

Kings Place is a multi-purpose arts venue, but has a solid programme of live music ranging from classical to contemporary. Spiritland is another events space dedicated to musical performance, bringing together live shows and DJ nights. It’s one for the musos — the programming is often obscure but always excellent.

The premier nightclub is Egg. In fact, it’s one of the best clubs in London, hands down. This year it is celebrating its 15th birthday with a typically storming selection of DJs spinning techno and house across its five rooms. Big Chill is more of a bar than a nightclub, but you can still count on it for some fun-filled DJ nights.

15 years of Egg London: In pictures

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Arts

Cultural hub: Kings Place
Nick White

Kings Place is the biggest multi-purpose venue in the area. As mentioned above, its live music programming is particularly strong, but it does much than just that. It has two spaces dedicated to visual arts and there's often great comedy too.

The Wellcome Collection is a fascinating museum and library that puts on exhibitions broadly grouped under the umbrella of health — they explore the various links and relationships between art, science, medicine and more. It’s all entirely free, too. You never entirely know what you’re going to find at there, although it’s rather more obvious what’s on the agenda over at the London Canal Museum. Head inside to learn about the storied history of London’s canals, as well as the colourful people and goods that have floating along them over the years. The Foundling Museum, meanwhile, explains the story behind the Foundling Hospital, a children’s charity and art gallery.

House of Illustration is a gallery focusing on exactly that, illustration, whether that’s in the form of Quentin Blake’s Roald Dahl drawings or North Korean propaganda posters. It’s a small place, but it punches well above its weight. Gagosian featured in our guide to Mayfair for its marvellous collection of modern art and it’s the same story at its King’s Cross outpost.

Central Saint Martins, one of London’s leading art schools, displays the work of its students and alumni — and it’s always worth checking out. The Lethaby Gallery focuses on art, design and fashion, while Platform Theatre is dedicated to live performance.

Shaw Theatre covers a broad range, from musicals to dramas, while the Place is a hub of dance, both training and performance, with a 11 studios and a theatre. It is home to both the London Contemporary Dance School and Richard Alston Dance Company.

Most Instagrammable spots

Platform 9 ¾

King’s Cross station

St Pancras International station

Granary Square & Regent’s Canal

St Pancras Renaissance Hotel

And one more thing...

Hitting the right keys: Laura Mvula plays one of the pianos at St Pancras International station
PA Archive/PA Images

Walk through St Pancras International station and chances are you'll heard the sound of a piano cutting through all the noise and confusion. That's because there are two, free-to-play instruments in the Arcade and on the main concourse, which anyone can have a go on (provided they're not frantically running to catch a train). Every now and again a famous face pops down to play a couple of tunes, including Laura Mvula, John Legend and Elton John.

How to get there

Train: King’s Cross, St Pancras International

Tube: King’s Cross St Pancras (Victoria, Northern, Piccadilly, Metropolitan, Circle and Hammersmith & City lines)

Bus: 10, 17, 30, 45, 46, 59, 63, 73, 91, 205, 214, 259, 390, 476

Overground: Euston

The best dishes in King’s Cross under £10