Review: King's Cross

What's new here? Ever since the Eurostar undersea rail link between Paris and London rolled into Kings Cross St. Pancras station, the formerly down-and-out neighborhood of Kings Cross has experienced a total transformation. Abandoned railway land with disused gas tanks now has new offices, shopping areas, fountains, apartments, green spaces, and more. There are now posh supermarkets in converted train sheds, the coveted Central St. Martins London School of Art and Fashion, artisan restaurants like Hicce, and trendy ice cream shops like Ruby Violet. Granary Square, north of the station and surrounded by restored warehouses, has a 1,000-jet fountain that's great for kids, as well as canalside amphitheater-style seating. There’s also the gorgeous revamped Camley Street Natural Park, which is packed with its stunning wildflowers and urban biodiversity. Google is building their London headquarters here, an office complex that is supposed to be so state-of-the-art it will reinvent everything we know about offices (and in pandemic times, that must be a good thing). Add starchitect Thomas Heatherwick's stunningly designed designed Coal Drops Yard, former coal sheds that are now a super desirable luxury shopping and eating indoor and outdoor destination space.

What’s the vibe? Uplifting; a powerful example of a regeneration project in an urban area that has truly worked. From the landscaped green spaces to the fine choice of restaurants and artisan shops, as well as outdoor food trucks, canal-side drinking joints, and joined-up living and working options, the new King's Cross is a major London pull, be it for a day out, a shopping spree, or just to wonder at how the developers managed it all.

Who's hanging out here? Architecture lovers, shoppers, families and kids on a day out, people after good food and drink options, and those just passing through.

Does it live up to the hype? It's hard to argue with the sense of freedom and space around this wonderful mini-neighborhood. From the kids jumping in the fountains when it's warm and sunny, to the hip fashion and art students wandering around in between classes at St. Martins, and the diners eating at fine food joints like Dishoom and Caravan, King's Cross more than lives up to the hype.

Bottom line: What are we here for? You're in London for a short break, a morning or afternoon out here is well-worth it. Plenty of places to eat and drink, very cool shops from Carhartt to Cos, and outdoor space for the kids or yourself to run around, fashion lovers, architecture lovers, and anyone who wants to hang out by the canal in what was once a dark and dusty neighborhood, this place is for you.