London King’s Cross Station is a well-known station that probably rings a bell to Harry Potter’s fans!
If you’ve found yourself with a layover at this famous station and you’re wondering how to make the most of your time there, then you should grab the opportunity to immerse yourself in a new exhilarating adventure.
The area around Kings Cross Station is full of unique gems and places to explore at a close distance.
In today’s guide, we’ve done our research to present you with the best things you can do near Kings Cross Station during a layover or flight delay.
Without further ado, let’s dive into it!
12 Things to Do Near Kings Cross Station During a Layover
London King’s Cross Station is a famous station that provides a wide range of rail and underground services to many destinations in England, the UK, and continental Europe.
There are a plethora of amazing things a traveler can do near Kings Cross Station during a layover.
So, let’s wait no more and start with the first thrilling adventure on our list, you should contemplate living!
1) Visit Word on the Water
If you find yourself wandering around Kings Cross Station, then Word on the Water should definitely be on your bucket list.
Word on the Water is one of Regent’s Canal’s unique gems, which essentially is a floating library.
It’s a book lovers’ paradise on an old Dutch barge and stocks a wide collection of new and used books.
Operating hours:
Every day from 12 – 7 p.m.
Address: Regent’s Canal Towpath, London N1C 4LW, United Kingdom
Proximity to Kings Cross Station: 0.3 mile from Kings Cross Station
2) Join the queue for the famous Roti King
Roti King is a popular restaurant in London famous for its authentic Malaysian dishes.
If you are looking for a delicious meal to indulge in, then Roti King is your answer.
However, due to its popularity, you might expect to find queues, thus it’s crucial to take it into account and plan accordingly.
Opening hours:
- Monday – Thursday: 12 – 3 p.m. and 5 – 10 p.m.
- Friday – Sunday: 12 – 10 p.m.
Address: Euston House, 40 Doric Way, London NW1 1LH, United Kingdom
Proximity to Kings Cross Station: 0.5 mile from Kings Cross Station
3) Head to the famous Harry Potter’s Platform 9¾
Platform 9¾ is a fictional platform at King’s Cross Station based on Rowling’s Harry Potter series, where students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry catch the Hogwarts Express.
There’s a luggage trolley embedded in the wall, and you can pretend that you’re off to start your magical school journey.
You can also be professionally photographed with a scarf in your house colors, which you can, if you wish, purchase inside the Harry Potter shop next door.
The operating hours are as follows:
- Monday – Saturday: 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.
- Sunday: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
However, what should be noted is that the Harry Potter Shop at Platform 9¾ is temporarily closed for refurbishment from 2nd January 2024.
Address: Platform 9¾, King’s Cross, Euston Rd., London N1C 4BU, United Kingdom
Proximity to Kings Cross Station: 1 minute on foot from Kings Cross Station
4) Have a blast at Bar Rioja
Bar Rioja is a rustic Andalusian-style bar with a wide range of Spanish wines to choose from.
Its wonderful wines from the Rioja region of northern Spain are a culinary experience you won’t want to miss out on.
Opening times:
- Sunday & Monday: Available for private events
- Tuesday – Friday: 5 p.m. – 11 p.m.
- Saturday: 6 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Address: Bar Rioja, The, 3 Varnishers Yard, Regent Quarter, London N1 9FD, United Kingdom
Proximity to Kings Cross Station: 0.3 mile from Kings Cross Station
5) Explore the British Library and travel back in time
The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom.
It houses a unique collection of over 170 million items making it a unique spot for literature lovers to explore and admire the beauty of historical manuscripts.
Plus, it’s close to Kings Cross Station.
Opening times:
- Monday – Thursday: 9.30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Friday: 9.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m.
- Saturday: 9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Sunday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Address: British Library, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB, United Kingdom
Proximity to Kings Cross Station: 0.3 mile from Kings Cross Station
6) Discover cultures across the globe in the British Museum
If you have more time at your disposal during your layover, then you should definitely visit the British Museum!
The British Museum is a public museum and one of the world’s largest and most comprehensive museums dedicated to human history, art, and culture.
Opening times:
It’s open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., except for Fridays when it is open from 10 a.m. to 8.30 p.m.
Address: The British Museum, Great Russell St, London WC1B 3DG, United Kingdom
Proximity to Kings Cross Station: 1.6 miles from Kings Cross Station
7) Stroll through Camley Street Natural Park
If you want to find a nature oasis within walking distance from Kings Cross Station, then Camley Street Natural Park is a great spot to take a breath and start exploring with your kids.
Ponds, wetlands, woodland, and meadow habitats are all found within the park, which has a free entrance.
Opening times:
Every day, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Address: 12 Camley Street, London N1C, UK
Proximity to Kings Cross Station: 0.3 mile from Kings Cross Station
8) Visit Gasholder Park
Gasholder Park is a unique public park, set on the banks of Regent’s Canal.
It’s a perfect place to relax, recharge your batteries, and enjoy the contrast between the historic structure and the contemporary surroundings.
Opening times:
It’s open daily, 24/7.
Address: Gasholder Park, London N1C 4AB, United Kingdom
Proximity to Kings Cross Station: 0.5 mile from Kings Cross Station
9) Follow the Bagley Walk
Bagley Walk is an elevated parkway that connects Granary Square with Gasholder Park.
It offers beautiful views over the canal, Camley Street Natural Park, and Coal Drops Yard, making it a unique gem worth exploring during your layover.
Address: Bagley Walk, London, UK
Proximity to Kings Cross Station: 0.4 mile from Kings Cross Station
10) Taste delicious street food at Canopy Market
Canopy Market offers whatever a traveler could ever wish for.
Apart from offering a range of delicious street food stands to choose from, the market also includes jewelry, accessories, and homewares from independent designer-makers!
Opening times:
- Friday: 12 – 8 p.m.
- Saturday and Sunday: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Address: West Handyside Canopy, 2 Granary Square, London N1C 4BH, United Kingdom
Proximity to Kings Cross Station: 0.4 mile from Kings Cross Station
11) Spend a few hours at the Granary Square steps and fountains
Granary Square is a large open space in the London Borough of Camden.
The square is animated with over 1,000 choreographed fountains that are open daily during daylight hours.
Apart from the magical fountains, you can also spend a few hours either solo or with your family at the renowned ‘grass steps’, watching the boats slip by.
Address: Granary Square, 1 Granary Square, London N1C 4AB, United Kingdom
Proximity to Kings Cross Station: 0.3 mile from Kings Cross Station
12) Visit the Charles Dickens Museum
If you are a fan of Charles Dickens’s masterpieces, then you can’t miss the opportunity to get to know him a little better; to do so you can visit the Charles Dickens Museum in London, the author’s only surviving London house!
The recommended duration is 1-2 hours and you can even book a guided tour.
Opening times:
- Wednesday – Sunday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Admission:
- Adult: £12.50
- Concession: £10.50
- Child (over 6): £7.50
- Child (under 6): Free
Address: Charles Dickens Museum, 48-49 Doughty St, London WC1N 2LX, United Kingdom
Proximity to Kings Cross Station: 0.8 mile from Kings Cross Station
Getting Around Kings Cross Station
Getting around Kings Cross Station is easy since it’s a major hub with excellent transport links.
The station hosts many train operators including London North Eastern Railway, LUMO, Grand Central, Hull Trains, and Great Northern.
Moreover, King’s Cross is connected to six tube lines and the station is served by 14 bus routes.
Regarding accessibility, there is lift access to all levels of the station and all entrances are step-free.
Also, in case someone desires to use a taxi as a mode of transportation, the taxi rank is next to the station on Pancras Rd.
At this point you might ask; what will happen with my luggage, am I supposed to drag it around while exploring? Of course not!
Without further ado, let’s see right away how to store your luggage near Kings Cross Station!
How to Store Your Luggage Near Kings Cross Station
A pain point that travelers often have to deal with is securing a place to store their bags near Kings Cross Station while discovering all the unique gems we mentioned earlier.
That’s where we’re stepping in!
At Stasher, we’ve partnered with hotels, cafes, and local shops, in over 890 cities worldwide to cater to the needs of every traveler looking to safely store their luggage for a few hours or days.
Let’s walk you through the simple step-by-step process of how to store your bags near Kings Cross Station with the help of Stasher.
After selecting Kings Cross Station, you need to choose the date or dates and the amount of bags that you’ll carry with you.
Next, all you have to do is press the search button and a map will be presented to you along with the available nearby hotels, Airbnbs, shops, etc.
Moving on, you can choose the desired place to store your bags (we call them “Stashpoints”) and then press the “book” button.
Up next, it’s time for your checkout; move forward with your payment and you are good to go!
Simple, right?
Stasher is super easy to use and store your bags and you can book a location either through our platform or app in under 2 minutes!
Go ahead and give it a go yourself in the interactive demo below.
At this point, if you feel that Stasher is the best fit for you, you can simply head over to our homepage or download our app for Android or iOS, and store your luggage anywhere with Stasher!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Some frequently asked questions that travelers often have regarding Kings Cross Station are as follows:
Are Kings Cross St Pancras and Kings Cross the same station?
No, Kings Cross Station and St. Pancras International are two separate stations.
However, they’re just across the road from each other.
Is London King’s Cross station open 24 hours?
No, London King’s Cross station isn’t open 24 hours. It opens when trains are running from early in the morning to late at night.
How can I store my luggage at Kings Cross Station?
There are several options for luggage storage at Kings Cross Station, but if you aim for flexibility, less money spent, and safety, you can store your luggage in trusted hotels and shops near the station from £4.75 per bag with Stasher.
