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Inside Kings Cross St Pancras mainline Station
Did you know that Kings Cross St Pancras is one of the largest stations in London? Situated in the north of the city and located along Euston road in the Kings Cross area.
My assignment that day was to visit a venue in the Kings Cross area to learn about a project I was working on. Then I stumbled upon Kings Cross International station, which is huge on the inside as well as on the outside.
Remembering that I hadn’t been there for years, it initially felt overwhelming and seemed easy to get lost around the concourse but planning your route well in advance will save you from walking miles on end!
The London Underground serves the station, over ground trains as well as Eurostar trains for international travel.
Dating as far back as the 19th century. When the construction of the Regent’s canal was concluded, the area of Kings Cross was associated with Industrial cities in the north of England.
It was surprising to see that the station had gone through a face-lift with ease of access. The once tarnished image of the area is now modernized with various hubs and open spaces where you can have a bite to eat, network or people watch.
Kings Cross St Pancras Tube map
Most commuters know the station well and will choose an entrance and exit linked to their journey. On the other hand, if you’re unfamiliar with the system it could become a bit tricky, as the station is voluminous and the lines can be rather confusing.
The station has links with the Circle, Hammersmith and City, Piccadilly, Metropolitan, Northern and Victoria lines. It is a giant with the largest interchange!
If you are travelling from the north side with the intention of connecting with the Victoria line then be prepared for a long walk – might keep you fit!. The quickest way to the Victoria line is to connect through Pentoville road.
One tip to remember is if your journey would involve travelling on the Metropolitan, Hammersmith and Circle Lines then for ease of access enter the station from the St Pancras side.
Go through Euston road for Piccadilly line while the Northern line is easier to get to via the main line station.
Some interesting Facts about Kings Cross
How Kings Cross got its name
Apparently history suggests that the area might have been a place where a fleet of ships crossed the river.
King George IV statue was placed at the crossroad in 1830. Even though the statue was demolished later on the name King’s Cross remained to this day.
Shortly afterwards, Great Northern Railway developed a Terminus and built a railway station alongside this.
The station is used as a connection point for many and is a major interchange.
The name Kings Cross is sometimes spelt without an apostrophe. How did it get away with this?
In the 1980’s the area was rife with drug dealing and prostitution but has now been revived.
It has been home to Trade Unions and still is today. Notably, NUT, RMT, NUJ and UNISON.
This station seems to have two names, which is rather confusing! So what is the difference between Kings Cross and St Pancras station?
Kings Cross St Pancras street map
Kings Cross station is a railway station in London, which runs adjacent to St Pancras.
St Pancras International Station
St Pancras Station
St Pancras is an international railway station and the dwelling place of Eurostar International. Providing services to Paris, Brussels and beyond. The station is well known for its Champagne bars, cafes and eateries.
Tragically, in 1987 a fire broke out in the station, which led to lose of life.
Many Harry Potter fans can relate to the station, as it is where he gets on his train to Hogwarts.
Read more facts here
Check TFL journey planner for up to date information
Interesting facts about Kings Cross. And good tips for navigating through it. I’m saving this should I need to use this station in a future visit to London.
Glad you found these tips helpful.
Considering that I don’t live in London anymore the information in this post is interesting but not useful to me. Londoners will benefit from it.
I’m sure tourists and Londoners will find my tips useful.
Hi Bola. Interesting post! I remember travelling through Kings Cross but it is all a blur. I was with a friend who could very competently navigate the London Underground, so I left the navigational duties to her. I’m glad you say that it can be overwhelming, as I would certainly had been overwhelmed, had I been travelling alone.
It’s always helpful to have a companion when travelling through London’s busy places. Thanks for stopping by.
I haven’t been to London in years, one of my favorite cities, but your post whet my appetite. Enjoyed learning about the history of King’s Cross. One thing that surprised me about the London underground is that the cars are small and if you’re tall you need to duck your head.
London has changed a lot. It’ interesting how tall people duck in order to fit into their vehicles. I guess we just don’t have the space for large cars.