10 Best Things to Do in King's Cross

King’s Cross Station is no ordinary terminus thanks to a very special platform made famous by J.K. Rowling. Visitors flock here to take selfies by the 9 ¾ sign – the portal into Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films. Splash your cash at the station’s Harry Potter shop, inspired by Ollivander’s Wand Shop. Here, you’ll find collectables, clothing, sweet treats and jewellery (all designed for budding wizards).

Refurbished in 2012, King’s Cross Station features a kaleidoscopic roof design that cascades over the concourse in an array of colourful hues. There are also plenty of places to grab a bite to eat including Prezzo Italian and RAILS Restaurant.

The British Library is more than just books – it’s the guardian of the Magna Carta, handwritten Beatles lyrics, the Diamond Sutra, and over 450 Chinese oracle bones belonging to the Shang Dynasty. As the world’s most comprehensive research collection, TBL helps elevate and inform a vast array of sectors including art, business, academia and science.

Housing over 170 million items (including rare antiquities and highly-prized manuscripts), this global trailblazer is beloved by historians, literary lovers, anthropologists and scholars. Always inclusive, the library is open to anyone who has a genuine interest in its extraordinary archives – from its books, stamps and maps to its video and sound recordings.

On the banks of the historic Regent’s Canal, you’ll find Granary Square – the beating heart of the King’s Cross neighbourhood. Drawing locals and visitors alike to its carpeted green stairs and free-flowing water, it’s the perfect place for a morning play date, coffee catchup, or afternoon picnic.

Granary Square’s main attraction is its 1,000 choreographed fountains that illuminate after dark. There are also plenty of eateries in close proximity, including Dishoom for Indian, Kimchee for Korean and Caravan for pizza.

Known for its quaint cobbled streets and handsome brick arches, Coal Drops Yard is a shopping hub that’s packed with big-name retailers and indie boutiques. Here, you’ll find cult Australian skincare brand Aesop, terrarium store Botanical Boys, modern jeweller Maya Magal and the powerhouse British fashion label Paul Smith.

Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Coal Drops Yard hosts its cosmopolitan Canopy Market – a place where independent producers trade tasty street food, farm-fresh produce, and artisan ceramics. The enclave is also celebrated for its range of popular eateries including Vermuteria, Morty & Bob’s and Le Café Alain Ducasse.

The UK’s first LGBTQ+ museum, Queer Britain is a totally free space that joyously celebrates culture and community. Conveniently located off Granary Square, the venue’s three connected galleries showcase a rich array of artefacts spanning activism, art and social history.

Queer Britain hosts special events across the year – from panel discussions on the legacy of Oscar Wilde to collage workshops that inspire hope. Special guests have previously included V&A curator Zorian Clayton and photographer/visual artist Alia Romagnoli.

Scala is an infamous music venue near King’s Cross Station that has hosted chart-topping bands like Coldplay, Foo Fighters, The Killers and Elbow. From Friday to Sunday, this former Art Deco cinema turns into one of the capital’s most high-octane nightclubs where hundreds of revellers take to the dance floor.

From London’s craziest reggaeton evenings to sessions dedicated solely to Drake, Scala knows how to put on a show. The venue’s 3 bars serve ice-cold drinks until 5am so prepare to party until the break of dawn.

Just along the path from Granary Square, Gasholder Park delights with its sculptural cast iron frame that once held 1.1 million cubic feet of gas. Today, the fully-restored structure once again dominates the skyline with its black-hued columns and intricate ironwork, which now encases a lush central lawn.

Locals flock here every day to soak up the sun, sip takeout lattes, and watch the narrow boats on St Pancras Lock. This idyllic little chill-out zone is just minutes from popular restaurants including Barrafina, Casa Pastor, Parillian and Porte Noir.

Held every weekend in Coal Drops Yard, Lower Stable Street Market is a vibrant collective of up-and-coming designers and independent makers selling all kinds of artisan goods. Each trader has been hand-selected by Kiosk N1C (a trendy magazine turned King’s Cross store).

Come here to shop freshly-baked treats, eclectic decor, vintage deadstock, retro books and quirky zines. Every month, Lower Stable Street transforms again into Shōtengai Market featuring Pan-Asian homewares and aromatic delicacies.

Unlike anything else in King’s Cross, The Wellcome Collection is a museum that explores the link between medical science and the human experience through artefacts and original art. Across a range of exhibits, you’ll ponder the connection between mental health and the ecosystem, man’s relationship with milk (yes, you read that right!) and race and identity in an age of avatars.

The museum’s permanent collection houses 250,000 visual assets from the 14th century to the present day. There’s also an extensive on-site library that teems with books covering all kinds of subjects including herbal medicine and human anatomy.

Literary lovers won’t want to miss Word on the Water – a quirky bookshop situated on a floating Dutch barge in historic Regent’s Canal. Everywhere you look, there are piles of must-read books, from contemporary fiction to vintage cult classics.

On the colder days of the year, you’re invited to hop aboard and snuggle up by the stove with a page-turning tale. The shop also hosts open mic sessions on its rooftop stage, as well as talks about tech, politics, feminism and art.