Thinking about moving to King’s Cross – a Bloomsbury neighbourhood rich in history located on the border of the boroughs of Camden and Islington? A popular locale for young professionals in search of flat shares, King’s Cross has also recently established itself as a growing artist’s destination…
A brief history lesson:
Rumoured to be the location of a legendary battle between Boudicca and Roman invaders, in the 18th century, the roads in the area were used by Londoners escaping the city. King’s Cross railway station, designed by Lewis Cubitt, opened in 1852, making the area an industrial centre. Post WWII, the neighbourhood declined, becoming a hotspot for drugs and prostitution in the 1980s, before undergoing regeneration in the 1990s.
Who lives there now:
With world-famous art college Central Saint Martins and The Guardian newspaper offices at King’s Cross, the central location and affordable rents have made it a prime living location for young professionals and creatives alike – especially as the neighbourhood sheds its image of being a gritty, rundown area. It’s also a handy spot for the frequent traveller since excursions to Paris and Brussels are at your doorstep thanks to the proximity of St. Pancras International Station.
Places to eat, drink and be merry:
Hungry? Pop into Grain Store in Granary Square, which offers an eclectic menu of gorgeous vegetable-starring dishes like steamed seaweed sushi and butternut squash ravioli. For everything else, go to Drink, Shop & Do, a café-cum-bar offering everything from quiz nights to tea towel screen printing to retro dance parties.
Shopping and culture:
The British Library is a national institution with 14 million books, manuscripts and historical artefacts that’s open to the public. You can also get a history lesson in London’s trade routes and canals at the London Canal Museum and explore some of the strangest curios at The Wellcome Collection, which boasts everything from Napoleon’s toothbrush to a leather resuscitator, used in the 1800s to blow smoke up the rectums of those who fell into the Thames.
Parks and recreation:
Don’t miss the Granary Fountains, located on the banks of Regent’s Canal, which are perfect for kids to play in by day and also light up by night. The Camley Street Natural Park is a two-acre nature preserve in the centre of London that started life as an old Coal Yard and now includes wetlands, woodland and meadow, with swans and moorhens splashing around. The Skip Garden and Kitchen is a fabulous example of how nature can thrive within urban environments – it’s a skip blooming with flowers, homegrown vegetables and buzzing with bees. After your walk, you can enjoy a tasty meal featuring the fresh produce.
Transport links:
One of the best-connected spots in the whole of the UK – let alone London – King’s Cross/St. Pancras station provides trains service to destinations across the north of England, Scotland, Kent and Brighton. The Underground is linked to the Piccadilly, Northern, Victoria, Metropolitan, Hammersmith & City and Circle lines, and the Eurostar from St. Pancras will take you direct to Paris, Brussels or Lille.
Fun facts:
King’s Cross Central has its own postcode: N1C
Cost of rent:
You can get a feel for how much rooms for rent cost around King’s cross. If you have a room to let, you can browse the profiles of flatmates interested in living near north London.
Any downsides?
As with all recently gentrifying areas, there is still a gritty edge to the neighbourhood which may not appeal to everyone.
Wondering what it’s like to live with flatmates? Listen to Jacob’s story here…
If you are in two minds and might prefer to live further south? Then don’t miss our guides to Clapham and Brixton…
Love north London and looking for a room to rent that side of town? Here’s everything you need to know about Camden.
