Top Things to do and Attractions near King’s Cross St Pancras

Things to do near Kings Cross St Pancras

The Mentone Hotel is just a 10 minute walk from the centre of King’s Cross. So, if during your upcoming stay you’re making a plan of things to do near King’s Cross St. Pancras, hopefully this blog I’ve put together will be helpful to you.

1. Take in a movie

There are plenty of cinemas to visit around the King’s Cross area, my favourite being the 5-screen Curzon Bloomsbury, an historic arthouse building just around the corner from the hotel. You’ve also got the Everyman Cinema King’s Cross, where you get to watch your choice of film from a cosy sofa with your food and drink brought to your side.

Something else that may appeal if you’re a classic movie buff and you’re looking for free things to do near King’s Cross this summer is the pop-up outdoor cinema, Everyman Screen on the Canal, which runs from 1 July to 18 August 2024.

A programme of films is being shown for free on a giant screen on the far bank of Regent’s Canal at Granary Square throughout the day up to 10pm every evening. Take a seat on the canal side steps, order yourself something to eat or drink from the drinks and snacks menu, and indulge in one of your film favourites.

I’ve put a dedicated post together on cinemas near Bloomsbury and King’s Cross, so if movies are your thing, have a look at that for inspiration.

2. Indulge in some outdoor time

It often comes as a surprise to our hotel visitors that King’s Cross has so much open space. But in actual fact it’s filled with lots of leafy parks and squares, landscaped gardens and pleasant walks. So if you’re looking for free things to do near King’s Cross, there are plenty.

This list of open space attractions near King’s Cross Station London is a great resource, with details of places to walk, cycle, relax, take in some fresh air, and people watch.

Highlights include the amazing Floating Garden on Regent’s Canal; Wharf Road Gardens which wind their way through lawns, raised beds and benches; Camley Street Natural Park with its two acres of woodland, grassland and wetland habitats, and Bagley Walk, an elevated park following the curve of Regent’s Canal.

This video hosted by Global Generation’s Head of Gardens Sue Amos is an interesting watch, as she walks us down Regent’s Canal King’s Cross.

3. Visit Granary Square

No list of things to do near London Kings Cross would be complete without mention of a visit to Granary Square.

Granary Square is pretty much the heart of King’s Cross. Sitting on the banks of Regent’s Canal, the square is known for its 1,000 fountains which all individually ‘dance’ and light up. I always recommend our guests visit Granary Square, especially at night when the fountains look nothing short of spectacular.

There are some good places to eat and drink at Granary Square, and if you’re into al fresco dining, it’ll be right up your street as every restaurant and café here has its own spacious terrace.

Head to the Grade II listed historical Granary Building for a range of options, including the Granary Square Brasserie; Caravan – the first ever restaurant in King’s cross, and Indian eatery Dishoom, with an all-day menu featuring a mix of traditional Parsi appetisers and Southern Mumbai street food.

There’s also The Lighterman with fantastic views all round from its three floors, or you can eat outside on the Square, on the terrace or on the canal banks. And at Coal Drops Yard just off the Square, there are over 50 shops, bars, cafés and restaurants set around cobbled streets and stone arches. You can also check out our top restaurants near Cartwright Gardens if you’re looking to explore the wider area.

4. Enjoy the area’s abundant art and culture

We find that lots of our guests are interested in the area’s cultural scene, and it rarely disappoints.

If you’re looking for galleries near King’s Cross, don’t miss The Outside Art Project which is one of the largest outdoor gallery spaces in London, featuring art from a line-up of local, national and international artists.

It’s all built around a 24/7 programme of art displayed across double-sided gallery benches throughout the open spaces and squares of King’s cross, and has to be one of the most intriguing free things to do near King’s Cross, especially as the exhibitions change on a regular basis. You can find out what’s currently showing on this website.

In Lewis Cubitt Square you’ll find an impressive gallery known as Lightroom. This is a huge space equipped with digital projection and audio technology, allowing artists to create visually immersive experiences. The exhibitions run for a few months at a time and change throughout the year. You can check out what’s currently on here.

If you’re into creative spaces or planning a corporate visit, there are some excellent conference venues around Cartwright Gardens just a short walk away.

King’s Cross itself is known for its various iconic art installations dotted about the place and it’s quite good fun tracking them down and adding them to your selfie collection.

Have a look for My World and Your World by Eva Rothschild, a 16-metre high steel sculpture resembling an inverted tree or lightning bolt. You can move in and around it, and some people even stop and have picnics under it.

‘Pipette in the King’s Cross Tunnel’ is an art installation created by ‘miriamandtom’. The 90m long tunnel features an LED light wall and links St Pancras International and the Underground to King’s Cross. The light wall is one of the largest in Europe and is made up of LEDs covering the full colour spectrum, creating a beautiful moving light show.

IFO (Identified Flying Object) is a massive ‘birdcage’ in Battle Bridge Place. Created by artist and architect Jacques Rival, it stands at nine metres high and its bars are wide enough to walk through, allowing you get inside and try out the swing in its centre. Definitely worth a visit at night when it comes alive in an array of spectacular neon colours.

‘Iridescence’ by Wolfgang Buttress is an art installation inspired by nature. Sat in the lobby of 4 Handyside Street, it’s made up of hundreds of geometric blocks, laser-etched with 10,000 images of bee-friendly flowers. It’s an amazing visual experience, set to a gentle, ever-changing soundscape creating a calming atmosphere.

Once you’re done exploring the area’s sculptures, you might want to stop off at the Waterways Museum. It’s a great place to learn about the history of London’s canals, and if you’re lucky you might catch one of their boat trips along the Regent’s Canal.

And if you’re looking for music-related attractions near King’s Cross Station London there’s King’s Cross Summer Sounds, a free music festival that takes place every August, Lafayette which is an intimate music venue hosting household names and new upcoming artists, and Spiritland, a café-bar with an amazing sound system and ever-changing playlist.

5. Browse a market or two

For many of our guests, one of their favourite things to do near King’s Cross is visit a market.

We have a few in the area, some of them pop-ups or annual events, others permanent. Here are a couple of favourites:

Canopy Market

Canopy Market is a covered market just off Granary Square. It’s open 12-8pm on Fridays, and 11am-6pm on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays.

You’ll find an array of street food stands, farm-fresh produce, artisan cheese, olives and pasta, as well as jewellery, accessories and homewares, all from independent designer-makers and local producers.

The market also hosts special events throughout the year, teaming up with Crafty Fox, Green Rooms Botanical Market, Cocoa Runners and others for special feature weekends, including a totally vegan version of the market and pop-up art galleries.

Lower Stable Street Market

Food, drinks, homewares, clothing, art, books and more can be found amongst the cobbled streets at Lower Stable Street Market which runs every Thursday to Sunday.

Each week you’ll see a different selection of stallholders, so there’s always something new to discover alongside the market’s mainstays including Honest Jon’s Records, House of Cans, STORE STORE and Hiden Curry.

6. Visit St. Pancras International Station

Even if you’re not heading off on a train, St. Pancras Station is still well worth a visit in my opinion.

Whether you’re taking in the station’s history and architecture, browsing the shops, grabbing a bite to eat or indulging yourself at the famous Champagne bar, there really is so much to do. And it’s only a four minute walk from the Mentone!

Whilst most people think of St. Pancras as the Eurostar hub, its interesting history and striking design shouldn’t be overlooked. Opened in 1868, it’s the epitome of Victorian engineering and Victorian Gothic architecture and, it has to be said, a very elegant place to take a stroll around.

There are plenty of shops – including Fortnum & Mason and Hamleys – and various designer and beauty fashion stores as well as a number of high street favourites.

Food and drink wise, you’ll find a wide selection of restaurants, cafés, and bars serving breakfast, lunch and dinner and everything in between.

Highlights have to include the Booking Office 1869, which follows the design of the station’s original 19^th century ticket hall with its vast ceilings, large windows and tall palm trees. There’s even an alfresco dining terrace, open during the warmer months. Try the set lunch and bubbles menu served Monday to Friday, or indulge in the terrace oysters menu or a traditional Sunday roast.

There’s also The Barrel Vault which serves a variety of real ales, craft beers and gins, as well as breakfasts and British pub food classics, and the Betjeman Arms which is great for good old fish and chips and a pint.

But the highlight for many of our guests has to be Searcys Brasserie & Champagne Bar. As they say on their website, how can you visit London and not stop off at Europe’s longest Champagne bar?

The renowned ‘Press for Champagne’ button on the table that ensures your glass is always filled, and the heated leather seats and fan heaters that keep you warm during the winter months, all add to the charm of the place.

Searcys Brasserie serves a range of signature dishes throughout the day, as well as Afternoon Tea during selected times of the year. And there are fresh oysters and caviar to enjoy at the Seafood Bar.

Finally, if you’re lucky, you might just get to experience an impromptu performance at one of the station’s public pianos.

Launched in 2012, the iconic installations include the Roger’s Piano, located just outside Eurostar arrivals, and the Elton John Piano in the main shopping arcade, which the Rocket Man himself donated and has played at.

As free things to do near King’s Cross go, this has to be one of the best, especially if you happen to stumble upon a performance by a famous face. Past legends to have wowed station-goers include Sir Rod Stewart and Jools Holland, Tom Odell, Jeff Goldblum and John Legend.

Visiting King’s Cross London? The Mentone Hotel looks forward to welcoming you!

If you’d like to make a booking at The Mentone, please get in touch. All direct bookings benefit from a 10% discount and complimentary breakfast. And we’ll be more than happy to provide some ideas on the best things to do near Kings Cross St. Pancras during your stay. Just ask!

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