So, you’re in London, doing some train travel around the UK or Europe, waiting for your next ride. Got some time to kill around St. Pancras? Well, other than admiring the beautiful architecture of the train station – because it’s pretty gorgeous as far as train stations go – there’s actually a lot of things to do in St. Pancras!
If you’ve got more than a few hours, feel free to hop on the tube and venture a few stops away down to Oxford Circus, Soho, and Covent Garden for the shopping and easy food scenes, but if you’re shorter on time you can stick to the St. Pancras area and explore the sights here.
1. Visit Coal Drops Yard
Exit St. Pancras and walk 5 minutes towards Regent’s Canal, over Espérance Bridge, and you will find an old industrial area turned trendy hang out! Coal Drops Yard is an open air shopping centre where you can browse and splurge. Restaurants and local pubs make great ‘waiting for my train’ options as well.
Local events happen in Coal Drops Yard all the time like the Canopy Market, a Japanese Market, and seasonal events like Christmas lights! Depending on your luck with trains, you might be able to stumble upon these too.
Image source:Raul Chakraborty / unsplash
2. Go to a book shop on water
Also along Regent’s Canal is one of London’s cutest bookshops! Appropriately named ‘Words on the Water’ this bookshop takes up residence inside an adorable barge, moored along the canal. You won’t be able to miss it as there’s a sign on top with the name, surrounded by plenty of books on sale. It’s small and narrow, but such an adorable location for cosy book lovers. A London must, really, and one of the best things to do in St. Pancras – especially if your journey is long and you need something to read.
3. Live out your Harry Potter dreams
In case you weren’t aware, St. Pancras station is right next to King’s Cross where Britain’s favourite boy wizard begins his magical journey. Whether you’re a die hard Harry Potter fan or not, you can’t wander through the area without paying a visit to the Harry Potter shop! It’s got all the merch you could ever want, just in case you forgot your Gryffindor scarf at home, including butter beer and chocolate frogs.
You can also visit platform 9¾ at King’s Cross Station to take a picture under the sign and contemplate what your own magical education might have been like, or which character you would be.
Image source:Diogo Nones / unsplash
4. Go to a museum
If you’ve got a few hours to spare and want to get your fill of culture in London there are plenty of museums. Closest to St. Pancras is the British Library (continuing with the above’s bookish theme…), where you can look at some books of course as well as historic texts and manuscripts.
The Charles Dickens museum is also nearby and you can head there to learn all about the author and his life. This is an especially perfect thing to do in St. Pancras around Christmas time to really get into that A Christmas Carol atmosphere and pretend you’re in Victorian Era London.
5. Catch a movie at the Everyman Cinema
This activity requires a bit more time, but if you can manage a viewing at the Everyman Cinema, please go! It’s a London staple and not just any movie experience. Plush seating, old and new movies showing, and delicious snacks – what a way to kill some time? And, in the summertime, the Everyman Cinema extends over onto Regent’s Canal with a grand outdoor screen and seating right on the water. Totally magical.
6. Discover Kings Place
If you just want a quick pick me up before your train journey, Kings Place is the place to witness some incredible live performances. Between music like jazz and classical pieces, to spoken word events and readings, it’s a great way to spend the time and get an authentic look at London’s culture.
