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Designed to commemorate the glamour and glory of Britain’s Victorian railways, this neo-Gothic London landmark originally opened as a hotel in 1873, forming the frontispiece of St. Pancras railway station. It then languished for decades as station offices before an ambitious £150 million renovation relaunched it as a hotel in 2011.
Now, as well as the elaborate original features of its turreted, redbrick building, it has a new contemporary wing, a fabulous cocktail bar in the former station’s Booking Office, and clubby fine dining by way of its all-day drinking and dining space, Hanson.
It’s also home to one of London’s most indulgently-set spas, an Orientalist Victorian fantasy of tiling, steam rooms and a peacock blue pool overlooked by grand windows.
Original Victorian features in the building include gold-leaf ceilings, ornate murals and a spectacular staircase with windows measuring over 50ft.
Once grim and gritty, since the advent of the Eurostar at St Pancras, surrounding King’s Cross has been enjoying an ongoing renaissance. Busy Euston Road in front of the hotel is still somewhat noisy and charmless; but to the rear is Regent’s Canal, its revamped warehouses populated by media and art businesses and some of London’s buzziest new places to eat.
In terms of cons, it is located on a very busy main road, but there’s nowhere handier for the Eurostar.
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Bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
London, United Kingdom (UK)[1.1 miles]
An awe-inspiring collection of more than seven million artefacts spanning two million years, from prehistory to the present day. Highlights include the Rosetta Stone, Elgin Marbles and a granite head of King Rameses II.
Best for ages: 6+ | Free
London, United Kingdom (UK)[1.8 miles]
This iconic and atmospheric West End square has a historic Victorian market building, street performers, restaurants and boutiques.
Best for ages: Any | Free
London, United Kingdom (UK)[1.9 miles]
This grand setting in Covent Garden is home to both the Royal Opera and Royal Ballet companies, and the place for lavish, spectacular performances by the world’s leading singers and dancers.
Best for ages: 18+ | £45 | 1-3 hours
London, United Kingdom (UK)[2 miles]
Fascinating museum offering an insight into the remarkable transport heritage of the city that pioneered the underground railway. Trains, iconic black cabs, scarlet double-decker buses and more.
Best for ages: 6+ | £20
Other worthwhile experiences in this destination if you have the time or the interest, closest first
London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.1 miles]
One of the largest libraries in the world, containing an estimated 170-200 million items. Priceless exhibits include the Magna Carta, Beowulf, Captain Cook’s journal, and the Lindisfarne Gospels.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.6 miles]
The Foundling Hospital was Britain’s first home for abandoned children – today, it’s a museum telling the moving story of the 25,000 orphans raised there.
Best for ages: 13+ | £950
London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.9 miles]
One of the world’s oldest and most curious natural history museums, with 62,000 obscure specimens. Musty cases are stuffed with monkey skeletons, pickled toads, jars of worms, obscure species (a three-toothed puffer fish), endangered and extinct ones (dodo bones).
Best for ages: 4+ | Free
London, United Kingdom (UK)[1 miles]
It may not sound exciting, but the British Postal Service – one of the worlds’ first – has a rich and fascinating story to tell, and a visit here offers the chance to ride on the Mail Rail.
Best for ages: 8+ | £16
Destination guides including or relevant to this place to stay
Greater London, United Kingdom (UK)
World-class culture, fashion, music, food and history – and a mind-boggling array of bucket list experiences – packed into one extraordinary, incomparable destination.
