London King's Cross train station guide & what's nearby: food, restaurants & shops

There are two types of people in this world.

Those who know London King's Cross train station — a popular transit hub north of the British Museum — and those who know the King's Cross station featured in the Harry Potter books and films.

We’ve got a guide for you both. Here’s everything you need to know about King's Cross train station in London, whether you’re a first-time passenger or a life-long Potterhead.

Exterior of King's Cross station in London, England. Image Credit: Getty Images, Matthias Rohrberg

London King's Cross station for Muggles

Use this guide to make your first visit to King's Cross train station easy-peasy.

Where to get food at King's Cross

King's Cross train station has most of the reliable railway retailers found in other UK stations. Your first-timer friends will find familiarity in Starbucks while other brews are available at Black Sheep Coffee, Costa, and Caffè Nero. Giraffe World Kitchen is the healthier option with a selection of fresh food, juices, and shakes.

Grab and go options like Upper Crust, Pret A Manger, Leon, and Little Waitrose come in clutch for quick train transfers. Wasabi serves sushi, The Pasty Shop has a Cornish dish for you, and Hotel Chocolat has your sweet tooth covered.

Best shops inside King's Cross

Feel free to window shop or spend that vacation money while waiting for your train in King’s Cross station. Pick up something dazzling for your wrist at Pandora and leave your skin looking just as good with personalized body formulas from Kiehl’s or Rituals. Boots is a catch-all for toiletries, travel accessories, and anything else you might have left at home. Oliver Bonas and Fat Face have you covered from head to toe in clothing while Postmark, and WHSmith have everything else on deck.

Interior of King's Cross station in London, England. Image Credit: Getty Images, Julian Elliott Photography

Pubs & restaurants inside King's Cross station

We think a pint at The Parcel Yard is worth sliding into a seat in the train station’s ex-parcel office, which is a Grade 1 listed building. Slide in for breakfast, lunch, or dinner and you’ll be served a great view of the railway station. Let’s say you (or your “friend”) has a long layover in King’s Cross and had one too many at The Parcel Yard. Carb-heavy Italian eats at Prezzo should help sober up anyone who had a liquid lunch.

Storing luggage and lounges at King's Cross

We’ve all had the late-check-in/early-check-out challenge of needing to store luggage while in transit purgatory. King’s Cross has luggage storage available at Excess Luggage, which can also be pre-booked. Drop your bags at the luggage storage desk then head to the lounge. The LNER first class lounge is a quieter space near the Customer Information Point while the family lounge has kid-friendly amenities like a play area and a model railway.

Where to shower at King's Cross?

Restrooms with showers are available in King's Cross station, and we can confirm two things: there are no secret passageways to basilisk chambers and you cannot get to the Ministry of Magic by flushing yourself down the toilet. You’ll need to purchase your shower pass for £5 (about $7) at Excess Baggage, which includes soap. You’ll have to drop a deposit for a towel, though.

Interior of King's Cross station in London, England. Image Credit: Getty Images, Matthias Rohrberg

Where do trains from King's Cross station take muggles?

Six train operators run the rails from King's Cross, taking you from London to dozens of Britain’s cities. Grand Central’s trains can go to Yorkshire, if you’ve eaten your meat and want some pudding. The Great Northern line runs to Cambridge while LUMO lines head all the way from London to Edinburgh.

Is King's Cross and St. Pancras the same station?

“King's Cross station London UK” is pretty obvious to spot on your map, but there’s often a bit of confusion when you arrive in person. King's Cross station is directly beside St. Pancras International, another major railway hub. They are two separate stations so make sure you follow the signs into King's Cross.

How to get from London St. Pancras to King’s Cross Underground

The closest tube station to London St. Pancras International is the King’s Cross St. Pancras Underground Station. Leave London St. Pancras International via the south exit, which is near the Betjeman Arms pub and St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel. Once you’re outside, head east or simply follow the signs to King’s Cross. Here’s the important detail: you’re not going to go inside King’s Cross railway station. Instead, you’re going to access the King’s Cross Underground station via stairs/escalator just outside of the railway station.

Exterior of King's Cross Railway Station in London, England. Image Credit: Getty Images, Doug Armand

Does the Heathrow Express go to King’s Cross station?

No, the Heathrow Express does not go to King’s Cross railway station. The Heathrow Express only serves Heathrow Airport to London Paddington station. Leave London Paddington railway station and go into the Paddington Underground station. You can then take the Circle or Hammersmith line to the King’s Cross St. Pancras Underground station which is next to both King’s Cross and St. Pancras International railway stations.

Is King’s Cross open 24 hours?

No, King’s Cross railway station is not open 24 hours. Current operating hours are Monday through Friday, 05:00 AM until 01:36 AM; Saturday from 05:00 AM until 12:36 AM; and Sunday from 05:30 AM until 01:36 AM.

What is the postcode of King’s Cross station?

The postcode of King’s Cross station is N1 9AL. Its formal address is London King's Cross Rail Station, London King's Cross station, Euston Road, Greater London, London N1 9AL.

Why is King’s Cross station famous?

While many travelers immediately conjure up visions of Platform 9 ¾, King’s Cross station is famous for more than its magical mention in the Harry Potter films. King’s Cross station opened in 1852 as the largest station in Britain. Renovations over the centuries showcase a mix of new and old architectural designs. It’s one of the main railway hubs in London and a buzz of activity every day of the week.

Platform 9 3/4 at King's Cross station in London, England. Image Credit: Getty Images, AveryPhotography

London King's Cross station for Witches and Wizards

Here’s everything you need to know about the same King's Cross station Harry Potter visited.

Alohomora: unlocking what’s inside King's Cross station

It’s no Diagon Alley, but King's Cross station will get you set for Hogwarts.

The Harry Potter Shop at Platform 9 ¾

The Harry Potter Shop at Platform 9 ¾ has your wands, house scarves, and other wizarding merch. If you’re not signed up for Charms class, a stop at Pandora is the next best thing. Hotel Chocolat was short on chocolate frogs last we looked but plenty of cacao bars are left.

Speaking of food, Giraffe World Kitchen and LEON serve up takeaway eats faster than you can say accio lunch.

Where is Platform 9 ¾ at King's Cross station?

Let’s not be coy: we know why you’ve come to King's Cross and we’re here for it. Platform 9 ¾ is between Platforms 8 and 9. You’ll likely see the crowd queued up outside of the Harry Potter store before you see the luggage trolley sticking out of the wall.

How to get to the Hogwarts Express from King's Cross station

You’ve got your Hogwarts letter in the mail and you’ve been to Platform 9 ¾, but to board the Hogwarts Express, you need to take one more step. Walk from London King's Cross to the King's Cross St. Pancras Underground station, get off the tube at London Euston, then board the Caledonian Sleeper to Fort William. You’ll wake up in a Scottish town where you can ride the Jacobite Train, aka the Hogwarts Express.

King's Cross station in London, England. Image Credit: Getty Images, petekarici

A Howler about London King's Cross

*Open with caution*

LONDON KING'S CROSS AND LONDON ST PANCRAS ARE TWO NEIGHBORING YET COMPLETELY SEPARATE TRAIN STATIONS BUT KING'S CROSS ST PANCRAS UNDERGROUND IS A SINGLE SUBWAY STATION

These two railway stations serve different destinations and their shared single underground station serves six different subway lines. We know: it’s basically a Confundus Charm, but that’s the spell we’re dealt. Go ahead and scribble these notes on St. Pancras International into your spellbook à la Half Blood Prince so you don’t head to the wrong platform.

Things to do near King’s Cross

Even if you don’t take the train into or out of King’s Cross station, you should still hop the Underground and pay a visit to this bustling railway hub. Five-star hotels, mom-and-pop market shops, live entertainment, and dozens of delicious dining options provide plenty of things to do just outside of King’s Cross railway station.

Aerial view of Granary Square and Coal Drops Yard near King's Cross Station in London, England. Image Credit: Getty Images, Wirestock

What is there to do near King's Cross station?

King’s Cross is a hub for more than train cars. You can spend hours enjoying the area around King’s Cross station without ever thinking about buying a train ticket. Listen to live music at Lafayette. Lower Stable Street Market is a B Corp Certified outdoor market with food, drinks, books, art, and more.

Granary Square’s fountains are always a draw, especially at night, and the Granary Square Brasserie is a perfect spot for brunch. Granary Square is also home to Queer Britain, the UK’s first museum of Queer culture. Coal Drops Yard is one of the best reasons to visit: over 50 shops, pubs, and eateries offer an entire day of spending, sipping, and snacking.

Where to stay near King's Cross station

King’s Cross railway station is more than a transportation interchange. This busy area of London is a great home base for your vacation, especially if you’re keen to visit the nearby Charles Dickens Museum, The British Museum, or The Regent’s Park. Here are a handful of the best hotels near King’s Cross station suitable for any traveler:

St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel: Right next door in St. Pancras International, this Marriott hotel footsteps from King’s Cross station has swanky five-star accommodations.
King's Cross Inn Hotel: Featuring family-size rooms with plenty of space for up to five adults, the King's Cross Inn Hotel can accommodate your crew (or around 45% of the Weasley clan).
hub by Premier Inn London King's Cross hotel: Offering smaller spaces for smaller budgets, hub by Premier Inn lets your budget breathe.

Cross it off the list

Heading in or out of King's Cross train station in London? Download the Trainline app and let us help you get cheap tickets to Newcastle, Edinburgh, Cambridge, and more.

King's Cross station in London, England. Header Image Credit: Getty Images, David Williams

London King's Cross station guide: where to eat, sip, and shower for muggles