Meet me at St Pancras

Ever had time to kill at London St Pancras station? Here are a few suggestions for how to fill the time waiting for a train...

View from the Champagne Bar at King's Cross St Pancras station. Photo: photojenny @ flickr

Europe's longest champagne bar, convenient shops, such as Neal's Yard and Oliver Bonas, lovely cafes, including Pain Quotidien, and even a farmer's market - St Pancras is truly becoming the 'destination' station it was hailed to be when it opened over two years ago. It definitely makes waiting for the Eurostar well worthwhile. I've even found myself getting to the station half an hour early just to browse the well stocked bookshop or pick up some goodies from Peyton & Byrne for my family at the other end. With direct train connections to Lille, Paris and Brussels (and Avignon in the summer) as well as many domestic destinations, St Pancras is becoming one of the largest transport hubs in Europe. And once off the train, the station is at the heart of London, just minutes from the hustle and bustle.

Regent's Canal near King's Place in King's Cross area. Photo: ktylerconk @ flickrAs well as the (wonderful) station, complete with enormous blue ironwork arches and 18,000 individual panes of glass that cover the ceiling and give the whole building a sense of space, light, precision and grandeur, the entire Kings Cross area, once one of the grittiest parts of London, is undergoing a massive £2 million revamp. You can already see a big change behind the station, known as Regent's Quarter, with its modern trendy buildings featuring new offices, hotels and restaurants and King's Place (a creative hub, restaurant and conference centre) which also houses the offices of the Guardian newspaper. By 2012, expect luxury apartments, ten new public squares including 'Granary Square', the size of Trafalgar Square with fountains, public seating and an arts complex featuring dance studios, a theatre, exhibition space and roof gardens. The developers say it will eventually rival the South Bank.

Here are some tips about the area from our fans on greentraveller's Facebook page:

'Destination of the month: St Pancras & Around'

Alexandra Flemming wrote:
"Head over to King's Place (just north of King's Cross station) for the best coffee and tranquil setting by the canal! Lovely also for lunch outside, as well as for their exhibitons and concerts"

Giorgia Negroni wrote:
"There's a tiny lovely café (Candid Arts Cafe) behind angel tube station, they also make life drawing classes for less than 10£ every day, no booking required... I'd love to join them someday ;) the café too is nice"

greentraveller
"A few favourite places... British Library - an oasis of calm, food is a bit pricey mind, but have great exhibitions.  Plus if you're looking for a green restaurant, Acorn House is a few minutes walk away"

Giorgia Negroni
"Definitely the British Library treasures collection deserves a visit!!! there are some amazing manuscripts to see for free..."

Simon Goldsmith
A short stroll away is this oasis of nature - beats shopping any day of the week! 

Anouk Van Den Eijnde
"Definite favourite is Pain Quotidien in St Pancras - love the breakfasts (bread basket with array of spreads including different types of chocolate). I actually went there the other day without having to catch a train..."