London Station code KGX
London King's Cross
London King's Cross: LNER's London terminus, with the British Library, canal-side Coal Drops Yard and Bloomsbury museums all within walking distance.
- LNER's London terminus
- 10 LNER routes
- 6 things to do
Lewis Cubitt's 1852 frontage, revealed again when the 1970s extension was cleared away and King's Cross Square opened in 2013Photo: Hassocks5489, CC0
About London King's Cross
King's Cross is where every LNER journey to Yorkshire, the North East and Scotland begins. The Great Northern Railway opened the station in 1852 on the northern edge of central London, and in 1923 it passed to the original London and North Eastern Railway, the company that introduced the Flying Scotsman service and the record-breaking locomotive Mallard.
The area around the station has changed almost beyond recognition since the 1990s. Former railway land to the north has been rebuilt into a busy quarter of shops, restaurants and public squares beside the Regent's Canal, while St Pancras International, with its Victorian Gothic frontage, stands just across Pancras Road.
Arriving early for a train, or starting a trip to London from the north? There is plenty within a short walk: the national library, free museums on Euston Road, a canal museum in an old ice warehouse and a small nature reserve on the canal bank.
Journey
KGX- Station
- LNER's London terminus
- LNER routes starting here
- 10
| Route | Previous stop | Next stop |
|---|---|---|
| London – Edinburgh stop 1 of 18 | Start of route | Stevenage |
| London – Leeds stop 1 of 9 | Start of route | Stevenage |
| London – Bradford Forster Square stop 1 of 8 | Start of route | Stevenage |
| London – Harrogate stop 1 of 9 | Start of route | Stevenage |
| London – Skipton stop 1 of 11 | Start of route | Peterborough |
| London – Lincoln stop 1 of 5 | Start of route | Peterborough |
| London – Hull stop 1 of 9 | Start of route | Peterborough |
| London – Middlesbrough stop 1 of 7 | Start of route | Peterborough |
| London – Aberdeen stop 1 of 26 | Start of route | Stevenage |
| London – Inverness stop 1 of 24 | Start of route | Peterborough |
May–December 2026 timetable · not every train calls at every station
King's Cross is the London terminus for all LNER services. As of September 2026, contactless and Oyster pay-as-you-go are not valid on any LNER train, so buy a ticket before you board.
Journey times are from LNER's May–December 2026 timetable and vary by train. Check yours with LNER timetables or the National Rail journey planner.
Key facts
- Opened
- 14 October 1852 (Great Northern Railway)
- Architect
- Lewis Cubitt (1852 station); John McAslan (western concourse, 2012)
- Heritage status
- Grade I listed
- Platforms
- 11
- Managed by
- Network Rail
- Passengers a year
- 27.7 million (April 2024 – March 2025) Source: orr.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)
Did you know?
- When it opened in 1852 King's Cross was the largest station in England, and Historic England calls it the earliest great London terminus still intact.
- The first train-shed roofs were made of laminated timber. They decayed quickly and were replaced by the iron-ribbed roofs you see today, over the eastern shed in 1869–70 and the western one in 1886–87.
- The Harry Potter films dressed the brick arches between platforms 4 and 5 as the Platform 9¾ wall; the real platforms 9 and 10 are in a separate building.
Photos of London King's Cross
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Lewis Cubitt's 1852 frontage, revealed again when the 1970s extension was cleared away and King's Cross Square opened in 2013 Photo: Hassocks5489, CC0 -
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The western departures concourse, opened in March 2012, sits behind the Great Northern Hotel Photo: Alan Stanton, CC BY-SA 2.0 -
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An LNER Azuma under the restored train-shed roof Photo: Peter Trimming, CC BY-SA 2.0
Arriving at London King's Cross
Trains arrive beneath the twin arched train sheds. Head for the buffer-stop end: the main exit leads out through King's Cross Square to Euston Road, while the western concourse, with the ticket office, shops and cafés, has lifts and stairs down to King's Cross St Pancras Underground station. St Pancras International is directly across Pancras Road, where you will also find the taxi rank.
The station stands at the eastern end of Euston Road in the London Borough of Camden, on the northern fringe of central London. St Pancras International is immediately to the west across Pancras Road, and King's Cross St Pancras Underground station lies beneath both.
Getting around
King's Cross St Pancras Underground station serves six lines: Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria. Several London bus routes, including the 30, 59, 73, 91, 205, 390 and 476, pass the front or side of the station. The British Library, Coal Drops Yard and the canal are all an easy walk.
Other train services and connections
- Great Northern (suburban and regional services to Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk)
- Hull Trains
- Grand Central
- Lumo
- London Underground at King's Cross St Pancras (Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria lines)
- St Pancras International next door: Eurostar, Thameslink, East Midlands Railway and Southeastern high-speed services
Station facilities
- Step-free accessStep-free to all platforms (category A), with lifts to the mezzanine and the Underground ticket hall
- Ticket officeMain concourse, opposite the shops: Mon–Sat 06:00–22:00, Sun 07:45–22:00
- Ticket machinesOn the main concourse and in the corridor leading to it
- ToiletsNext to platform 9, and on the mezzanine level
- Accessible toiletsYes, including a Changing Places toilet off the south concourse
- Baby changingOn the ground-floor south concourse and the mezzanine
- Waiting areasA family lounge and the Elphick Room mobility assistance lounge off the main concourse
- LNER First Class LoungeOn the mezzanine (lift beneath the departure boards, or escalator near the information point): Mon–Fri 07:00–21:25, Sat 08:00–20:15, Sun 09:00–20:15
- Wi-FiPublic Wi-Fi available
- Food and drinkCafés, bars, restaurants and kiosks on the concourses
- ShopsGroceries, pharmacy, clothes, stationery, flowers, phones and more
- Cash machinesOn the main concourse; bureau de change available
- Left luggageAvailable; National Rail lists hours of 07:00–23:00 on weekdays
- Car park322 spaces, operated by CP Plus, plus 3 accessible short-stay bays on Pancras Road
- Cycle storage204 sheltered stands with CCTV, by platforms 1, 8 and 9
- Taxi rankPancras Road, on the same side as the station (partly covered)
- BusesStops on Euston Road, Goods Way and York Way
- Help pointsOn the platforms and at the taxi rank; information point in the centre of the main concourse
- StaffingStaff on hand Mon–Fri 05:00–01:36, Sat 05:00–00:36, Sun 05:30–01:36
- LiftsTo the footbridges serving platforms 0–8, the mezzanine and the Underground ticket hall
Checked September 2026. Facilities and opening hours change — see the National Rail Enquiries station page (opens in a new tab) for the latest details.
History of the station
The Great Northern Railway reached London in 1850 and at first used a temporary station by Maiden Lane, now York Way. Its permanent terminus opened on 14 October 1852 on the site of a smallpox hospital, taking its name from a short-lived monument to George IV that had stood nearby. Lewis Cubitt's design was deliberately plain: a yellow-brick screen of two huge arches and a clock tower that mirrors the two train sheds behind it, one originally for arrivals and one for departures.
After the 1923 Grouping King's Cross became the London terminus of the original London and North Eastern Railway, whose Gresley Pacifics, Mallard among them, hauled the expresses north. British Rail's 1972 single-storey concourse, meant to be temporary, hid the frontage for 40 years. Network Rail's restoration reglazed the roof, opened the semicircular western concourse in March 2012 and replaced the 1970s building with King's Cross Square in 2013. Track remodelling finished in 2021 reopened a third tunnel on the approach and left the station with eleven platforms.
A day around King's Cross
Books, canals and free museums, all within walking distance of the platforms.
-
Morning
Treasures at the British Library
Start next door to St Pancras at the national library, where the Treasures Gallery is free to visit.
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Late morning
Along the canal
Walk up to the Regent's Canal for Camley Street Natural Park, then cross to the shops of Coal Drops Yard.
-
Lunch
Lunch on Stable Street
Dishoom's King's Cross café occupies a former Victorian railway transit shed, about 10 minutes' walk from the station.
-
Afternoon
Canal history
Follow the story of London's waterways at the London Canal Museum, in a building put up for the ice trade. It opens Tuesday to Sunday.
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Evening
A pint by platform 9
Finish at The Parcel Yard inside the station before your train north.
Things to do near London King's Cross
British Library
The UK's national library sits next to St Pancras on Euston Road. Its Treasures Gallery, showing some of the most remarkable items in the collection, is free to visit, and paid exhibitions run alongside it.
Coal Drops Yard
A shopping and dining quarter designed by Thomas Heatherwick on the site of the old railway coal drops, opened in 2018. More than 45 shops sit alongside cafés, bars and restaurants with year-round terraces.
London Canal Museum
A small museum telling the story of London's canals, housed in a building put up for the ice trade and with its own wharf basin. It opens Tuesday to Sunday and on bank holiday Mondays.
Camley Street Natural Park
A pocket-sized nature reserve on the bank of the Regent's Canal, run by the London Wildlife Trust on land that once served the railway's coal drops. It first opened in 1985 and reopened in 2021 after rebuilding.
Wellcome Collection
A free museum and library at 183 Euston Road exploring health, medicine and the human body through historic objects and contemporary art. Its permanent and temporary exhibitions are free to enter.
British Museum
Two million years of human history across more than 50 galleries in Bloomsbury, with free general admission. Booking a free timed ticket in advance is recommended for busy periods.
Distances are approximate. Opening times and prices change — check the official website before you go.
Eat & drink near the station
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Pub
The Parcel Yard
A Fuller's pub spread over two floors inside the Grade I listed station, serving breakfast, pub classics and cask and craft beers.
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Restaurant
Dishoom King's Cross
A Bombay-style café in a former Victorian railway transit shed, open from breakfast. It is mostly walk-in, with daytime bookings and evening bookings for groups of six or more.
Day trips from London King's Cross
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York
The minster, medieval walls and the National Railway Museum, all a short walk from the station.
LNER's fastest trains take about 1 hour 45 minutes (May–December 2026 timetable).
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Peterborough
A Norman cathedral with the tomb of Katharine of Aragon, a short walk from the station.
The fastest LNER trains take about 45 minutes (May–December 2026 timetable).
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Lincoln
A hilltop cathedral and a castle holding one of the four surviving 1215 Magna Cartas.
About seven direct LNER trains a day on weekdays; the fastest takes 1 hour 46 minutes (May–December 2026 timetable).
Where to stay in London King's Cross
There is a wide choice of hotels in King's Cross and around St Pancras, which suits anyone catching an early train north. Compare options and prices with the search link.
Tips for your visit
- Pay-as-you-go contactless and Oyster cards are not accepted on LNER trains, even though they work on the Underground below the station.
- St Pancras International is directly across Pancras Road, handy for Eurostar, Thameslink and East Midlands Railway connections.
- The British Library's St Pancras building occasionally closes for maintenance, so check its visitor page before planning a visit.
Questions about London King's Cross station
Is King's Cross step-free?
Yes. National Rail lists King's Cross as step-free category A, with step-free access to all platforms and lifts to the mezzanine and the Underground ticket hall.
Where is the LNER First Class Lounge at King's Cross?
On the mezzanine level, reached by the lift beneath the departure boards or the escalator near the information point. National Rail lists opening hours of 07:00–21:25 on weekdays, 08:00–20:15 on Saturdays and 09:00–20:15 on Sundays.
Can I leave luggage at King's Cross?
Yes, there is a left-luggage service. National Rail lists weekday hours of 07:00–23:00, so check before you travel at the weekend.
How do I get from King's Cross to St Pancras International?
St Pancras is directly across Pancras Road, a couple of minutes on foot, and King's Cross St Pancras Underground station lies beneath both.
Can I use contactless or Oyster on LNER trains from King's Cross?
No. As of September 2026 pay-as-you-go contactless and Oyster are not valid on LNER trains, even though they work on the Underground below the station. Buy a ticket before you board.
Is there parking at King's Cross?
The station car park has 322 spaces and is operated by CP Plus. There are also three accessible short-stay bays on Pancras Road near the taxi drop-off.
Sources we checked (September 2026)
We researched this page using the sources below. They are listed for transparency and are not links; always check official websites for the latest details.
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King%27s_Cross_railway_station
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Pancras_railway_station
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King%27s_Cross_St_Pancras_tube_station
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King%27s_Cross,_London
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal_Drops_Yard
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camley_Street_Natural_Park
- bl.uk/visit/
- wellcomecollection.org/visit-us
- canalmuseum.org.uk/visit/
- wildlondon.org.uk/nature-reserves/camley-street-natural-park
- kingscross.co.uk/coal-drops-yard
- britishmuseum.org/visit
- lner.co.uk/tickets/
- routing.openstreetmap.de/
- nationalrail.co.uk/stations/kgx/
- historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1078328
- dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/usage/estimates-of-station-usage
- parcelyard.co.uk/
- dishoom.com/kings-cross/
Travelling to London King's Cross?
Check live times and fares with LNER, or compare prices on Trip.com. Book early for the best chance of a cheaper Advance fare.