Stay in a renovated Victorian hotel
two free drinks
A mere decade ago, London’s King’s Cross was an area visitors and locals alike would quickly scurry through on their way elsewhere. Now, it’s one of the capital’s most pleasant districts. At the heart of its regeneration is the magnificently restored St Pancras Renaissance Hotel. The cantilevered stone staircases, Gothic windows and immense corridors (wide enough so that Victorian ladies in vast dresses could pass one another without brushing) of the original Midland Grand hotel remain, and are joined by hand-stencilled wallpaper, marble bathrooms, ridiculously comfy beds, and displays of modern artwork. The restaurant, in the former railway booking office, is a fine place for classic British food, of the likes of Welsh lamb and cod and chips. Beyond the hotel, be sure to explore the newly monickered ‘King’s Cross Central’ – squares and warehouses now home to restaurants and museums. Of special interest is the King’s Cross Pond Club, a natural swimming pool opened in June.