Things to Do in Kings Cross: A Complete Guide
Here's where to find the best things to do in Kings Cross, from comedians in the best comedy clubs in London to Five Guys and a certain famous wizard...
Back in the day, Kings Cross was the dodgy bit of London you tried not to make eye contact with. Think drugs, drinking and dark alleyways. Fast forward a decade and boom: transformation complete. A full glow up worthy of winning Drag Race UK. What was once all train tracks and sketchy characters is now a full-on playground of good vibes. Complete with riverside bars, top comedians, wizard-themed photo ops, indie bookstores, art galleries, and enough top-tier food options to keep your jeans under constant pressure - there are plenty of things to do in Kings Cross.
Whether you're killing time before a train, planning a chaotic night out, or you just want to find the coolest things to do in London without ending up in a tourist trap, Kings Cross has you covered. And guess what? The best thing you can do here isn’t just sit in a pub or visit a bookshop (although, yes, you’ll be doing that too).
Also, chances are your train is most definitely, almost without a doubt going to be delayed or cancelled, so you might as well find something to do with all that extra time.
Ready to beat the boredom in the north of London? You better be…
Stuff your face at the best food spots
It used to be an absolute hole around here, until a semi-recent revamp changed all that. Now? You’ll find the trendiest of eateries offering the tastiest of dishes while you wait for your train. Even if you’re not travelling anywhere, it’s worth a visit for the food offering alone.
Please, please don’t just settle for McDonald’s - there’s an absolute plethora of delicious choices instead of a soggy burger. Same goes for a sad little Pret a Manger sandwich eaten on a crusty old bench. Honestly, do you even want to enjoy your life?
And while Five Guys is always a reliable bet (double cheeseburger, all the toppings, don’t skip the Cajun fries), Kings Cross has upgraded its food game massively. Here’s what else is worth sinking your teeth into:
- Dishoom – Bombay comfort food that makes you want to cry tears of spicy joy. This well-known curry haven has gained a cult following. Don’t forget to ask for a key ring - it gives you the chance to roll the dice and earn your meal for free. That’s a Comedy Freaks top tip…
- Pizza Union – Fast, cheap, delicious. Like if Domino’s got a glow-up. Grab a San Pellegrino and dive head first into some melted cheese on top of a crispy crust
- KERB Stret Food Market – Loads of independent traders slinging everything from Korean fried chicken to vegan bao buns, you’ll be spoilt for choice, honestly
- Kimchee - Meat and veg you grill yourself at your own table? Bao buns and gyoza? Fresh kimchi? Served with a frosty beer or cocktail? Yes please, to all of the above
You’re not going hungry here — unless it’s by choice and you’re just here for the cocktails, which is absolutely fair.
Speaking of which…
Pub crawl or cocktail sippin’?
Kings Cross is stacked with pubs and bars, ranging from old-school boozers to shiny hipster taprooms.
- Spiritland - Café by day, bar by night, sound system by gods. Chill with a cocktail and peek into the audiobooth to see who’s recording the next hit podcast
- The Harrison - Start (or end) here. Great food, good beers, impeccable vibes. This is the best independent club in the area. And the funniest, so we’ve heard…
- The Scottish Stores - Stylish. Historic. Slightly haunted (allegedly). Come here for a spooky pint in a building dating back to 1901
- Electric Shuffle Kings Cross - Top-notch cocktails, food and interactive shuffleboard games, honestly what’s not to love?
- Betjeman Arms - Terrace? Check. Spectacular views of St. Pancras? Check. Excellent food? Check. Just good vibes all round
Basically, going for a pint is the best activity - simple, easy, no stress and just overall a 10/10 experience. Why would you do anything else? Apart from maybe…
Discover the wildest comedy club in London
No, we’re not lying, and we’re definitely not biased (okay maybe a little). Comedy Freaks is the absolute must-do in Kings Cross. This isn’t your ‘found this on a flyer and thought it looked decent’ comedy night, where you sit politely and chuckle at safe jokes about airline food. Oh no. Comedy Freaks is anarchy with a mic.
Held at two iconic venues - K.C. Continental Stores on Fridays and The Harrison on Saturdays - the vibe is part underground rave, part unfiltered stand-up, and part house party that spirals into an unfogetable time. It’s where the best comedians in London come to let loose, try new material, and absolutely roast the front row (you’ve been warned). Think you’re brave enough?
Expect TV pros, rising stars, diverse line ups, the best of London comedy and a crowd that’s actually up for it. Add in drink deals, banging playlists, and a rebellious streak longer than Euston Road, and you've got the best comedy show you’ll ever see. Don’t believe us? Come find out. You’ll leave buzzing.
🔥 Bonus tip: Shows sell out fast. Comedy show tickets are available online so you should consider getting them before they vanish like your dignity at 2am.
Do the Platform 9¾ photo
There’s always a massive queue just past the concourse at Kings Cross, because that’s where you can find a luggage trolley vanishing through a wall at platform 9¾. Not only that, but you’ll also catch a very unhappy-looking worker whose entire job is to hold a scarf to make it look like tourists are flying through the wall at speed.
Honestly? Don’t line up unless you’re a massive Potterhead. But it’s worth walking past just so you can see the look of dithering despair on the workers’ faces as you can see them questioning their life choices in real time.
There’s also a shop where you can buy wands for approximately one million pounds.
You might not see Daniel Radcliffe or the ginger one, but there's a chance you'll spot Gary Walsh, AKA Gary Potter. (especially if you come to Comedy Freaks, AKA the best comedy show in London).
Gary is our resident DJ/Comedian who once did a character based on the boy wizard, selling spells on a council estate. He also looks a bit like Harry Potter, so if that sounds like a magical night to you, check out his comedy.
Hide in the British Library and pretend to be intellectual
Want to add a touch of culture to your chaos? The British Library is just around the corner and totally worth a wander. It’s free to enter, and home to everything from Leonardo da Vinci notebooks to Beatles lyrics scrawled on napkins.
It’s also a great place to sit with a coffee and pretend you’re working on your novel. Or for trying to pick up a date by ‘reading’ an old copy of The Great Gatsby while wearing tiny glasses with no lenses in them.
Bonus: the air con is glorious in summer. Perfect for you warmer souls - London can be a little bit like hell in the summer.
Granary Square: People-watching, dog-spotting and fountains
Granary Square is where Londoners go when they’re tired of London, but still want to feel cool. Grab a drink at one of the riverside bars, find a step to sit on, and watch the world go by. Or, if you're feeling brave and it’s sunny, join the kids (and drunk adults) running through the splash fountains.
It’s vibey. It’s dog-friendly. It’s giving "main character energy." Plus, you’ll feel like you’re not actually in London anymore, which is nice, sometimes.
Pop into the Coal Drops Yard shops (and maybe buy nothing)
Once a Victorian coal depot, now a sleek shopping district full of boutiques you probably can’t afford but will definitely browse anyway.
Some of our absolute faves include:
- Rains – Raincoats that make you feel cooler than the weather. Perfect for the pretty awful British weather
- Kiosk N1C – A tiny shop with huge taste, independent sellers and thoughtful gifts
- Uniqlo - You know, where your ‘cool’ friend shops. Effortless style at (sort of) affordable prices
- Astrid & Miyu - Contemporary jewellery that’s innovative and exciting. Better than buying a bog-standard chain from Amazon
- Carhartt WIP - Come for the coffee shop, stay for the viral workwear jackets. Everyone in here is probably infinitely cooler than you are
- Aesop - The cult Australian skin, body and hair care brand guaranteed to make you feel fresh by using the finest botanical ingredients
Plus, there’s usually some kind of arty installation going on, because this is still London and we love pretending we understand modern sculpture.
Catch a film at Everyman Cinema
Sometimes you want a blockbuster, sometimes you want a weird indie Icelandic documentary with subtitles. Everyman Kings Cross has both — plus plush sofas, cocktails, and snacks delivered to your seat.
Feeling a little short on cash? Everyman on the Canal is your answer to a truly free event in Kings Cross. Catch free screenings next to the canal between June and August - from Wimbledon tennis to Grease to David Attenborough making you feel bad about not recycling with his lovely voice.
You’ll have to get there early, though. Seats aren’t reserved and it fills up fast, so clear your schedule, bring some snacks, a picnic blanket and a portable toilet (don’t do that last one) and binge some movies on the big screen.
Do absolutely nothing at Word on the Water
It’s a bookshop. On a barge. With fairy lights and jazz playing in the background. Word on the Water is basically Instagram in real life, and if you’re the type who likes to discover obscure poetry or just sniff old books, this is your happy place.
Known as a ‘bookbarge’, snap some pics of this magical, floating boat of fiction and convince everyone that you’ve read more than just slutty fairy novels.
Honourable mention: Actually catch a train
Okay, hear us out. Kings Cross and St Pancras are genuinely beautiful stations. One’s got the wizard stuff. The other’s got a Champagne bar longer than your last relationship. If you’ve got time, take a stroll and soak up the grandeur.
You could also actually catch a train somewhere else - Brighton is only an hour or so away, if you fancy a stroll on the beach. But why would you want to leave London? Huh?
Also, if you’re heading back up north, we’re sorry. Hope you had fun.
Kings Cross is COOL
Look, you could go anywhere in London. But if you want a night that goes from burgers to belly laughs to riverside drinks to accidentally buying an antique lamp from a pop-up gallery, Kings Cross delivers.
There’s something quite magical about spending some time somewhere that was once deemed a bit of a dive. Apparently, the regeneration cost around £3billion, so the least you can do is repay the money invested in the area by hanging out there, right?
It’s got the food. The magic. The drinks. The weirdness. Come for the comedians. Stay for the chaos. Leave with a slightly sore face and some excellent regrets.
Like this? You’ll like even more on our social media page - @comedyfreakslondon
In need of some more inspo? Comedy Freaks has got you. We're kinda the experts when it comes to what to do in London (not just pretty, funny faces, are we?).
Check out our other guides here:
The Ultimate Guide to After Work Activities in London
The Best Black Comedy Shows in London
