Spring and summer always brings a lovely reset – whether it’s switching up your wardrobe, or simply finding a new spot to enjoy the longer days in the city. And when it comes to soaking up the sunshine in style, Kings Cross is hard to beat. With its blend of buzzing al fresco dining, peaceful canal-side hangouts, cultural spots and standout shopping just five minutes walk from Kings Cross station, it’s the ultimate destination to spend a laid-back summer day.
Shopping
Home to both independent boutiques and well-loved signature brands, Kings Cross is a top tier retail therapy destination. For a wardrobe revamp, you’ll find & Other Stories, Cos, Beyond Retro, UNIQLO, and many more excellent stores are at your fingertips.
If bath and beauty products are what you’re after, Aesop and Space NK are great places to start. On the hunt for something pretty to brighten up your home? Browse the likes of Earl of East, Søstrene Grene, Botanical Boys Homewares, and more. You’ll also find an array of up and coming designer-makers at Lower Stable Street Market. Visit every Thursday-Sunday (and bank holiday Mondays) to explore B Corp certified food, drinks, homeware, clothing, art, and books.
Dining
Shopping followed by a delicious lunch is a pretty perfect summer day in Secret London’s books (extra points if you’re eating al fresco!). And King’s Cross has got so many options to choose from – whether you’re relaxing at a table on an outdoor terrace, or grabbing food to go and enjoying it with a waterside view on the Regents Canal steps.
For a sit down meal with friends, Spanish restaurant Parillan, or masters of Middle Eastern cuisine, Bubala, both offer gorgeous terraces where you can enjoy a leisurely lunch or sunset dinner. But you’ll also find a wealth of other incredible options, from Beer + Burger Store and Happy Face Pizza, to fresh pasta at Lina Stores and Sri Lankan cuisine from Hoppers. And if a summery tipple is in order, Babel Beerhouse, Vermuteria, and House of Cans can provide you with something tasty to sip.
Things to do
For the culture vultures, Lightroom Kings Cross hosts spectacular immersive exhibitions with state of the art digital projection and audio technology. You can keep your eye on what exciting new experiences will be added to the programme on their website, but currently on is: VOGUE: Inventing the Runway, David Hockney: Bigger & Closer (not smaller & farther away), and The Moonwalkers: A Journey with Tom Hanks, all showing until June 29.
When you’re not shopping, dining, and checking out exhibitions, you can kickstart your summer photo album with some pics in the Coal Drops Yard photobooth. What’s more, there’s tons more exciting activities arriving in Kings Cross this summer, including Electric Shuffle, opening in Lewis Cubitt Park on June 6, and Club Pétanque where you can enjoy a free game of boules from June 19. And of course, it wouldn’t be summer without the return of the famous Everyman Screen on the Canal on June 30, so you can enjoy the long summer days with al fresco movie viewings.