King’s Cross, Camden/Islington
A rapidly changing inner city district situated one mile east of Regent’s Park, and formerly called Battle Bridge
King’s Cross offers a photo opportunity for Harry Potter fans, who can pose in front of this sign
The modern name comes from a statue of George IV that was erected at the junction of Euston Road, Gray’s Inn Road and Pentonville Road in 1830. The statue was removed only 15 years later owing to its unpopularity with the local community. However, the name proved more resilient and was applied to the Great Northern line terminus when it opened in 1852, and subsequently to an expanding neighbourhood to the north and south, much of which was previously known as St Pancras.
For many years, King’s Cross has been one of central London’s poorest districts and its shops, hotels and homes have all reflected this. It has a high concentration of people living in short-term accommodation and its streets have been a gathering point for drug dealers and addicts, alcoholics, prostitutes and the homeless. The redevelopment of neighbouring St Pancras, combined with heavy policing and comprehensive use of CCTV, have reduced, but not eliminated, the more obvious manifestations of the area’s problems.
In one of the largest redevelopment schemes in London, a huge project is under way to the north of King’s Cross station. When completed it will include parks, squares and streets, and a new campus for Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design.
French poets Paul Verlaine and Arthur Rimbaud were living in King’s Cross in 1873. King’s Cross station hides two secrets: legend has it that Boudicca, queen of the Iceni, is buried beneath platform 11, while Harry Potter and his schoolmates board the Hogwarts Express at platform 9¾.
