There are two types of people in this world.
Those who know London King's Cross train station, a popular transit hub north of the British Museum, and those who know the King's Cross station featured in the Harry Potter books and films.
We’ve got a guide for you both. Here’s everything you need to know about King's Cross train station in London, whether you’re a first-time passenger or a life-long Potterhead.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Matthias Rohrberg. Image Location: King's Cross station, London, UK
London King's Cross station for Muggles
Use this guide to make your first visit to King's Cross train station easy-peasy.
What’s inside King's Cross station?
King's Cross train station has most of the reliable railway retailers found in other UK stations. Between Greggs, Starbucks, and Pret A Manger, you can grab a fast meal to eat on the train. Oliver Bonas and Fat Face have you covered from head to toe in clothing while Boots, Kiehl’s, Postmark, Rituals, and WHSmith have everything else on deck.
We think a pint at The Parcel Yard is worth sliding into a seat in the train station’s ex-parcel office. Drop your bags at the luggage storage desk then either go to the LNER first-class lounge for peace and quiet or take your clan to the family lounge that has a play area for the little ones.
Where do trains from King's Cross station in London go?
Six train operators run the rails from King's Cross, taking you from London to dozens of Britain’s cities. Grand Central’s trains can go to Yorkshire, if you’ve eaten your meat and want some pudding. The Great Northern line runs to Cambridge while LUMO lines head all the way to Edinburgh.
A quick note about London King's Cross
“King's Cross station London UK” is pretty obvious to spot on your map, but there’s often a bit of confusion when you arrive in person. King's Cross station is directly beside St Pancras International, another major railway hub. They are two separate stations so make sure you follow the signs into King's Cross.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Matthias Rohrberg. Image Location: King's Cross station, London, UK
London King's Cross station for Witches and Wizards
Here’s everything you need to know about the same King's Cross station Harry Potter visited.
Alohomora: Unlocking what’s inside King's Cross station
It’s no Diagon Alley, but King's Cross station will get you set for Hogwarts. The Harry Potter Shop at Platform 9 ¾ has your wands, house scarves, and other wizarding merch. If you’re not signed up for Charms class, a stop at Pandora is the next best thing. Hotel Chocolat was short on chocolate frogs last we looked but plenty of cacao bars are left.
Speaking of food, Giraffe World Kitchen and LEON serve up takeaway eats faster than you can say accio lunch. Restrooms with showers are also available in King's Cross station, and we can confirm two things: there are no secret passageways to basilisk chambers and you cannot get to the Ministry of Magic by flushing yourself down the toilet.
Image Credit: Getty Images, AveryPhotography. Image Location: Platform 9 3/4, King's Cross station, London, UK
Where is Platform 9 ¾ at King's Cross station?
Let’s not be coy: we know why you’ve come to King's Cross and we’re here for it. Platform 9 ¾ is between Platforms 8 and 9. You’ll likely see the crowd queued up outside of the Harry Potter store before you see the luggage trolley sticking out of the wall.
How to get to the Hogwarts Express from King's Cross station
You’ve got your Hogwarts letter in the mail and you’ve been to Platform 9 ¾, but to board the Hogwarts Express, you need to take one more step. Walk from London King's Cross to the Kings Cross St Pancras Underground station, get off the tube at London Euston, then board the Caledonian Sleeper to Fort William. You’ll wake up in a Scottish town where you can ride the Jacobite Train, aka the Hogwarts Express.
Image Credit: Getty Images, petekarici. Image Location: King's Cross station, London, UK
A Howler about London King's Cross
*Open with caution*
LONDON KING'S CROSS AND LONDON ST PANCRAS ARE TWO NEIGHBORING YET COMPLETELY SEPARATE TRAIN STATIONS BUT KING'S CROSS ST PANCRAS UNDERGROUND IS A SINGLE SUBWAY STATION
These two railway stations serve different destinations and their shared single underground station serves six different subway lines. We know: it’s basically a Confundus Charm, but that’s the spell we’re dealt. Go ahead and scribble these notes on St Pancras International into your spellbook à la Half Blood Prince so you don’t head to the wrong platform.
Cross it off the list
Heading in or out of King's Cross train station in London? Download the Trainline app and let us help you get cheap tickets to Newcastle, Edinburgh, Cambridge, and more.
Header Image Credit: Getty Images, David Williams. Image Location: King's Cross station, London, UK