Ahh, summer. It’s officially upon us in the Big Smoke, and we’re all on the lookout for spots to eat, drink and be merry. Well, how about somewhere that’s not only central as hell, but has all the delights in one place, for free? You heard us. Just five minutes from King’s Cross station, there’s an oasis by Regents Canal. Think grassy chilling spots, sculptures, and the famous Granary Square fountains. All hidden away from the traffic and noise of central London. Here’s five reasons to hit up King’s Cross this summer.
Summer’s great and all, but not so much for film-lovers. Cinemas are a little dark. Sweaty. Well King's Cross has the answer, linking up with the Everyman Cinema to show a whole host of fantastic films on the big screen right on the canal until August 7. Watch the magic from the Lollypop Lounge, sprawled out on bean bags or pitched up with a beer on the grassy steps, watching the likes of Grease, La La Land, and The Devil Wears Prada.
When it comes to food and drink, King’s Cross has it all. And it’s al fresco, baby. For amazing Middle Eastern fare, you can't go past Coal Office. Feeling moreish for Mexican? Mezcal and beer-battered fish tacos at Plaza Pastor should do the trick. Or if it’s the weekend, head to Lower Stable Street Market or Canopy Market for sizzling hot street food vendors.
Don’t ditch the sun for a stuffy gallery. Sit right in the thick of it beneath Sheila Hicks’ multicolour ‘Woven Wonders’ installation, or head to Lewis Cubitt Park to see Eva Rothschild’s 16-metre tall sprawling sculpture. Wander through The Outside Art Project (one of the biggest of its kind in London), spot artworks on benches from the Photographers’ Gallery or wait till the sun goes down to witness Jacques Rival’s 9-metre high neon IFO (Identified Flying Object) at Battle Bridge Place.
Another thing we love about summer: festivals. And in August this year, King’s Cross will host the Summer Sounds Music Festival at Coal Drops Yard, an open air fest full of the very best of jazz, folk and classical tunes. The 12-day festival will run from August 10-21, and feature the likes of the London Community Gospel Choir and Paco Peña and Friends. Oh, and did we mention it’s free? For something a bit more mind-bending, head to Lewis Cubitt Square from August 10-18 for ‘Future Cargo’: a large-scale outdoor dance spectacle (£15) performed in a 40-foot truck which becomes an alien machine, home to extraterrestrial beings.
Enough with the indulgence, we hear you say? Well, it’s not over yet. Naturally, after singing your heart out to Mamma Mia on a bean bag, it’s time for some shopping – but not the sweaty Oxford Circus kind. At Coal Drops Yard you can dip into independent boutiques, try on jewellery at Maya Magal, or discover the UK’s brightest up and coming designers at the monthly Drops Market. Then finish it off with a non-optional iced coffee in Granary Square. Blissful.