King's Cross St. Pancras — Local services in London

King's Cross Station – A Modern London Hub with Historic Charm King's Cross Station has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years, evolving from a somewhat gritty Victorian terminal into a vibrant, modern transport hub that skillfully blends its rich history with contemporary conveniences. It's a fantastic gateway to Northern England and Scotland, and a surprisingly pleasant place to spend time. Architectural Elegance & Modernity: The most striking aspect of King's Cross is the juxtaposition of its original 1852 Lewis Cubitt-designed train sheds with the stunning, undulating Western Concourse, opened in 2012. The grand, arched facades of the original station are beautifully preserved, hinting at its past as one of Britain's largest and most functional railway stations. The new Western Concourse, however, is a marvel of modern engineering – a vast, light-filled space that provides ample room for crowds and a soaring sense of arrival. The combination is both aesthetically pleasing and highly practical. Connectivity: King's Cross is a vital artery for rail travel, serving as the London terminus for the East Coast Main Line, connecting passengers to destinations like York, Newcastle, and Edinburgh. Its immediate proximity and direct links to St. Pancras International (for Eurostar) and the extensive King's Cross St. Pancras Underground complex (with multiple lines including Piccadilly, Victoria, Northern, Circle, Hammersmith & City, and Metropolitan) make it incredibly well-connected for both domestic and international journeys, as well as onward travel within London. Facilities for Travelers: King's Cross excels in providing a comprehensive range of facilities, making it a comfortable place for travelers: Retail & Dining: The station boasts an impressive selection of shops and eateries. From grab-and-go options like Pret A Manger and Wasabi to sit-down restaurants and pubs (The Parcel Yard is a particular highlight, housed in the old parcel office), there's something to suit every taste and budget. You can find everything from fashion and books to toiletries at Boots and a wide range of groceries at Waitrose or M&S. Restrooms & Baby Change: Public toilets are available, including accessible facilities and baby changing, and are generally well-maintained. Showers: Importantly for those needing to refresh, King's Cross does offer showers, located by the entrance to platforms 9-10. These are available for a small fee (£5, paid at the Excess Baggage Company) and include soap, which is a fantastic amenity for long-distance travelers or those with a layover. Lounges: LNER operates a First Class Lounge with complimentary refreshments and Wi-Fi, offering a quieter space for eligible passengers. Harry Potter Magic: For fans of the wizarding world, the famous Platform 9¾ photo opportunity (complete with a trolley disappearing into the wall) and the extensive Harry Potter Shop nearby are major attractions. Even if you're not a die-hard fan, it adds a touch of whimsical fun to the station. Accessibility: The station is highly accessible, with step-free access to all platforms, lifts, and accessible toilets, making it easy to navigate for those with mobility challenges. Overall Impression: King's Cross Station has successfully navigated its journey into the 21st century. It's clean, efficient, and well-equipped, providing a pleasant and functional environment for the millions of passengers who pass through it. The blend of historic charm and modern amenities, coupled with its excellent connectivity and thoughtful facilities (including those coveted showers!), makes it one of London's finest...

My experience in London Kings cross underground this morning was nothing short of a nightmare. I had travelled to the quite impressive underground service upon entering from baldock hearts. My intention was to travel from there to Southend Victoria meaning I had to use the circle line from kings cross to Liverpool st.

Bearing in mind this could be a slight overcrowded line due to the time of day (8:30am) I was greeted with what could only be described as chaos. I have never been pushed and barged into by a counted 13 times. I had a small suitcase so you would think people could be slightly more considerate. However at this point I wasn't entirely blaming the underground service.

I arrived at the platform (roughly 5m back from the yellow line). Feeling as if this was the Second World War being marched and crushed towards a train, I was not in safe state physically or mentally. I eagerly anticipated every train that came in; Usually 5 minutes per service would be deemed acceptable but not if no one was coming of the packed half circled machines. I was edging or you could say carried closer towards the front where the moment came that I was really fighting for safety.

My case and I found are selves in a position of complete hell. This position was being crushed forwards and backwards from each sets of passengers of the train and on it. We all know to beware of the 'gap' between the train and the platform edge. Clearly that instruction was about as useful as eating soup with a fork. I used the word hell because if had taken a wrong step I would have fell down to the darkness beneath me. I called for help but there was no one on sight that I could see through the hundreds of people to assist this awful situation. The train wasn't moving and it all came to a stand still.

The ignorant utterly selfish animals pushing me on the train finally accepted the situation. It took a rather unselfish extreme act from someone else to really resolve this. The man in his 20s on the train pushed including me with all his strength and then the crush resisted. I eventually boarded the next train being crammed against a condensated window but the relive of being on it was something I've never felt before in my 18 years of life.

The passengers eventually let up leaving the train more than the proportion getting on it and I was on my way.

I'm writing to complain to kings cross underground specifically for two reasons

The lack of staff on site to help this horrible event The lack of trains running

I'm also wringing to the people of London regularly travelling on the tubes (specifically on this service) to please reduce the chance of this happening again. Use your inner kindness to help someone in the position I found myself in, never result in pushing forward and if you have to the job that other people are paid for do it and call for everyone to stop...

My experience in London Kings cross underground was bizzmal, Shocked the least to say. No cashiers on the station as it use to be?? only machines and the staff present at the station, they were so overwhelmed!!! They should work one week and have two weeks off to recuperate, what a shambles for a big station as KC?? Nightmare the leas I could say. was greeted with what could only be described as chaos, stuffy, smelly, no air, you will never be pushed and barged into more in your life than using the underground. Zone day travel cards don't exist any more??, thus we (me and my son 13 years) were tagged with a £19 for one day travel card, to only be used on the underground on zone 1-2-3, the prices are so expensive you need to seek help from your bank to go for a short weekend or holiday to London, 3 days in London cost £57 only for the travel cards. And as unbelievable as it is. the provided service (trains and the whole underground experience was very poor). However I am not blaming the underground service, it is deeper than that, it is all the rubbish of change management (changing our habits) applied by corrupt individuals that hammered our transport system and process's. It is simply from our Gov to High management who do not use the knowledgeable people to implement the good strategy on the rail system, this fact is implemented on our NHS, Borough Council's, Manufacturing, car industry, Supermarkets, nearly every industry ....etc even petrol stations) people lost and still loosing their jobs Main area to focus on the improve the underground: The lack of staff Human not machines on site to improve the state of the rail system and help customers The lack of trains running Re-introduce zone travel cards and revise your pricing to expensive (single for my friend and his daughter costed him £7.?? to kings cross from walthamstow (not sure how to spell the name of the station), kids should be free until...