Sam and I took a stroll along Regent’s Canal starting from Camden heading towards King’s Cross Station. It’s quite lovely and escapes the hustle and bustle of the streets. Passing Gasholder Park provides a perfect stop outside what were formerly gasometers built in the 1850s; the storage tanks have since been repurposed into housing and a recreational space.
Further down the canal you reach Granary Square, which has also been gentrified, and features delightful water fountains which are a blessed relief in summertime; families flock to the area and the kids splash around.
Leaving the waterway and heading south 500m brings you to King’s Cross and St Pancras Station, two of my favourite train stations in London. Inside King’s cross you will find the semi-circular vaulted concourse masterfully designed by John McAslan + Partners. In the northerly wing is the sought after Platform 9¾; I find it endlessly amusing seeing the snaking queue of people waiting for their two minutes on the trolley.
St Pancras holds multiple upright pianos for the public to use, one of which was donated by Sir Elton John. When you’re hurrying for a train or waiting on the mezzanine above you can always enjoy splendid tunes.
At the far-end of the Station under the Dent clock (the company founded by Edward John Dent whose stepson Frederick Dent completed the mechanism in the Elizabeth Tower, Big Ben) lies the statue The Meeting Place. The Meeting Place is a 9m/29.5ft bronze statue of an intimate couple produced by the world renowned sculptor Paul Day. It is also commonly known as 'The Lovers' statue and may be the first thing you see when stepping off of the Eurostar.