Guidebook for London
Food Scene
A trip to Paris on the Eurostar might be the best way to indulge yourself in a French café experience, but what’s the next best thing? A trip to King’s Cross for this endearing little café, a mere boule’s-throw from the Eurostar terminal. Aux Pains de Papy already has a loyal following of office workers seeking their daily bread and satisfying lunchtime sandwiches, but it’s also worth seeking out patisserie and boulangerie.
39 locals recommend
Aux Pains de Papy
279 Grays Inn RdA trip to Paris on the Eurostar might be the best way to indulge yourself in a French café experience, but what’s the next best thing? A trip to King’s Cross for this endearing little café, a mere boule’s-throw from the Eurostar terminal. Aux Pains de Papy already has a loyal following of office workers seeking their daily bread and satisfying lunchtime sandwiches, but it’s also worth seeking out patisserie and boulangerie.
The large, industrial-looking room lacks intimacy, but has a laid-back buzz and great people-watching opportunities. The ethos is the same in both branches: welcoming, efficient staff and a menu of what they call ‘well travelled food’.
186 locals recommend
Caravan King's Cross
1 Granary SquareThe large, industrial-looking room lacks intimacy, but has a laid-back buzz and great people-watching opportunities. The ethos is the same in both branches: welcoming, efficient staff and a menu of what they call ‘well travelled food’.
Creatively-decorated pub whose red-and-grey walls are covered with posters and quirky knick-knacks.
72 locals recommend
Hemingford Arms
158 Hemingford RdCreatively-decorated pub whose red-and-grey walls are covered with posters and quirky knick-knacks.
Mismatched tables line this bright eatery with outdoor seating for modern British brunch and dinner.
127 locals recommend
SUNDAY cafe & restaurant
169 Hemingford RdMismatched tables line this bright eatery with outdoor seating for modern British brunch and dinner.
Traditional Georgian dishes using ingredients like walnut, pomegranate grains and barberries.
15 locals recommend
Iberia Restaurant
294-296 Caledonian RdTraditional Georgian dishes using ingredients like walnut, pomegranate grains and barberries.
A family business serving Ethiopian dishes, injera bread and berbere spice paste, in exotic decor.
20 locals recommend
Kokeb
45 Roman WayA family business serving Ethiopian dishes, injera bread and berbere spice paste, in exotic decor.
Drinks & Nightlife
Slickly-designed, minimalist Modern British gastropub with big windows & a canal-side al fresco bar.
45 locals recommend
The Lighterman
3 Granary SquareSlickly-designed, minimalist Modern British gastropub with big windows & a canal-side al fresco bar.
Tucked away in a courtyard accessible via an alley at the foot of Pentonville Road, this rustic, Andalucían-themed bar is dedicated to sherry.
13 locals recommend
Bar Pepito
3 Pentonville RdTucked away in a courtyard accessible via an alley at the foot of Pentonville Road, this rustic, Andalucían-themed bar is dedicated to sherry.
Sightseeing
Filled with choreographed fountains (1,080 water spouts, operating 8am-8pm daily, and lit in many colours at night), the square’s terracing down to the canal is populated most sunny days. No wonder: there’s a ready supply of students from Central Saint Martins, which in 2011 moved into the building behind- a sensitively and impressively converted, Grade II-listed 1850s industrial building. The square is also home to the House of Illustration – a gallery an education space dedicated to promoting and celebrating illustration.
164 locals recommend
Granary Square
1 Granary SquareFilled with choreographed fountains (1,080 water spouts, operating 8am-8pm daily, and lit in many colours at night), the square’s terracing down to the canal is populated most sunny days. No wonder: there’s a ready supply of students from Central Saint Martins, which in 2011 moved into the building behind- a sensitively and impressively converted, Grade II-listed 1850s industrial building. The square is also home to the House of Illustration – a gallery an education space dedicated to promoting and celebrating illustration.
Arts & Culture
Sir Henry Wellcome, a pioneering 19th-century pharmacist, amassed a vast and idiosyncratic collection of implements and curios relating to the medical trade, now displayed here. In addition to these fascinating and often grisly items-ivory carvings of pregnant women, used guillotine blades, Napoleon’s toothbrush- there are several serious works of modern art, most on display in a smaller room to one side of the main chamber of curiosities. The temporary exhibitions are often brilliant and come with all manner of associated events, from talks to walks.
122 locals recommend
Wellcome Collection
183 Euston RdSir Henry Wellcome, a pioneering 19th-century pharmacist, amassed a vast and idiosyncratic collection of implements and curios relating to the medical trade, now displayed here. In addition to these fascinating and often grisly items-ivory carvings of pregnant women, used guillotine blades, Napoleon’s toothbrush- there are several serious works of modern art, most on display in a smaller room to one side of the main chamber of curiosities. The temporary exhibitions are often brilliant and come with all manner of associated events, from talks to walks.
The people, vessels, trade and wildlife of the capital’s canals are explored in the London Canal Museum. The museum is housed in a former nineteenth-century ice warehouse, used by Carlo Gatti for his ice cream, and includes an exhibit on the little-known trade in ice imported from Norway and once stored in two huge wells beneath the museum. This is perhaps the most interesting part of the London Canal Museum; the collection looking at the history of the waterways and those who worked in them is rather sparse by comparison. The canalside walk from here to Camden Town is most enjoyable too.
80 locals recommend
London Canal Museum
12/13 New Wharf RdThe people, vessels, trade and wildlife of the capital’s canals are explored in the London Canal Museum. The museum is housed in a former nineteenth-century ice warehouse, used by Carlo Gatti for his ice cream, and includes an exhibit on the little-known trade in ice imported from Norway and once stored in two huge wells beneath the museum. This is perhaps the most interesting part of the London Canal Museum; the collection looking at the history of the waterways and those who worked in them is rather sparse by comparison. The canalside walk from here to Camden Town is most enjoyable too.
A copy of every publication produced in the UK and Ireland is sent to The British Library – an institute that has amassed a collection of more than 150 million items and adds some 3 million new items each year. The public can apply for access to the reading rooms, or simply explore the permanent and temporary exhibits in the John Ritblat Gallery. Here, some of the most famous written and printed items in the world are displayed, and you might see the Lindisfarne Gospels, Shakespeare’s first Folio, Handel’s Messiah, the Gutenberg Bible, drafts of the Magna Carta and the Beatles’ manuscripts.
430 locals recommend
The British Library
96 Euston RdA copy of every publication produced in the UK and Ireland is sent to The British Library – an institute that has amassed a collection of more than 150 million items and adds some 3 million new items each year. The public can apply for access to the reading rooms, or simply explore the permanent and temporary exhibits in the John Ritblat Gallery. Here, some of the most famous written and printed items in the world are displayed, and you might see the Lindisfarne Gospels, Shakespeare’s first Folio, Handel’s Messiah, the Gutenberg Bible, drafts of the Magna Carta and the Beatles’ manuscripts.
Getting Around
King's Cross
Essentials
Harvey's Off licence London
295 Caledonian RdThe Co-Operative Food
159 Great Dover St