At the bottom of this image is the walkway that leads off from the mezzanine level

London King's Cross (London)

This guide to taking trains from and to London King's Cross focuses on the less obvious aspects of arriving and departing from this station by train.

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Terminus Station
The beautifully restored station frontage The beautifully restored station frontage
The stunning arches which span platforms 0-8 The stunning arches which span platforms 0-8
The entrance to King's Cross from the square in front of the station on Euston Road The entrance to King's Cross from the square in front of the station on Euston Road
The Pancras Road entrance is opposite the main exit from St Pancras The Pancras Road entrance is opposite the main exit from St Pancras
Looking across the concourse, the access to platforms 0-8 from here is to the left of the street exit Looking across the concourse, the access to platforms 0-8 from here is to the left of the street exit
These main access points to the platforms are to the rear of the trains These main access points to the platforms are to the rear of the trains

King’s Cross and St Pancras stations share an Underground stop, served by more lines than any other, but they’re totally separate stations across the street from each other.

King’s Cross is in effect two stations in one.
(1) The LNER, Grand Central and Hull Trains all depart from and arrive at platforms (tracks) 0-8 in the main part of the station under its glorious arched roof, which dates from 1852.

(2) The trains operated by Lumo and Thameslink and Great Northern, which include the non-stop trains to Cambridge, primarily depart from platforms 9-11.
These are located in a separate part of station, which is to the left of the main concourse; though these trains can also depart from platforms 0-8.

(Although other Thameslink trains on these routes now depart from its part of St Pancras station, which is across the street named Pancras Road).

And yes King’s Cross has a platform/track 0. it’s best not to wonder why (it’s to do with the signalling).

What’s unusual about the welcome modernisation of the station, is that despite King’s Cross being a terminus station, the main concourse is located to one side of platforms (tracks) 0-8 and not in front of them.

Getting to King's Cross station

King's Cross railway station is located on the north-eastern edge of the central London area in a place where several major roads meet, so it's a constantly busy area, with the fact that St Pancras station is just across the street, adding yet more people and traffic to the mix.

The fact that two of London's busiest stations share a location is why the Underground station which serves them has more lines than any other.
Though if you take the Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria Lines to Kings Cross-St Pancras, you need to walk through fairly lengthy subways in order to access the mainline trains which leave from King's Cross.
For a stress-free onward departure allow at least five minutes to make the transfer when taking the Northern and Piccadilly lines; and up that to seven minutes when taking the Victoria line.

By Underground

If you take the Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan or Victoria* lines to King’s Cross there is only one obvious route to follow if you want to connect to the main station, just keep following the signs which say ‘To the trains’.
*The Victoria Line trains use a different part of the station to those other three lines.

The short cut from the Northern and Piccadilly lines

However, if you arrive at King's Cross by Northern or Piccadilly line, there are two routes that can be used to transfer to the mainline station; and what's good to know is that the less obvious route is shorter.

When you step off a Northern or Piccadilly train there will be signs on the wall of the platform (track); those saying ‘The trains’ will point in you in one direction.
While other signs, pointing in the opposite direction, are showing the way to the ‘Euston Road’ exit.
The trick when transferring to the mainline station is to ignore the signs pointing the way to 'the trains' and instead follow those signs pointing the way to ‘Euston Road’.
At the foot of the escalators, which will take you up to this Euston Road exit, there are other reassuring signs which also say to ‘The Trains’.

These escalators will lead up to an Underground ticket hall and from here, the access up to Kings Cross main station is just over to the right.
Follow the signs and you’ll then be in a passage way which leads under the concourse in the main station.
The first exit in this passage way will be over to the right, it will look as though it leads to the street, but it will take you up to a covered entrance which is right by the main concourse.

If you’ll be taking a Hull Trains, Grand Central, or LNER train and your train will be departing within the next 10 mins, then definitely use this exit; it will take you up by the access to platforms/tracks 0-8, which these trains leave from.

Taking the bus

If you can spare the time, taking a bus to King's Cross station can therefore make for an easier transfer to the trains, particularly if you take routes 17; 30; 73; 91; 205 and 390 on routes heading north away from central London.

These six routes all arrive at stops on the same block as King's Cross terminal, so you won't even have to cross the street in order to enter the station.
Routes 30, 73 and 205 use a stop in front of the station, while routes 17, 91 and 390 arrive at a stop right beside the station on York Way.

Departing by train:

The access to platforms (tracks) 9 - 11 The access to platforms (tracks) 9 - 11
The mezzanine level is on the left and its bridge to platforms 0-8 is bottom right The mezzanine level is on the left and its bridge to platforms 0-8 is bottom right
Escalators (and elevators) lead down from this bridge to the trains Escalators (and elevators) lead down from this bridge to the trains
A close up view over the bridge from the mezzanine, platforms 0-8 are through the arch A close up view over the bridge from the mezzanine, platforms 0-8 are through the arch

The visually stunning main concourse at King’s Cross station is home to the main departure board.
The specific number of the platform (track) that each train is leaving from will usually appear on the main departure board and on the other departure screens around the station, around 10 -20 mins ahead of the departure time.

Most of the Great Northern trains and the Lumo trains will depart from platforms (tracks) 9-11, and these are located off to the left hand side of the main concourse, on the other side of the walkway which bridges the station at an upper level.

The trains operated by LNER, Grand Central or Hull Trains will depart from platforms (tracks) 0-8, but there are two different routes in the station to these platforms.
Though no matter which route you take to the trains, you will have to pass through ticket gates, so have your ticket(s) to hand as you make your way to the train.

(1) You can wait, along with the majority of your fellow travellers, on the concourse at GROUND LEVEL; and when the specific platform is confirmed, you will need to head to the right of the departure board to access your train.

You'll be passing through an area at the front of the station and will be accessing each platform (track) by the rear of the trains.
On entering the platform, you will initially encounter the First class coaches of the trains, with the Standard class coaches further along.

(2) Or you can separate yourself from the crowd and head up to the mezzanine level in the station, which is where most of the food/drink outlets in the station are located.
But you don't need to be having something to eat or drink to use this mezzanine level, and this area is also located opposite the departure board, so it's a good location for keeping an eye on the train information.

From the main concourse, this mezzanine level can be accessed by escalator and lift (elevator).
On its far side an elevated walkway bridges the concourse and leads into the part of the station, which houses platforms 0 -8.

This route is a short-cut if you will be travelling 2nd/standard class on a LNER train.
Escalators and lifts connect the walkway to each platform (track) and when you descend, you will be closer to the standard class coaches, than if you had used the main access point at the ends of the platforms.

Train Departure Summary

When the typical train timetable is available, the usual pattern of train service from London King's Cross is:

  • 1 x Great Northern train per hour to Cambridge - Ely - King's Lynn
  • 1 x Great Northern train per hour to Cambridge - Ely
  • up to 7 x Hull Trains per day to Hull; some trains continue to Beverly
  • 1 x LNER train per day to Hull
  • 6 x LNER trains per day to Lincoln
  • 1 x LNER train on Mon to Fri to York - Middlesbrough
  • 2 x LNER trains per hour to Leeds; some trains continue to Harrogate, Bradford or Skipton
  • up to 6 x Grand Central trains per day to Halifax - Bradford
  • up to 6 x Grand Central trains per day to York - Thirsk -Hartlepool - Sunderland
  • up to 5 x Lumo trains per day to Newcastle - Edinburgh
  • 1 x LNER train per hour to York - Darlington - Durham - Newcastle - Edinburgh
  • 1 x LNER train per hour to York - Darlington - Newcastle - Berwick upon Tweed - Edinburgh and
  1. on to Kirkcaldy - Leuchars (for St Andrews) - Dundee - Aberdeen (3 x trains per day); or
  2. on to Stirling - Perth - Pitlochry - Aviemore - Inverness (1 x train per day); or
  3. on to Stirling (1 x train on Monday to Friday)
  4. on to Glasgow (1 x train not Saturdays)

not all station calls have been included in the summary

Further information is available on the journey guides.

Arriving by train

There is only one exit from each of the platforms (tracks) at King’s Cross, no matter which of them you have arrived at, you need to head towards the front of the train in order to leave the station.

Transferring to the Underground:

The closest access to the Underground from platforms 0-8 is just outside the front of the station The closest access to the Underground from platforms 0-8 is just outside the front of the station
When using that entrance to the Underground ignore this sign and go left for the Northern and Piccadilly lines When using that entrance to the Underground ignore this sign and go left for the Northern and Piccadilly lines

If your train has arrived at platforms/tracks 0-8, the first access point to the Underground which you will see is over to the left, just outside the station.

At the foot of this access point, there are signs which say go left for the Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan Line trains and right for the Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria Lines.
But trust us on this one, if you’ll be heading for the Northern and Piccadilly Lines, also go to the left and NOT to the right.
Just a few steps away is one of the ticket halls in the Underground station, and this ticket hall houses an escalator which leads directly down to the Northern and Piccadilly lines.
The alternative route to these two lines, which the signs are suggesting you follow, is at least 5 mins longer, as it will lead you through a more distant ticket hall.

But if you arrive at platforms 9 – 11 the closest access to the Underground will take you down to that alternative ticket hall.
From there you can just follow the signs pointing you in the direction of each respective line, as there aren't any short cuts available.

To St Pancras station:

This is the entrance which leads directly to Eurostar check-in This is the entrance which leads directly to Eurostar check-in
The entrance to Eurostar arrivals is on the right, across the street from the Great Northern Hotel The entrance to Eurostar arrivals is on the right, across the street from the Great Northern Hotel
The main entrance to St Pancras International as seen from the Panrcas Road exit at King's Cross The main entrance to St Pancras International as seen from the Panrcas Road exit at King's Cross

St Pancras station is only steps away from Kings’ Cross and the route is well signposted

If you will be heading to Eurostar departures and your train has arrived at platforms 0-8, then the steps to take are as follows:

(1) When you exit the from the end of the platform, turn to the right.
(2) Enter the main concourse at King’s Cross, but walk straight ahead and across it.
(3) Then turn to the right into a curving passage way and walk passed the entrance to the bar of the Great Northern Hotel, which will be over to the left.
(4) The passage way will open out to the street, the entrance to Eurostar departures will then be directly ahead, on the other side of this street (named Pancras Road)

However, if If you will be taking an East Midlands, Souteastern hi-speed or Thameslink train from St Pancras, then carry on walking down the passage way.
You’ll soon see the main street entrance on Pancras Road into St Pancras International, and from Kings Cross, this entrance has the easiest access to those non-Eurostar train services.

If you will be heading south towards Brighton or Gatwick Airport, then head for the Thameslink part of St Pancras station - it’s an easier and faster transfer than heading to London Bridge by the Northern Line and then making the connection there.
Once you enter St. Pancras, walk straight ahead of you, the main departure board will be on your left and then you’ll see the Thameslink entrance at the far end over to the right.

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King's Cross station to London Airports

Thameslink trains, which depart from within St, Pancras station, just across the street from King's Cross are direct to the stations which serve Gatwick Airport and Luton Airport.

The launch of the full service on the Elizabeth line has transformed the journey by train from King's Cross station to Heathrow Airport.
Four Elizabeth line trains per hour now call at the station which serves Terminal Two and Three, with two trains per hour continuing on to both Terminal Four and Terminal Five; the departure stations alternate.

Thameslink trains connect into these Elizabeth line trains at Farringdon station, where both lifts (elevators) and escalators are available for a step-free transfer.
The end-to-end journey time by train from King's Cross to Heathrow will be around 50min to 1hr 5min, depending on the time between trains at Farringdon station.

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This second version of ShowMeTheJourney is exciting and new, so we are genuinely thrilled that you are here and reading this, but we also need your help.

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