Coal Drops Yard, London
Coal Drops Yard is a shopping and leisure district located in the King's Cross district of London. It is a modern redevelopment of historical industrial buildings that were originally used for storing and transferring coal during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The site was redesigned by the British architectural firm Heatherwick Studio, led by Thomas Heatherwick, and opened to the public in October 2018.
History
Coal Drops Yard was constructed in the mid-19th century as part of the goods yard of King's Cross railway station. The area was designed to receive, store, and transfer coal from incoming trains from the collieries of towns in South Yorkshire such as Sheffield to horse-drawn carts and, later, motor vehicles for further distribution throughout the city. The coal was a vital energy source for heating and industry during this period.
As the use of coal for heating and industry declined and rail transportation shifted away from coal, the importance of Coal Drops Yard waned. By the mid-20th century, the site had fallen into disuse and disrepair.
In the 1990s some of the buildings were used for the party and rave scene of the time. The Fabric, The Cross and The Key (later Canvas) were all popular venues of the time. Canvas eventually closed in 2008.
In the early 21st century, plans to redevelop the King's Cross area as a whole began, with a focus on preserving and repurposing historic structures. The architectural firm Heatherwick Studio, led by Thomas Heatherwick (a graduate of the Royal College of Art Battersea) and with its offices in King's Cross, was selected to lead the transformation of Coal Drops Yard into a modern retail and leisure district. Heatherwick's other work in London includes the new Routemaster bus, the Olympic Cauldron, the Rolling Bridge in Paddington Basin and the new Google HQ, also in King's Cross.
The architect is not without his critics. The new Google 'landscraper' is longer (330 meters) than the Shard is tall (310 meters) and was lambasted in The Guardian newspaper. His B of the Bang sculpture outside the City of Manchester (now Etihad) Stadium ended up being sold for scrap after technical difficulties.
Architecture
The original buildings consist of two long, parallel sheds built in 1851 and 1860 with arched roofs and extensive cast-ironwork, which allowed coal to be unloaded from the rail cars above and then dropped into chutes for loading onto carts below.
The redevelopment project aimed to preserve the historical character of the coal drops and warehouses while adding a contemporary twist. The buildings' distinctive Victorian brickwork has been retained, and the area now features striking, futuristic roofs made of steel and glass. The two roofs have been extended towards each other until they meet. The design aims to combine the old and the new in a visually appealing manner.
The development includes open public spaces and courtyards, making it an attractive place for visitors to stroll, relax, and enjoy the surroundings. There are also spaces for hosting events and cultural activities.
Central St Martins school of art and design is at 1 Granary Square where it moved in 2011.
Shopping & Dining
Coal Drops Yard is home to a range of high-end and boutique shops, including fashion retailers, home decor stores, and art galleries. It also offers a variety of dining options, from fine dining to casual eateries and cafes, serving a diverse range of cuisines. Altogether there are 50 shops, cafés, bars and restaurants at the site including brands such as Cubbitts, Paul Smith, Nike and Samsung.
Other stores include a branch of Waitrose supermarket, a Rains store selling Scandinavian waterproofs and Kartel watches.
Stable Street, Pancras Square and the Gasholders host a variety of eateries offering Indian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mexican, Middle Eastern, Spanish and Sri Lankan cuisine among choices.
Entertainment
Coal Drops Yard hosts various cultural events, including exhibitions, pop-up shops, workshops, and performances.
There's a stage in King's Place for outdoor performances featuring music and dance. Notable bars and clubs include the Supermax cocktail bar Lafayette, a 600-capacity live music venue.
There are two museums in the area. Queer Britain is the UK's first museum dedicated to British LGBTQ history and culture. Housed in a former warehouse is the London Canal Museum. It showcases the history of London's canals, with a Victorian well used to store imported ice.
For kids, the favorite is the 1,080 water jets of Granary Yard fountains that transforms the space into an 'urban beach'.
Green Spaces
Camley Street Natural Park and Gasholder Park are two areas of green space in the area. On the banks of Regent's Canal, Camley Street Natural Park (created in 1984) has two acres of woodland, grassland and wetland on a former Coal Yard. Gasholder Park is a pocket-sized area of lawn with a reconstructed cast iron frame of a gas holder for ornamentation.
Hotels near the Coal Drops Yard
There are many places to stay in the King's Cross district to suit all budgets. Close to several of London's attractions, including The British Library and Regent's Park, visitors have a wide choice of accommodation.
Here are some of the very best hotels near the Coal Drops Yard. The St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel London with five stars, The Standard London also five stars, and the Pullman London St Pancras. The three-star Kings Cross Inn Hotel is also close to the station.
More budget accommodation options near King's Cross can be found here.
Access - Getting There
King's Cross Visitor Centre
11 Stable Street
London
N1C 4AB
Tel: 020 3479 1795
www: kingscross.co.uk
St Pancras, King's Cross Station and Euston are the nearest mainline stations. St Pancras and King's Cross share a tube station (King's Cross St. Pancras on the Northern, Piccadilly, Victoria, Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines). Other tube stations within walking distance are both Euston and Euston Square.
Buses that call at St Pancras and King's Cross stations include the 30, 46, 63 (N63), 73 (N73), 91 (N91), 168 (discontinued in 2023), 205 (N205), 214 and 390.
The number 30 London bus runs from the Portman Street / Selfridges stop to Hackney Wick via Baker Street Station, Euston Station, Highbury Corner and Hackney Central. The 46 runs from Paddington Station to St Bartholomew's Hospital via Swiss Cottage and Kentish Town. The 63 connects Peckham Rye and King's Cross via Blackfriars Station, Farringdon Station and Clerkenwell Road. The 73 bus runs from Tottenham Court Road to Stoke Newington. The 91 bus links Crouch End with Trafalgar Square via Caledonian Road and Russell Square. The 205 London bus runs from Paddington Station to Bow Church on the DLR. The 214 runs from Highgate to Finsbury Square via Camden Town, Angel and Old Street. The 390 bus runs from Archway to Victoria via Euston Square tube station, Tottenham Court Road and Hyde Park Corner.
There are Santander bicycle docking stations on Argyle Street, Birkenhead Street, Cromer Street, Northdown Street, and St Chad's Street.
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