5 fab things to do with kids at King’s Cross London

ChikiJul 18, 2023

June 23, 2023

Do you ever find yourself shimmying to work at high speed with your eyes closed?

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Me too!

*Not literally, obviously!

But, you know… not really looking up and taking things in. That’s been me. For years I’ve been scuttling through King’s Cross station without a pause. And then one day, I discovered a whole heap of things to do with kids. I kick myself now for such a big miss. *And made up for it by doing a grown ups tour of the place which may or may not have involved a lot of food and beverages hehe!

But my point is, sometimes you have to slow down and open your eyes *I tell myself! Here are 5 fab things to do with kids at King’s Cross this summerin case you’ve also been shimmying at high speed past this fab place.

5 fab things to do with kids at King’s Cross London

1. Play in the water fountains (free!)

Anyone with little ones will know that water play is priceless. The sheer joy on their faces as they cup water in their hands *and throw it at you, knows no limits. If you haven’t seen the fountains in Granary Square, then you’re in for a treat. Surrounded by eaters, the Granary Square fountains feature 1,080 jets that will sprinkle and splash little ones till their hearts content. Bring a towel and change of clothes or let them dry off in the sunshine.

2. Open air film festival (also free!)

On warm balmy days cinema trips can feel a bit of a shame when you want to be outside in the sunshine. *Except when temperatures climb into the 30’s+, when you will find me in the cinema enjoying ALL THAT air-con!

So, how about an outdoor cinema trip that won’t cost a thing, apart from maybe an ice cream or two? The King’s Cross open air film festival is hosted by Everyman and runs from the 22nd June through to the 6th August. You can check out the schedule here. As you head towards Granary Square / Coal Drops, and cross over the little bridge, you can’t miss the screen and seating on the canal side steps.

3. All aboard Long Tom the narrow boat

Yes, I’m not joking. An actually boat ride *who would have guessed you could do this at King’s Cross! For a fee of £14 per adult and £9 per child *based on prices at the time this is being published, you can enjoy a ride on The Regent’s canal which features going ‘through’ London’s longest tunnel. The price also includes entry into The London Canal Museum. Yay! #rowrowrowyourboat

4. Jump into nature! (another free one #winningsummer)

If you have a little explorer in your hands, this could be for you. Head over to Camley Street Natural Park and hop, skip and jump through woodland, grassland and wetland habitats! Free events for the littles take place here over the summer including pond dipping (a firm favourite!), bug hunting and nature story time.

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5. Go on a family trail (… yes… it’s free!)

If you want to go on a little walk and stick to the main areas around Coal Drops Yard and Granary Square (where the water fountains are), how about trying out the family trail. You can pick up a trail map from the visitors center or download one to your phone. It’s a lovely way to let the littles burn off some steam, whilst staying close to all the amenities. And, it highlights some fun (and tasty) pit stops to make on your journey.