We were in the vicinity of Euston Station and taking a break in our journey. The weather was warm and sunny so we wanted to get away from the traffic fumes. After dropping off our suitcases at the local Premier Inn left luggage facility, we made our way to Coal Drops Yard nearby. I had no prior knowledge of what to expect and was pleasantly surprised.
The site was originally two Victorian coal drop sheds which were used to receive coal from South Yorkshire by narrowboats on the Regents Canal. The coal was then converted to coal gas in the adjacent gas works. In 2018 the redundant site was redeveloped forming part of King’s Cross Central. There are now retail units , bars, restaurants and an event space.
The day we visited there was a colourful market in Granary Square and I bought a couple of souvenirs from the artisanal stalls. There was live entertainment too at this cultural event. We stopped for a bite to eat and drink in one of the trendy eateries. Just by St Pancras Lock we discovered a rural oasis at Camely Street Natural Park. Walking through the pathways between the trees we saw fish in the ponds, amphibians, waterfowl, wildflowers, butterflies and birds nesting. It was so peaceful and difficult to accept that we were in the centre of a busy city. On a floating platform was the Visitor Centre run by the Canal and River Trust. I guess, if we’d known beforehand we would have taken our refreshments in the Kingfisher Cafe.
It was an attractive area to visit and so handy for the travel hubs of King’s Cross Station , St Pancras International and Euston.
