Railway stations – more interesting than it sounds!

~ lcbull2003

Our second special interest day tour in London took in Paddington, King’s Cross and St Pancras railway stations – their development, history, architecture and place in the history of London. We found it interesting both from learning more about London but also seeing new areas where the regeneration of the stations has driven regeneration of the entire area – especially around King’s Cross where old railway buildings have been converted to house the Central St Martins art college and other developments reviving what was apparently a really scuzzy area.

Here’s a few highlights:

Paddington bear surveys the platforms in his station!
The first world war memorial in Paddington station. More than 3000 staff who worked for the railway company that operated the lines that fed that station were killed.
Wonderful, ornate cast iron arches
And a more modern roof at King’s Cross
The old Regent’s canal behind King’s Cross
St Pancras – originally designed for beer storage this area was refurbished when the Eurostar was introduced
Sir John Betjeman – who led a campaign to save St Pancras
Public art of gigantic scale in St Pancras
Some of the sculptures on the base of the big one were wittier!
The outside of the restored hotel at St Pancras

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