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The St Pancras railway station is mostly known to be the train hub into continental Europe.  Indeed since 2007 St Pancras International is home to the Eurostar with many daily trains to Paris, Brussels and Lille amongst other.  The station is also home to the Renaissance Hotel London, which recently reopened after many years of renovations.   Both the hotel and the train terminal are set in a Grade I listed building blessed with a beautiful Victorian architecture.  The St Pancras area is one of the busiest in central London, with the Euston Road passing through it and with the British Library, King’s Cross station and the Regent’s Canal nearby.

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About St-Pancras

The St Pancras station was first opened in 1868 by the Midland Railway which connected London with the East Midlands and Yorkshire.  Back then, the impressive arched Barlow train shed was the largest single-span roof in the world.  Some hundred years later, in the 60’s it escaped planned demolition and was finally renovated at the beginning of the 21st century at a cost of £800 million.  The new revamped complex has 15 platforms, a shopping centre and a bus station, in addition to be connected to the underground services from King’s Cross tube station.  It offers many facilities including Free Wi-Fi, a pharmacy, luggage storage, trolleys, a photo booths and a tourist information.  Some even say that the redeveloped terminus is the "world’s most wonderful railway station".

Eurostar

The Eurostar is perhaps one of the fastest and comfortable ways to travel between Britain and continental Europe.  Indeed it serves many of the top European cities such as Paris, Brussels and Lille, with a direct centre to centre high speed train service.  It is the best way to get from the heart of Paris to the heart of London in just over 2 hours, and not feel exhausted by the journey as opposed to taking the car, bus or even fly.

St Pancras Renaissance Hotel London

The St Pancras Renaissance Hotel London is set in one of the most beautiful building in London.  It is not a surprise that Sir John Betjeman called this Gothic treasure "too beautiful and too romantic to survive".  Situated in the same building complex as the St-Pancras station, the hotel recently reopened after years of restoration.  It originally opened in 1873 in Queen Victoria area, but has kept until this day some of its grandiose features including its hand-stencilled wall designs, a gold leaf ceilings and a jaw-dropping grand staircase.  The St Pancras Renaissance Hotel London is considered London’s most romantic building where guest can lose themselves in a world of luxury and fantasy behind its fairytale red façade.

Hotels around St-Pancras

There are a couple of great value hotels around the St Pancras terminal.  Those include:

1. Novotel London St Pancras Hotel, 4 stars
2. Megaro Hotel, 4 stars
3. Studios 2 Let Hotel London, 4 stars
4. Alhambra Hotel, 2 stars

Novotel London St Pancras Hotel

4 Stars / 100 – 110 Euston Road Camden, London, United Kingdom NW1 2AJ
The Novotel London St Pancras is a 4 stars Hotel situated on Euston road right next to the British Library.  It has fully equipped rooms with all the needed facilities including a desk, hair dryer, air conditioning, bathrobes, daily newspaper and in-house movies.  The hotel offers its guests various facilities including a laundry service, a safety deposit box, a pub and a restaurant.  It is also equipped with a gym, sauna and steamroom, making it an ideal place to unwind after a day visiting London.  The Novotel is a great place to stay close to the St Pancras station.

Book a room at the Novotel London St Pancras Hotel, best prices guarantee.

Megaro Hotel

4 Stars / 23-27 Euston Road, London, United Kingdom NW1 2SD
The Megaro is a four stars luxury hotel ideally located on Euston road not far from the Eurostar international station.  It is known for offering top-class English service.  It is within walking distance to Camden, Regent’s Park and the British Museum.  The guest rooms offer free Wi-Fi in a modern and stylish décor.  The hotel offers an in-house restaurant serving fine dining and a variety of wines in a tranquil setting.  The Megaro is a perfect choice of accommodation in the heart of the St-Pancras area, ideal for both leisure as well as business travellers.

Book a room at the Megaro Hotel, best prices guarantee.

Studios 2 Let Hotel London

4 Stars / 36-37 Cartwright Gardens, London, United Kingdom
The Studios 2 Let are very comfortable serviced apartments perfectly located next to the Catwright Gardens,  only a short walk from the St-Pancras station.  Some of central London main sights are nearby including the British Library, the British Museum, and Russell Square.  It is an ideal place for both a short and long-term stay with all the rooms fully equipped with a kitchen and other modern facilities.  The Studios 2 Let Hotel offers a convenient location combined with great service level, making it a ideal place to stay.

Book a room at the Studios 2 Let Hotel, best prices guarantee.

Alhambra Hotel

2 Stars / 17-19 Argyle Street, London, United Kingdom
The Alhambra is a cosy family run hotel offering great value for money.  It is located on Argyle Street, within walking distance from Pancras International, the British Library, the British Museum as well as the beautiful Regent’s Park and its London Zoo.  It has 52 guest rooms equipped with Wi-Fi internet access, as well as offering full English breakfast in the price of the booking.  The Alhambra Hotel is a charming property with good service and friendly prices, making it an ideal place to reside.

Book a room at the Alhambra Hotel, best prices guarantee.

St-Pancras foods and drinks

The St Pancras International station offers a variety of eating, drinking and dining experiences, from snacks for the road and lunch on the go to more elaborate dinners or places to celebrate something special. The various food and drink outlets are divided into the two station floors.  The upper level is home to the famous Champagne Bar and other restaurants, from where you can relax while admiring the Barlow Shed. As for the ground floor it is home to the international train arrivals and departures, and offers a variety of cafés and fast food to choose from.

The food and drinks section can be divided into the following categories:

1. Bars
2. Cafes
3. Restaurants
4. Food shops

Bars

The St Pancras International station offers a good selection of pubs and bars, to accommodate all tastes; will it be a special drink, real ale, wine or champagne.  Indeed the terminal is home to a gastro pub with a wide collection of real ales as well as a wine bar with an impressing selection of world wines.  Not forgetting about the renowned Champagne Bar which is famous for being the longest in Europe as well as offering an amazing variety of champagnes by the glass.  What better way to start your journey then to enjoy your favourite drink in good company.

1. DesVins Cafe & Wine Bar
2. The Betjeman Arms
3. The Champagne Bar

Des Vins Cafe & Wine Bar situated across the Eurostar arrivals is the perfect place to enjoy great food or choose your favourite drink from their extensive wine, beer or champagne menu.

The Betjeman Arms is a great gastropub in the heart of the station.  It is an ideal place to enjoy a good old fashioned pint or grab something from their changing menu which uses seasonal ingredients.  It is also a great place to have a corporate event with the pub offering various services such as Vintage tea parties and private wine tasting

The Champagne Bar which is the longest in Europe offers a variety of champagne by the glass as well as various snacks.  They also offer private and corporate events.

Cafes

If you need a boost before your journey or just feeling like sitting down and enjoying the world passing by then the St Pancras International station will suit you just right, blessed with most of the major coffee brands.  Those include:

1. AMT
2. Benugo
3. Caffe Nero
4. Costa Coffee
5. Le Pain Quotidien
6. PAUL
7. Prêt A Manger
8. Starbucks
9. West Cornwall Pasty Company

AMT is a well know coffee shop with a mission to make the best cup of coffee in the U.K. It offers an excellent service and is known to be the first British company to serve only 100% fair-trade coffee as well as 100% organic milk.

Benugo offers a variety of sandwiches, each individually tailored to customer taste, as well as having a wide variety of fresh salads, teas and coffees.

Caffe Nero is another well known London coffee shop.  Their focus is obviously on coffee as well as on creating an authentic European coffee house atmosphere.

Costa is one of the most popular coffee shops in London, serving a variety of hot drinks by professional’s baristas.

Le Pain Quotidien is a well known London French bakery offering a variety of breads and pastries.  It has a charming and welcoming atmosphere.

Paul is a well known traditional French bakery cafe situated opposite to the Eurostar departures.  It serves a selection of authentic sandwiches as well as French viennoiserie, along with great coffee, tea and delicious hot chocolate.

Prêt a Manger specialise in fresh made sandwiches, baguettes and wraps.  It is known for using only natural ingredients.
The Starbucks Coffee Company is perhaps the worlds’ best know coffee house committed to offer customers the finest coffee experience.   It has a cosy and intimate atmosphere, ideal to relax in the heart of the St Pancras station

The West Cornwall Pasty Company is famous for producing handmade food using traditional ingredients, which are freshly baked throughout the day in store.

Restaurants

If you’re looking to have a romantic dinner, or need some privacy to have a business meeting, then the St Pancras International offers plenty of good restaurants where you may enjoy a delicious meal.  From burgers and sushi to more exclusive cuisine, it has something for every taste.

The St-Pancras restaurants in alphabetic order include:

1. Carluccios
2. Chopd
3. Fine Burger Company
4. Peyton and Byrne
5. St Pancras Grand
6. YO! Sushi

Carluccios is a well known London restaurants chain as well as food shop offering authentic Italian cuisine prepared from deliciously fresh ingredients.

Chopd’s mission is to deliver delicious real food into real working lives.  It serves a variety of salads, soups and breakfasts, all prepared from fresh ingredients.

The Fine Burger Company is a well know British restaurant known to serve fresh food and some of the best available British meats.  If you are looking for a succulent burger, this is definitely the place to go at the St Pancras station.

The Peyton and Byrne is a famous British bakery offering a variety of delicious biscuits, tarts, hot pies and quiches, all freshly made daily from natural ingredients.

The St Pancras Grand is one of the greatest restaurants under the station roof.  Created by Martin Brudnizki, the man behind the famous west end The Ivy offers a glamorous atmosphere combined with exquisite menu.  Some of its features include the elegant Whisky Bar and stylish Oyster Bar, making it an ideal place for various occasions.

YO! Sushi is a trendy and iconic Japanese restaurant becoming more and more popular in the capital.  It is based on the Japanese kaiten concept, where guests can select whatever they fancy from the conveyor belt.  Those include a variety of sushi items from traditional raw sashimi to salmon teriyaki and vegetarian yakisoba.

Food shops

Finally if you are just looking to grab a fast bite before your journey, there are various food shops to choose from.  Those include:

1. Camden Food
2. Marks & Spencer Simply Food
3. Sourced Market

The Camden Food Co offers a variety of healthy take away food including hearty organic soup, nutritious salads or tasty deli sandwiches.  Their main focus is on fresh ingredients as well as fair trade organic products.

The Marks & Spencer Simply Food shop offers a variety of delicious ready meals such as sandwiches, salads and fresh fruit. It also stocks a variety of wines as well as plants and flowers which can be a perfect gift.

The Sourced Market situated in the heart of the station offers a variety of deliciously fresh, seasonal produce, including fruits, vegetables, fresh herbs and salads as well as cakes and breads.

St-Pancras shopS

The St Pancras station is also a great place to do some last minute shopping with a great variety of stores.  Indeed the complex offers various independent retailers boutiques as well as High Street brands.  Whatever you might be looking for, will it be a treat for yourself, a special gift for a loved one or simply a good book or magazine for the journey, you will all be able to find it under one roof.

The St Pancras shops can be divided into the following categories:

1. Beauty & Cosmetics
2. Books, Cards & Stationery
3. Fashion
4. Gifts
5. Services
6. Telecoms

Beauty/Cosmetics

To start with the St Pancras station has everything you will need to look good for the road as well as on arrival, with 3 of the best London beauty and cosmetic shops.  Those include:

1. Body Shop
2. Boots
3. Neal’s Yard Remedies

The Body Shop is a well know high street store offering a selection of naturally-inspired products from body care to skin essentials.

Boots is one of London’s most famous pharmacies offering a prescription service, on-the-spot photo printing as well as a wide range of cosmetics and expert advice.

The Neal’s Yard Remedies of St-Pancras is a smaller version of the original Covent Garden store.  It offers a variety of bags, brollies and belts as well as jewellery, hats and summer shoes.

Books/Cards/Stationery

Looking for a great book for the road?  Or perhaps you need to purchase a last minute card?  The St Pancras station has it covered with two book stores and one card and stationery shop.

1. Foyles
2. Paperchase
3. WHSmith

Foyles is perhaps one of the best known book store in London.  It offers a selection of various titles specially chosen for the St Pancras International audience within various genre including fiction, children books, travel guides and business books.

The Paperchase store is the brand leader in design led and innovative stationery in the UK. They offer a variety of products from papers to art materials as well as greeting cards, gifts and gift packaging.

WHSmith is one of London’s most popular newspapers shop, offering a wide range of magazines, stationery, books and entertainment products for people on the move.

Fashion

The St-Pancras station offers a variety of known fashion boutiques for both men, women and children.

1. Accessorize
2. Fat Face
3. Fossil
4. La Senza
5. LK Bennett
6. Marks & Spencer
7. Monsoon
8. Oliver Bonas
9. Rituals
10. Thomas Pink

The Accessorize is the perfect store for all your accessory needs from floral bags, brollies and belts to jewellery, hats and summer shoes.

The Fat Face is a famous active lifestyle brand providing a wide clothing collection for men, women and kids, as well as various accessories such as footwear, watches, jewelleries and beach kits.

Fossil is a lifestyle accessories store with a vintage design touch offering their own brands as well  as licensed brand names.

La Senza is one of the world’s most popular lingerie shop offering a wide range of underwear for women of all ages which are comfortable, romantic and sensual.

The LK Bennett brand is known to be the Quintessential of English luxury feminine fashion. It offers women wear as well as shoes, clothes and accessories collections.

Marks & Spencer is a very well known high street brand.  It offers a variety of essential items of clothing as well as healthy snacks such as in-house bakery products.

Monsoon is a very well known women wear brand with a highly distinctive identity.

Oliver Bonas offers a variety of women’s clothing as well as various items of jewellery and other accessories.

The Rituals shop’s mission is to help people enjoy life’s little pleasures, by offering them a variety of products for baths, massages as well as relaxing teas.

The Thomas Pink shops offers a variety of shirts, each crafted to the same standard, giving them a crisp, comfortable look.

Gifts

1. Cath Kidston
2. Hamley’s
3. Isle of Flowers
4. London 2012 Shop
5. Neuhaus

The Cath Kidston is a London’s brand known for producing vintage-inspired prints adorning everything from fashion and accessories to homewares and a great range for kids.

The Hamley’s St Pancras store is a smaller version of the original one on Regent’s street, London’s oldest and most loved toy shop.

The Isle of Flowers is a colourful shop in the heart of St Pancras station.  It offers a variety of different bouquets including lily’s, daffodils, orchids, roses and sunflowers

The London 2012 Shop offers a variety of products related to the coming Olympic and Paralympics including various  clothing and collectables items, ideal for your home or as gifts and souvenirs.

Neuhaus is one of the best known chocolatiers in Belgium and Luxembourg, offering a variety of quality  chocolates with one-third of the produced pralines made individually by hand.

Telecoms

1. Vodafone

Vodafone is one of the world’s biggest mobile telecommunications group providing a wide network coverage and maintaining a high level of customer service.

Services

1. Bureau de Change
2. Excess Baggage

The Bureau de Change is one of London’s most popular International Currency Exchange, and has two stores in the St Pancras station for all your foreign money exchange needs.

The Excess Baggage is a useful service in the St Pancras station providing a secure left luggage facility, will that be for a couple of hours or overnight.

St-Pancras Images

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