Highlights of King's Cross Station
King's Cross Station is the terminus of the East Coast Main Line, connecting London with Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland.
Along with the West Coast Main Line, the East Coast Main Line is one of the major rail arteries running north to south through Great Britain. One of its principal operators is London North Eastern Railway (LNER).
King's Cross Station is depicted in the Harry Potter series as the departure and arrival station for the Hogwarts Express.
The differences between London's main terminal stations and railway lines are introduced in the article below.
Platform 9 3/4
In the Harry Potter novel series, the protagonist Harry Potter is swallowed by the wall between platforms 9 and 10. The fictional “9 and 3/4 platform” has been recreated as a tourist attraction.
The line for taking photos never lets up.
British Rail Class 800 “Azuma”
London North Eastern Railway began operating the British Rail 800 series in 2019. The 800 series was manufactured by Hitachi. This train is nicknamed “AZUMA.”
AZUMA was named after the Japanese word “azuma,” meaning “east,” because it runs on the East Coast Main Line.
British Rail Mark 4 DVT “Flying Scotsman”
This is a push-pull train comprising electric locomotive 91101 and driving van trailer 82205 (Mark4 DVT). With the driving van trailer at the front, the locomotive at the rear can propel the passenger coaches. Known as the InterCity 225, this train gradually replaced the diesel InterCity 125 express on electrified sections of the route.
The express train connecting London and Edinburgh on the East Coast Main Line has traditionally been nicknamed Flying Scotsman, meaning “flying Scotsman.”
The words "WORLD FAMOUS SINCE 1924" appear on the train. The history of the Flying Scotsman dates back to 1862, while 1924 marks the year the railway company officially adopted the name.
Other railway vehicles
British Rail Class 43
The formation of a 43-type diesel locomotive with Mark 3 coaches is also known as “InterCity 125”. It operates mainly on non-electrified routes.
British Rail Class 700
This is a train from Siemens’ Desiro City series. Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) operates it under the Thameslink brand.
British Rail Class 387
These are trains from Bombardier’s series called “Electrostar”. They operate under the “Thameslink” brand.
Essential Information about King's Cross Station
The information below was checked against official sources on October 11, 2026. Please also check the latest information on the official website when planning your trip.
- 🔗 Official website
- Check the address, ticket office opening hours, station facilities, accessibility and onward transport connections.
London Kings Cross Station | National RailDiscover London Kings Cross railway station. Getting to & from, buying & collecting train tickets, staffing, facili...www.nationalrail.co.uk - 📍 Address
- London Kings Cross station, Euston Road, London, Greater London, N1 9AL
- 🕒 Practical information
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- Ticket office (Monday–Saturday) 6:00–22:00
- Ticket office (Sunday) 7:45–22:00
- Information staff (Monday–Friday) 5:00–1:36 the following day
- Information staff (Saturday) 5:00–0:36 the following day
- Information staff (Sunday) 5:30–1:36 the following day
The station remains open until the last train departs. Facilities include lifts, toilets, a Changing Places toilet, public Wi-Fi, restaurants and shops. ⚠️ If you require a step-free route, check the latest availability of the facilities.
- 💶 Fares
- If travelling by train, you will need to pay the fare applicable to your journey.
- 🎫 Tickets
- A ticket office and ticket machines are available. For tickets purchased online, check the collection method shown when booking.
- ⏱️ Time required
- Allow approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour to visit the station building and Platform 9 3/4. ⚠️ Allow additional time for waiting to take a souvenir photo and for changing trains.
Getting to King's Cross Station
You can reach King’s Cross station via the London Underground’s King’s Cross St Pancras station, by bus, or by taxi. The railway station entrance is along Euston Road, and the official National Rail website provides information on connections with other forms of transport.
All railway platforms can be reached without steps. The station’s official page on National Rail also includes links to a station map and a map of connecting transport. If you have large luggage or need assistance, check the station map and the Passenger Assistance information before departure. The existence of a step-free route to the railway platforms does not mean that all routes on the connecting Underground are step-free.
The related guide “ロンドン：観光スポット・グルメ・交通・モデルコースを解説” is currently available only in Japanese.
