An Afternoon in London
* there is one major spelling mistake but I’m leaving it because it has made folks smile!
A Wednesday adventure with a difference last week! I had to go to London for a meeting which was in the East of the city. Usually when we visit, we go to Paddington / Charing Cross so being in the area of Kings Cross and St Pancreas was a new experience for me. We didn’t have much time after my meeting but we did get to the British Museum and had a chance to look at these new stations, both of which have been given a make-over.
First the library. It is mainly reading rooms surrounding an atruim but the central ‘book case’ is very impressive as it goes from floor to ceiling through 3 levels.
There were lots of folks with books, various electronic devices and food (!) on the walkways. I was surprised about the food but there are a couple of eateries in the building as well as one outside keeping Isaac Newton company!
From the library, we made our way to St Pancreas station. This is now an international station as the Eurostar trains leave from here so the make-over was more than getting rid of the ravages of the steam era. Not only does it have a pretty amazing roof, there are several interesting sculptures on the upper concourse.
John Betjeman, who is credited with saving the station from demolition in the 1960’s, is immortalized by Martin Jennings looking skywards perhaps towards that roof!
You breath is taken away however by Paul Day‘s sculpture ‘Meeting Place’. It is a 30ft sculpture of a couple embracing in the tradition of ‘Brief Encounter’ and so it’s place is obviously beneath the reconstructed Dent clock. The embrace is stunning but the frieze that goes around the base is extraordinary. My pictures can’t do it justice as in order to see the full beauty of this art through a lens, you have to be the other side of the screen which means you have to be travelling on Eurostar!
Do watch this short clip that hopefully will encourage you to take a visit here if not a train when you are next in London!
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGPTu5ES7DE&w=420&h=315]
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I am mesmerized. I want to go! This looks fabulous. Thank you for sharing, Julia.
I want to go to St P more than ever.
It is so much more than a station!
I used to travel in and out of St P when I was in the North, I love it. It is so well designed, so full of interest, it seems to always be able to accommodate the crowds. i love the vibrancy and the shops. The hotel is fantastic, recommend tea or cocktails, the old ticket office bit is lovely.
I saw a photo of the front of St Pancras for the first time recently, and was amazed at how lovely it is. I’ve been on Eurostar, 13 or so years ago but I don’t remember any of the inside. We tend to bomb around on the tube without looking at our surroundings as they are so chaotic!
We have always gone via Ashford or Ebbsfleet. You can’t miss them at St Pancreas
I like ten idea of a St Pancreas. Can we look forward to other body organs being canonised? 🙂
Someone commented on FB St PancrEAs! Near LIVERpool St, Kidney’s Cross and LUNGGate Hill? :))