Honestly, when I first walked into the Crowne Plaza at Kings Cross, I wasn’t expecting much – you know how chain hotels can be, especially near major train stations. But this place actually surprised me in a good way. The lobby’s got this sleek, modern vibe without being cold or corporate, and the staff genuinely seemed happy to see guests (which, let’s be real, isn’t always the case in London hotels).
What really works about this spot is how it sits right in the sweet spot of Kings Cross without being in the chaos of it all. You’re literally a two-minute walk from Kings Cross and St. Pancras stations – I mean, you can practically see the Eurostar terminal from some of the upper floor windows. But here’s the thing most people don’t realize: you’re also just around the corner from all those converted warehouse galleries and the Coal Drops Yard shopping area. The whole neighborhood’s transformed from sketchy to trendy in the past decade, and this hotel landed right in the middle of that evolution.
The rooms are solid – not huge by any stretch, but they’ve used the space smartly. The beds are actually comfortable (I’m picky about this), and the bathrooms have decent water pressure, which you can’t take for granted in older London buildings. I stayed on the seventh floor facing north, and honestly, the view over the railway lines is kind of mesmerizing at night with all the train lights. Sure, you might think it’d be noisy, but the windows do their job well. The neighborhood does get a bit rowdy on Friday nights though – Islington’s just next door, after all, and the pubs around here don’t mess around.
What I really appreciated was how the hotel feels connected to the area rather than isolated from it. The restaurant downstairs serves decent food (their breakfast is better than most hotel buffets I’ve suffered through), and the bar area actually draws some locals, not just tired travelers. The fitness center’s small but functional – though if you’re serious about working out, Regent’s Canal is right there for running, and it’s honestly one of London’s best-kept secrets for a morning jog.
Here’s something nobody mentions in the typical reviews: the check-in process is refreshingly quick, even during rush periods. I’ve been through here three times now, and they seem to have their systems sorted. Parking’s available but pricey – though honestly, why would you drive in central London anyway? The Tube connections from here can get you anywhere in the city within thirty minutes.
Look, it’s not going to blow your mind with luxury touches, and at a 7.7 rating, it’s clearly not trying to compete with the five-star spots in Mayfair. But for the location, the comfort level, and the fact that you’re staying in one of London’s most interesting transitional neighborhoods, it delivers exactly what you’d want from a solid four-star hotel. Plus, you’ll actually have money left over to enjoy the city instead of blowing it all on accommodation.