Student Life In London – A Guide To St Pancras

23rd January 2023 Joe Graham Accommodation Basics, London Life

If you’ve chosen London as your place to study, it probably has something to do with the amazing diversity in a city that’s always got something going on.

The St Pancras and King’s Cross neighbourhood has undergone huge change since the early 2000s – the former industrial area has been regenerated into a design hub with restaurants, shops and the famous Central Saint Martin’s college. With the Eurostar terminal located at St Pancras International, it’s also the gateway to Europe!

But it’s handy to know where the best places to eat, party and hang out are for that much-needed downtime. Here are our top picks of places to visit in our guide to St Pancras.

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Places to eat near St Pancras

Roti King

Roti King, just next to Euston Station, is a firm favourite among students, as well as office workers and London’s foodies. This unassuming basement eatery specialises in authentic Malaysian foods and our favourites are roti canai (the country’s) flatbread, nasi goreng and sambal fried rice. They also offer Singaporean and Indonesian food too – definitely worth a visit!

Location: 40 Doric Way, London NW1 1LH

Inside Roti King, a room with industrial design, many people enjoying the food inside on wooden tables, and white tile on the walls.

 

Morty & Bob’s

If Grilled cheese sandwiches are more your thing then you must visit Morty & Bob’s an all-day café and bar serving breakfast, lunch and dinner in Coal Drops Yard. Their legendary toasties are served on soft and crunchy artisan sourdough with a top-secret signature cheese sauce. A relaxed and friendly vibe offering comfort food with great drinks.

Location: 49 Coal Drop Yard, London N1C 4DQ

A close up of a sandwich filled with mushrooms and melting cheese.

Happy Face Pizza

Calling all pizza lovers, Happy Face Pizza is the student budget-friendly place to get seriously good, authentic, wood-fired pizza with timeless toppings. With pocket-friendly pizzas starting from just £7 they will be sure to raise a smile : )

Location: 14 Handyside St, King’s Cross, London N1C 4DN

People making pizzas in front of an old-fashioned wood fired oven at Happy Face. There are eight pizzas visible on a wooden counter.

Nights out near St Pancras

 

Egg London

No doubt you’ll soon be fully acquainted with this all-night warehouse-style club if you aren’t already. Egg London hosts a weekly student night every Wednesday boasting £1 drinks and a very reasonable £5 entry fee. They host events most evenings so you’re sure to find something that floats your boat.

Location: 200 York Way, London N7 9AX

Egg London Nightclub in St Pancras, people partying
Image Courtesy of Time Out

Lafayette

This is the brand-new live music venue at King’s Cross with a seriously eclectic line-up. Lafayette is a two-floor venue with a capacity for 600 guests and has been built with customer-friendly balcony viewing platforms, a state-of-the-art sound system and even has a backstage bar! Just a 2 min walk from King’s Cross Station so easy to get home transport links too.

Location: 11 Goods Way, London NDP

Inside of Scala, with a performer on stage surrounded by fans at ground and elevated levels, and pink light filling the stage.

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Scala

This gorgeous venue – once a grand cinema from the 1920s – has a main auditorium with three separate bars. It became Scala in 1999 after a colourful history of film, music and bomb blasts which you can read all about here. There are live music events, club nights and occasional alternative events such as a Halloween ball. And the best part is, it’s less than a mile away from Urbanest St Pancras! Events run every weekend and some weeknights, but you can see their full calendar here.

Location: 275 Pentonville Rd, Kings Cross, London N1 9NL

Exterior of Scala venue in St Pancras, London
Image courtesy of Resident Advisor

Other things to do near St Pancras

 

Canopy Market

Individually sourcing, selecting and supporting independent producers, Canopy Market brings together fresh produce, artisan food, designer-makers and artists alongside street food, craft drinks and music every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. A great way to spend a few hours mooching around the stalls and discovering new brands and small businesses.

Location: Just off Granary Square, round the corner from Coal Drops Yard.

Market stalls of many colours and selling many products at the Canopy Markets.

Camley Street Natural Park

Just a 5-minute walk from urbanest St Pancras you’ll find Camley Street Natural Park an urban nature reserve offering a peaceful haven amongst many species of wildlife. A great place to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Grab a coffee from the on-site café or simply lie back and watch the birds and butterflies while you take a break from studying. They also often have opening for volunteering too.

Location: 12 Camley St, London N1C 4PW

A lush green pathway with a wooden fence and plants everywhere in Camley Street Natural Park

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Coal Drops Yard

We couldn’t write an area guide and not give Coal Drops Yard a dedicated mention. ‘The’ shopping and dining spot at the heart of King’s Cross, here you’ll find familiar well-known brands alongside a number of independent crafts-people. With over 50 shops, cafes, bars and restaurants here, there is plenty to discover and enjoy. For more information, click here.

A view into Coal Drop's yard, with two higher levels, two glass sections touching, and a light-covered courtyard below.

We hope you’ve found somewhere you didn’t know about and enjoy your time there! Visit our St Pancras page for more information.

 

Joe Graham

Joe Graham

For more great posts from Urbanest about accommodation, London life, study tips and much more, visit the Student Journal.