LONDON LOVES: Coal Drops Yard

If you haven’t yet visited Coal Drops Yard , what are you waiting for?

Designed by Heatherwick Studio, this shopping and foodie destination is just 5 mins from King's Cross St Pancras and it’s shaping up to be the hot spot for weekend hangs. Coal Drops Yard is the prize jewel of the multi-billion pound King’s Cross Central regeneration scheme, which has emerged from London’s vast derelict railworks in this area.

Sadly, Coal Drops Yard got a stinging (and in our opinion - harsh!) review from Architectural Review. Apparently they didn’t approve of the “consumption led mall” as they felt it lacked authenticity, and it made them feel marketed to. We do agree that the many regeneration schemes in our beloved city do start to morph into one at some point. However, we really appreciated Coal Drops Yard for the great multi-functional space it provides Londoners to enjoy.

Daniel Reid, one of Greenway Associates Directors has got a recommendation for a day trip out in the area:

“The best way to truly enjoy this area, is to cycle along the Regents Canal. Either hire yourself one of the city’s many bikes or take your own. Start from Little Venice and cycle along the towpath towards Kings Cross. You’ll cycle past the London Zoo, past some of the visitor moorings, mansions and secret gardens of Regents Canal. You’ll see the serious-faced SUP’ers at Pirate Castle, probably get waved at by the excitable Go-Boaters and if you’re lucky, you’ll hear the lovely Music Boat men, who gently pole their boats along while crooning out songs that capture the spirit of Camden Lock and its surrounds. Once you’ve cycle past the lock, you’ll come to Gasholder Park and into the regeneration zone that is Coal Drops Yard. Lock your bike up on the many bicycle parking stations and just enjoy the easy, pleasant atmosphere of Coal Drops Yard.

We had an amazing Italian meal at Lina Stores - one of the original Italian deli’s of London that has been operating since 1944! We bought a completely (un)necessary sesame seed grinder from Kitchen Provisions and it turns out I can no longer live without it. We topped off the day with a good Aussie pint from the Little Creatures Microbrewery and a little rest on the open grassy areas. So nice!”

Daniel Reid
Greenway Associates

As far as first impressions go, Coal Drops Yard is a winner, and it’s mostly due to the ‘kissing’ roofs that arch over the entire area. Such a beautiful design from Heatherwick that really adds a calmness to the busy landscape in this area. The aesthetically pleasing landscaping and the sight and sound of people enjoying themselves is simply cheerful.

In a city where outdoor space comes at a premium, Coal Drops Yard seems to have plenty of spots where you can take a breather. Aside from all the bars and restaurants that have dedicated outdoor terraces, or kerbside seating, the whole place is pretty much car free. That means you can enjoy your food or drink outdoors, without the fumes of a double decker bus going by. The area has plenty of lawn space too, which means if you want to enjoy a picnic on the grass with your mates, you can do so with ease.

Give it a visit sometime!