London`s King`s Cross Station
KING`S CROSS STATION
London`s King`s Cross Station is situated in the Borough of Camden, and was built in 1852. The station is the main line southern terminus, for the country`s East Coast Main Line.
King`s Cross was built and designed in just two years, by the designer Lewis Cubbitt. The station actually sits on what, was a former smallpox hospital.
Legend also has it, that the body of Queen Boudica is buried under one of the platforms. It is belived that her final battle, was fought on the site where the station stands today. The station has several passage ways, that run underneath, which is supposedly haunted by the ghost of Boudica.
King`s Cross today, has platforms from 1 till 11, but had only an arrival and departure platform when it was first built. In 1852, the area around the first two platforms was used for carriage sidings. With the growth of London`s population, and commuters, expansion was needed for the station.
The building containing platforms 9 - till 11 was added at a much later date, but is considerably less grand, than the main terminus. This section of the station, is where the fictional character, Harry Potter departs from on platform of 9 3/4. King`s Cross station has over the years, also had to deal with tragedy and terror attacks.
In 1973, a bomb was placed by the IRA, and exploded in the booking hall. Fortunately nobody was killed, but six persons were injured, but the building suffered extensive damage. Fourteen years later though, the station would not be so lucky. A fire swept threw the underground station adjacent, at Kings Cross St Pancras, which killed 31 people and injured scores more.
A major redevelopment, of the underground station started on the findings from the enquiry, of this terrible tragedy. A two phase programme of development was agreed, and phase one is now complete. The second and final phase is due for completion, by the year 2011.
On a lighter note, the station also been used for a back drop for several music videos, that include West End Girls and Rent. The Pet Shop Boys also used the station and its concourse for their feature film It Couldn`t Happen Here released in 1988.
But it was the release of the Harry Potter movies, which have made the station even more famous. Thousands of tourists each year flock to see the platform, for the starting point of the Hogwarts Express. Fans converge on the area of platform 9 3/4 to try and push the trolley through the wall. The station is featured also, in the epilogue of the last book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
King`s Cross Station today, has a total of 22 million passengers each year passing threw it. The underground station of King`s Cross has the following lines operating from it, Northern Line, Victoria, Hammersmith, Metropolitan, Circle and Piccadilly lines. If you arriving into Kings Cross Station, and need a hotel. Many cheap hotels can be found close to Kings Cross Station.
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01904 644500
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