3 Best Sights in King's Cross, London

These 2 acres of splendid calm are bang in the middle of the King's Cross hustle and bustle. This nature reserve, just across the road from the concrete and glass of the Eurostar terminal, provides a habitat for birds, butterflies, bats, and a wide variety of plant and pond life. Complete with a visitor's center and café, this delightful urban oasis is popular with schoolchildren and office workers on lunch break, but chances are you could have the whole place to yourself.

Now the heart of King's Cross, Granary Square is one of London's liveliest open spaces. Pride of place is given to the ever-changing 1,000-strong fountain display, which is even more spectacular by night when lights accompany the choreography. It's also home to The Outside Project (essentially a permanent alfresco art space) as well as the immense, six-story granary building—designed in 1852 to store wheat for London's bakers—that now houses University of the Arts London, plus a small selection of excellent bars and eateries. The square's south-facing steps double as an amphitheater for site-specific art events.

This delightful museum, dedicated to the rise and fall of London's once-extensive canal network, is based in the former warehouse of ice-cream maker Carlo Gatti (hence it also partly features the ice-cream trade as well as London's canals). Children enjoy the activity zone and learning about Henrietta, the museum's horse. Outside, on the Battlebridge Basin, you'll find the painted narrow boats of modern canal dwellers—a stone's throw from the hustle and bustle of the King's Cross redevelopment. You can walk to the museum along the towpath from Camden Lock; download a free audio tour from the museum's website to accompany the route.