There’s no shortage of amazing places to eat, drink and shop in London. But now, incredible Victorian structures that once served as a coal yard – and later a hotspot for 90s raves – have been redesigned into a shopping district that will soon be catching the eye of locals and travellers alike.
The Heatherwick Studio-designed shopping centre opened 26 October. Image by Heatherwick Studio
Coal Drops Yard is a new shopping and restaurant district in Kings Cross. The redesigned space has seen a new contemporary structure built over the surviving buildings, arches and ironwork of the original Victorian coal drops.
Coal Drops Yard, King’s Cross. Image by Heatherwick Studio
In a central location, adjacent to Regent’s Canal, the site was originally created in 1850 to handle the millions of tonnes of coal that were brought to London each year. More than 100 years later, it would become home to infamous nightclubs like Bagley’s and The Cross, where Londoners would pile into the space for massive raves.
Inside the new shopping centre near King’s Cross. Image by Heatherwick Studio
Now, the site is home to more than 50 stores, restaurants and cafes in the new space, designed by London’s Heatherwick Studio. The spot is designed to bring together “a community of like-minded brands” and will include shops from Fred Perry, Paul Smith, American Vintage and Wolf and Badger.
Tracy Newel store Coal Drops Yard, King’s Cross. Image by Heatherwick Studio
In addition to the shopping centre, there is Lower Stable Street, which is now a street for “pop-ups, live events and experiential stores from a creative collective of established and up-and-coming brands.” The area is a sunken street between the main Coal Drops Yard and Stable Street and will be home to smaller spaces that can host workshops, one-off events, and immersive shopping experiences. There are also a number of places to eat, like the Middle Eastern-sharing plate restaurant Coal Office, the Mexican taqueria Casa Pastor, and the Spanish tapas joint Barrafina.
Coal Drops Yard, King’s Cross. Image by Heatherwick Studio
Now that it’s open, the innovative shopping centre is sure to attract Londoners looking for the latest thing, and travellers who want to sample another of the city’s wide array of shopping and dining experiences.
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