Kings Cross is one of London’s most vibrant and fastest-growing business hubs. Modern office blocks line the streets alongside chic restaurants and bars, and global brands such as Google, Nike, and Facebook have set up bases in the area.
Yet Kings Cross wasn’t always a thriving, exciting destination.
In fact, it was very much the opposite for a long time. This blog post will take a closer look at the history of Kings Cross and how it has become a major business hub in the heart of London.
The rise and fall of an industrial powerhouse
Despite its position in Central London, Kings Cross was once viewed as being off the beaten track. It didn’t receive the support or development other areas of London received during the city’s expansion in the 18th century. As a result, Kings Cross remained a largely rural area.
The situation began to change as the century went on. Health spas and country inns were popular with Londoners. Then in 1820, the Regent’s Canal was completed. This opened the doors to links with major industrial cities found in the north of England. The Coke Company, Imperial Gas Light, refuse sorting, and paint manufacturers were just some of the industrial businesses that made Kings Cross their home.
During the mid-1850s, the Great Northern Railway chose Kings Cross as the area for the London terminus. This transport link further helped the area develop and become an industrial and distribution powerhouse.
Less than a century later, and following World War II and Nationalisation, Kings Cross suffered a swift decline. What was once a busy and thriving industrial district gradually turned into a relative ghost town for business. Derelict buildings, drops in local employment, and a poor-quality environment all highlighted how much the area had declined.
The modern rejuvenation of Kings Cross
Crime and prostitution were the focal points for anyone that talked about Kings Cross during the 1990s. It became an area in London that residents were quick to avoid, and it certainly wasn’t a place found in any tourist guidebooks.
This makes the modern rejuvenation of Kings Cross all the more remarkable.
With the 21st century’s arrival, heavy investment was placed into the area’s transportation links. Derelict buildings quickly became occupied, renovated, or replaced with new builds. All of these developments created a catalyst that transformed Kings Cross, once disregarded and avoided, into a thriving business hub.
This is evidenced with the office buildings in Kings Cross. Browse the listings at theworkplacecompany.co.uk, and you will see modern office spaces sitting alongside converted traditional buildings. These offices help perfectly illustrate how Kings Cross has been transformed into an area that is enticing the biggest and best brands.
The previous perceptions of Kings Cross are no more. In just two short decades, the area is one of the busiest and most popular in London, where residents and tourists alike delight in this business hub.