King’s Cross flats to rent and buy: Rated by residents

King’s Cross is such a success story, it’s now used as the benchmark by which all London regeneration areas are measured. But how did King’s Cross go from underused industrial land to a vibrant neighbourhood in just 20 years? And today, where can you find the best King’s Cross flats to rent and buy?

King’s Cross: A regeneration success story

King’s Cross has gone through a lot of change during the past 200 years. By the mid-1800s, it had turned from a sleepy rural area into a key industrial and transport hub.

Fast forward to the 1950s and the “railway lands” like King’s Cross now suffered from neglect and urban decay. London was changing from an industrial into a financial hub, and leaving areas like King’s Cross behind.

Regent’s Canal at King’s Cross (Credit: DS Pugh)

Then, after several failed urban regeneration attempts, 1996 provided a big break for King’s Cross. The introduction of the Channel Tunnel link at St Pancras meant that major development capital poured into the area. By 2008, construction on a whole new modern neighbourhood was in full swing under the vision of the Kings Cross Central Limited Partnership. 

The King’s Cross masterplan involved the creation of 50 major new buildings, 20 new streets, 10 new major public spaces, the restoration and refurbishment of 20 historic buildings and structures, and up to 2,000 homes.

Today, King’s Cross is an example of what can be achieved with derelict land in a big city. It just needs the right plan, the right vision and the right partners.

Coal Drops Yard (Credit: ClemRutter)

Is King’s Cross a good place to live?

King’s Cross is a now highly desirable London location, for many reasons. It is a well-structured and integrated community one with one of London’s best independent shopping, dining and bar scenes. It’s also consistently highlighted as being at the heart of ‘new London cool’.

Another big plus is its excellent transport links. The area is extremely well connected, with King’s Cross Station and the St Pancras International transport hub linking up with six London Underground lines. This also puts continental Europe within easy reach, since the Eurostar runs from St Pancras.

King’s Cross Station

Is King’s Cross London safe?

King’s Cross is split between the boroughs of Islington and Camden, both of which have ongoing issues with crime. The wider Islington borough is one of the less safe areas in London, though King’s Cross is enjoying success in its ongoing crime-prevention programmes. Throughout 2020, Islington has seen rates of burglary, theft, shoplifting and vehicle crime consistently fall month by month.

How did King’s Cross get its name?

The area of King’s Cross got its name through the placement of a statue of King George IV at the crossroads outside the station. While the statue itself only lasted from 1836 to 1845, this was long enough to make the name stick.

Best new flats to rent and buy in King’s Cross

The following are some of the best new property developments with King’s Cross flats to rent and buy. This list contains the seven top-rated developments in the area, as voted by verified residents on HomeViews.

Given how quickly things change in King’s Cross, be sure to check back regularly to see the latest rankings and additions of new developments. New flats to rent in King’s Cross are coming online all the time, as are new properties for sale.

We hope that King’s Cross gives you plenty of property prospects to think about. If you want to get a broader overview of the property scene in the area, have a look at our guide to the top new developments in the borough of Camden:

HomeViews provides verified resident reviews of the UK’s housing developments. We’re working with developers, house builders, operators, housing associations and the Government to recognise high performers and help improve standards in the built environment.

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