Mayor of London Boris Johnson wields a mallet in front of King’s Cross railway station

Published: 8 August, 2013
by TOM FOOT

DRESSED in a full suit of bright high-visibility workman’s clothing, Boris Johnson grabbed a giant mallet and hammered in the final paving stone of the new front entrance of the new King’s Cross station yesterday (Wednesday).

The Mayor of London joined a photocall with 50 days to go before the new space, due to be called King’s Cross Square, is completed and open to the public.

It replaces the old, green clad shack-like structure at the entrance and shops leaving a clear view of the original frontage with two windows.

“It is as though a gigantic pair of frogs’ eyes has emerged, and are staring down at us,” he said. “It’s not only beautiful, it enables us to get a lot of development going.

“Google is here with a massive investment, new university buildings and thousands of new homes. That is because the area is being developed. This is going to be a fantastic new space for London. There is a whole new culture, a whole new district behind us.”


The space is the final part of the £550million King’s Cross Station redevelopment and part of a wider scheme that has includes the headquarters of internet giant Google and the new Central Saint Martin’s College of Art.

There are just a handful of affordable homes in the development, the largest brownfield development in London.
The new square is set to open in September 26.