Just a small detour today by Eurostar to see friend Diana over lunch, who conveniently booked us an Italian restaurant near St Pancras station in Kings Cross. What a delightful meal and catch up.

I loved this penny-farthing bike chained up in a local street! The only time I tried to ride one of these, I went for a header, ouch!

I don’t know how, but I had forgotten the remarkable St Pancras station originally opened in 1868 and the Renaissance Hotel adjoining, both with fairytale Gothic architecture. Lots of boutiques to browse in, piano available to play some tunes, and Laduree has a presence with its delicious macaroons. And a supermarket laden with mixed drinks (conveniently to take onboard the Eurostar).

The Grand Terrace at the station has this 9m tall bronze statue of a couple embracing. Known commonly as ‘The Lovers statue’, its pretty much the first thing you see when you step off the Eurostar. The brief for the commission from London & Continental Railways, the company responsible for the restoration of St. Pancras, stated that the sculpture should evoke the romance of travel and be as iconic as the Statue of Liberty in New York…I think the sculptor, Paul Day, met the brief! 

A long day, but absolutely worth it. Yay!