There's a new pedestrian crossing to try out in central London — Esperance Bridge in King's Cross opened in July, spanning the Regent's Canal at Granary Square and Pancras Square.
Designed by Moxon Architects and Arup (the latter was involved with King's Cross station's stunning roof), Esperance Bridge is a nod to a railway bridge built on the same spot in 1821, to transport coal to the goods yard.
It's a simple, handsome structure made from carbon steel, stretching 25 metres and painted a red oxide hue, reminiscent of the Forth Bridge in Scotland.
Esperance Bridge has been described by Robert Evans, CEO of King's Cross as "one of the final pieces of the public realm jigsaw" in a transformation of the King's Cross area which has seen scores of industrial buildings and landmarks converted for both public and private use, including Coal Drops Yard and Gasholders London.
If you're wondering about the bridge's name, it was chosen by local children from King’s Cross Academy, and means 'hope' in French. Clearly they've got some smart primary school children in this part of London.
