Something familiar about the arches of this Victorian water tower?
They mirror those at the nearby St Pancras Renaissance Hotel — and for good reason. The St Pancras Waterpoint was designed by the office of Sir George Gilbert Scott, the architect behind that lavish hotel (then the Grand Midland).
On Saturday 22 June 2024, there's a chance for you to explore this miniature gem, courtesy of a tour by the St Pancras Cruising Club. You'll glean plenty more facts about the pretty-yet-practical structure, which was built in 1872 to supply water to the area's swelling steam railway network, and how, at the turn of the millennium, it was threatened with demolition, as St Pancras adapted to accommodate the Eurostar. (Spoiler alert: there was a happy ending — the water tower was sliced into sections, hoisted onto a transporter and moved away from the danger zone.)
One-hour tours of the St Pancras Waterpoint run on the hour between 10am and 3pm; on each of these, a guide will take you inside the building and — if you're game — up a newly-constructed staircase to a viewing platform, providing magnificent views of the King's Cross area and St Pancras station. Tours are free, although donations are encouraged. You'll need to book ahead.
St Pancras Waterpoint tours, Saturday 22 June, 10am-3pm, free (suggested donation), book ahead
