The area around King's Cross station has come on leaps and bounds over recent years.
Thanks to generous investment and some innovative planning, what was once a seedy area frequented by some pretty dodging looking characters now has a far more respectable reputation.
Kings Place, a short walk from the station, has formed part of the area's redevelopment.
The building is an arts venue that also contains office space and business facilities. The Guardian newspaper, for example, is based there.
In 2010 Kings Place was awarded London Business Venue of the Year, a testament to its excellent design and offerings.
The location includes a 420-seat concert hall, a smaller performance venue with 220 seats, three galleries, a conference centre, restaurant, cafe and bar.
Music is a big part of Kings Place, with a broad range of events from all genres taking place throughout the premises. Check the Kings Place website for
up-to-date information on what's coming up.
One such regular event is
Weekly Themes. This allows musicians to play for four consecutive days in various parts of the building, and gives the artists total freedom over their performances, so members of the public can never be quite sure what to expect.
Those who like a good discussion will be interested in
Words on Monday, involving debates, talks and readings on a number of topics.
There are also regular
Talking Art events, which usually focus on the exhibitions showing at Kings Place at the time.
The
Pangolin London Gallery puts on exhibitions of contemporary sculpture, while the
Kings Place Gallery has a rolling programme of displays by renowned artists from all over the world. The
Guardian Gallery examines the world of newspapers and journalism.
Time your visit right and you could also take lunch or dinner there, or enjoy a drink. For something light, you have
Green & Fortune cafe; dinner can be enjoyed at the
Rotunda restaurant (British dishes); and the
Concert Bar does exactly what it says on the tin.
