Our corner of King's Cross is easy to rush through. Most people head straight from the station to somewhere else. But stay on foot for a few hours and the streets between King's Cross St Pancras, the British Library and Russell Square make for one of the best-value days out in central London. Much of it is free, and all of it is walkable. We are right in the middle of it, at 4 Medway Court on Judd Street, so here is how we would spend a day in the neighbourhood, with breakfast, lunch and an early-evening spritz back with us.
Morning: breakfast on Judd Street
We open at 8am every day and serve breakfast and brunch until 2pm, so there is no need to set an alarm. For a proper start, the Fiena English breakfast brings Cumberland sausage, smoked bacon, portobello mushroom, hash brown, beans, poached eggs and cherry tomatoes. If you want something lighter, try poached eggs on avocado with chilli flakes and dukkah, or a granola bowl with Greek yoghurt, chia seeds and seasonal fruit. The Classic Benedict comes three ways: Ham, Florentine or Royale.
Pair it with an Italian coffee from the bar: an espresso, a cortado, a flat white, or something from the latte list such as pistachio matcha. We also squeeze orange juice and apple, carrot and ginger daily. The full line-up is on our breakfast menu.
Maria and her son found us this way, after wandering around Kings Cross area trying to avoid overcrowded overpriced cafes
, and described the room as spacious, music not too loud, decor is not over the top, the friendliest of staff and fresh, quality food and excellent coffee.
(Maria M., Google review).
Late morning: the British Library
From Judd Street it is a short stroll up to Euston Road and the British Library, the UK's national library. It is open to everyone and free to use, and its piazza and public spaces are a lovely place to spend an hour or two even if you are not there to study. Check the library's website before you go for current exhibitions, events and opening times.
Just across the road, the Victorian front of St Pancras International is worth a look on its own. If you have a Eurostar to catch later, it is good to know how close you are.
Lunch: back to the table
From midday our full lunch and dinner menu runs all day. After a morning on your feet, a shared antipasti table is hard to beat: caprese with buffalo mozzarella and heritage tomato, bruschetta, arancini, and garlic bread with cheese. For a lighter lunch, try a chicken or salmon Caesar or the goat cheese salad with walnuts and honey mustard. Or go straight for a bowl of pasta: carbonara, lasagna made with layers of fresh pasta, or our namesake Linguine Fiena.
Afternoon: Russell Square and the British Museum
Walk south through Bloomsbury's Georgian streets and squares and you reach Russell Square, one of the area's largest garden squares and a good place to sit with a coffee on a fine afternoon. A few minutes further on is the British Museum. Its website lists what is on and how to plan your visit, and it is well worth checking before you go on a busy weekend.
If you would rather keep the afternoon slow, the streets around Brunswick Square, Marchmont Street and Judd Street reward a wander, with independent shops and cafes a world away from the station concourse.
Early evening: aperitivo before the train
By late afternoon you have earned a drink. The bar pours from 10:30, so by the time you are back on Judd Street spritz hour is well under way. Order an Aperol, Hugo, Campari or limoncello spritz, or a Negroni, and grab a table outside if the weather allows. Kiley's tip: I'd also recommend sitting outside and enjoying a cocktail here.
(Kiley R., Google review). The full cocktail, wine and mocktail list is on our drinks menu.
Dinner, or one for the road
If you are staying for dinner, the kitchen offers everything from Neapolitan-style pizza to grills and fish: saltimbocca alla Romana, lamb cutlets, or a whole grilled sea bream. Finish with tiramisu or three scoops of gelato. And if you are heading for a train, King's Cross and St Pancras are only a few minutes' walk away, which, as Celia put it, makes us A hidden gem not far from Kings Cross or Euston
(Celia F., Google review).
Good to know before you go
- We are open Monday to Saturday 08:00–22:00 and Sunday 08:00–21:00.
- Tables for up to 8 guests can be booked online. For larger groups, please contact us.
- Walk-ins are always welcome when we have space. Booking ahead is a good idea for dinner and at weekends.
- NHS staff and students get 10% off every day with valid ID.
- Well-behaved dogs are welcome in our outdoor seating, with water bowls on request.
Start your Bloomsbury day with us
Whether it is breakfast before the British Library, lunch between museums or a spritz before your train, we would love to be part of your day in King's Cross. Book a table at Fiena, or simply wander in. You will find us at 4 Medway Court, Judd Street, London WC1H 9QX.