What to do around Kings Cross?

[nunheadmum]

I'm meeting a friend coming down from the North at Kings Cross next week. Between us we have 4 kids between just toddling and age 6. Can anyone suggest a good option to keep them amused, preferably with some option for mums to catch up?

I guess Regent's Park is the obvious one if the weather is like this week has been. But any other indoor kiddie gems within a bus-ride if the weather isn't up to much? Is the British Library any good once they need entertaining - I remember it being nice in the courtyard when they were crawling/toddling but not sure the bigger ones would last once the food was eaten.

I don't usually venture up that way with the kids much.

[Yak]

I haven't been, but I hear wonderful things about Coram's fields - not sure if it has a cafe tho.....

[Belle]

http://www.coramsfields.org/

Corams Fields is great and just down the road from Kings X. Some animals (including a black sheep) and various play areas to suit the ages you mention, sand pit etc. There is a small cafe but if a nice day plenty benches/grass so you could picnic, or the Brunswick Centre is v nearby with family friendly eating options (Giraffe, Carluccios).

Just saw that you wanted indoor options - sorry! but worth considering still if the weather is like this. all nice and enclosed and safe.

[Belle]

NB I think there may be a council run playgroup at Corams Fields, have a friend who uses it.

[Lacey]

Another vote for corams fields - and the brunswick centre for lunch options

[nunheadmum]

Wow, that was fast and Coram Fields looks brilliant! Think we're sorted - thanks so much!!

[nunheadmum]

And it does Austrian coffee and cakes in the cafe!!!! To heck with the kids, I'm going myself.....oh, I need them to get in, don't I!

[crystal7]

LOVE Coram's Fields!

[redjam]

If you want another option, there is also a large and impressive playground at Highbury Fields, right opposite Highbury & Islington tube station (one stop away on Victoria line), with all the lovely cafes on Upper Street to visit after.

Coram's Fields is also nice, though I got a bit freaked out about the amount of sheep poo on everything last time I went - they just wander about freely. Bring some wipes! The playground area is not quite as good as the one in Highbury Fields, in my opinion, but it is a peaceful, chilled-out little oasis in the centre of London.

[Ellie78]

There is coram fields cafe in the foundling museum...but independent from it... Which is both delicious and cheap.

[westof]

There's also Camley Street Natural Park if you want somewhere right by St Pancras as well (it's signposted from the back entrance of the station & about a 5 minute walk).

It's really lovely on a sunny day (don't remember a cafe or much shelter of it's raining) but it does have lots of open access to water, so perhaps not ideal for herding toddlers while adults catch up ;-) though in other circumstances it's a lovely place for little ones.

[Renata Hamvas]

Coram Fields is great for this age group. It's on Guilford St. Take drinks in case the Cafe isn't open while you're there. Also buckets and spades for the sand play area if you can (there are some but never enough to go round!).

Renata

[nunheadmum]

Thanks everyone for the recommendation - just had a brilliant day out at Coram Fields. Weather was brilliant, kids were well behaved and we all had a lovely time.

Just one word of warning re the cafe - we'd to wait AGES for food and it wasn't THAT busy. Maybe just an off day - the guy doing it seemed a bit like a Germanic Basil Faulty. But worth taking your own or ordering before the kids are starving. That said, the sausages were lovely and the hot chocolate hit the spot!