Meditative rambles, yoga, chia seeds. We've got the lot
With busy lives, its vital to set some time aside to look after ourselves, inside and out. Eating nourishing food, moving our bodies, getting outdoors, and taking positive steps towards a balanced mindset can help restore some much-needed zen. Here’s how and where at King’s Cross.
Reconnect with nature
Spending time in the great outdoors works wonders to clear the mind and lift the mood. In the heart of London, calming green space can be hard to find, but Kings Cross offers acres and acres of it – lush green parks, leafy squares, beautifully landscaped gardens and walks.
Regent’s Canal runs right through Kings Cross, and you can take in lots of fresh air and get moving at your own pace by walking or biking the towpath. Surprisingly tranquil, this scenic route winds all the way to Regent’s Park, passing outdoor art installations and charming houseboats along the way.
Just beside the canal, you’ll find Camley Street Natural Park, an urban nature reserve. The hectare space is home to a rich variety of plant and wildlife, and has recently reopened to the public with a new visitor centre and café.
Take a walk on the wild side
To help you discover the wilder side of the city, our friends at Global Generation have compiled these Wellbeing Walks. The aim is to help you slow down and discover nature in some unexpected places. You can download the guide here. Global Generation also runs a series of free events designed to help you connect with the natural world.
If you’d like to cultivate your own little patch of greenery, The Botanical Boys run terrarium building workshops from a number of locations at Kings Cross. The boys are passionate about reconnecting people to nature, and the two-hour sessions are a chance to destress, get creative, plus you get a low-maintenance, self-sustaining living garden to bring home.
Sink into a world of natural beauty
Blomma Beauty is a wonderfully serene space in Coal Drops Yard, offering a range of treatments alongside a curated selection of natural beauty products.
Treat yourself to restorative facial that includes a deep cleanse, exfoliation, mask, and heavenly massage, all using natural, cruelty free and vegan luxury skincare.
Blomma’s retail range includes skincare, haircare, body care and lifestyle products from natural beauty favourites Terry Verdi, Husk + Seed, Odylique, and Kind2. Bestsellers are Bumi’s Face Polish with Juniperberry, Sage, Hemp & Volcanic Ash, and the multi-award-winning overnight facial oil from Ad Skin Synergy.
And, if you’re new to natural beauty, you can book in with a Blomma consultant to transition to the perfect products for your skin type.
At Frame’s fitness studio, there’s a whole mix of classes to get your teeth into. Try Slow Flow Yoga, a calming fluid class that leaves you feeling centred rather than sweaty, or Rebounder, where you follow along to the instructor’s exercises all while bouncing on your own mini trampoline, boxing, kettlebells, HIIT, ballet-inspired barre classes, and the hugely popular music video classes, where you learn a full dance routine in an addictive hour of hip hop/street choreography.
Treat yourself
Hit the pause button and book a session at FACEGYM. Developed by beauty journalist Inge Theron, FACEGYM uses high energy kneading movements and cutting edge technology to tone and tighten the 40 forgotten muscles in the face, leaving you looking and feeling fresh.
Conscious beauty lovers can find lots of gorgeous products with an emphasis on natural ingredients, chemical-free formulas, and sustainability in Kings Cross. In Coal Drops Yard, you’ll find Australian skin and hair care brand Aesop, one of the world’s most sought-after brands thanks to their formulas created with the finest botanicals. At Wolf and Badger, most of the range of curated products are chemical-free, vegan and organic where possible, while Space NK on Pancras Square stock ‘clean’ beauty from the likes of Vinter’s Daughter and Votary.
The Fore is a sleek boutique studio gym on Handyside Street. Their workout classes use a range of specialised equipment – The Rip Trainer, a TRX and The Skillmill – to offer group training that concentrates on perfect form, strength, and metabolic conditioning. Voted one of the best workout classes in London, the high-intensity Foretitude sessions are hard work, great fun and undeniably effective. If you’d prefer something a little less demanding, then try their NOGA (that’s TRX Yoga) or Flow Fore mat-based classes that combine strengthening and stretching poses with guided breathwork.
If you’re new to fitness, trying hitting the mat at Polestar Pilates on Canal Reach. Pilates is one of the best all-round forms of fitness there is, with low-impact, precise movements designed to help to improve your posture, strengthen your core and make you more flexible.
For exercise in the great outdoors, try the MW5 Bootcamp. The workout is designed to provide a high-calorie burn using a variety of different equipment. You’ll be encouraged to test your body and push your limits, but always within your ability levels. The session is led by Martin Whitelock. His tough but sensible training approach is not your typical military-style bootcamp. To enroll, or to find out more visit the MW5 Fitness website.
Nourish your body
It’s no secret that wellness starts from within, and you’ll find plenty of health-boosting sustenance at King’s Cross. From nutritious grain bowls packed with delicious seasonal ingredients at Caravan, to the veg-centric menu at Granger & Co., where you can choose from a host of dishes from around the globe with big punchy flavours. The menu at Pip Lacey’s hicce features lots of fish, seafood and uber-trendy fermented ingredients while vegetarians and omnivores alike will love the vegetarian tasting menu at Hoppers.
And as healthy eating nudges firmly into the mainstream, you can find delicious good-for-you dishes even in restaurants you wouldn’t expect. German Gymnasium for example, boasts a healthy corner and Beer + Burger offers a surprisingly wholesome option in their vegan burger. Check out our favourite vegan dishes at King’s Cross here.
