FRAZZLED parents can make the most of a free family lounge at one of the UK’s biggest train stations.
London Kings Cross Station has its very own family zone with beach huts, a soft play area and a huge train set.
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After opening in October 2022, the Family Lounge at London Kings Cross Station became the first lounge of its kind on the UK rail network.
Located next to the Travel Centre in London Kings Cross, the family lounge is accessible for families who are booked on to trains departing from the station.
This means it’s not just limited to London North Eastern Railway (LNER) customers.
Inside are four brightly-coloured beach huts complete with tabletop toys and games.
There’s also a bespoke Hornby train set, keeping both big and little kids entertained, and a soft play area with a slide and a tiny black boulder doubling as a climbing frame.
Other features include a breastfeeding area for new mums, ample seating for the entire family and interactive screens with films.
At the time of opening, Abu Siddeeq, Head of Customer Service at LNER, said: “As a father with young children, I know first-hand how much I appreciate it when businesses are truly family friendly.
“That is why I’m delighted that LNER will be opening the Family Lounge at London King’s Cross, the first dedicated lounge for families on the UK rail network.
“From having a safe space to play to being able to sit together as a family whilst taking a break from travelling, the Family Lounge has been specially designed with families of all ages in mind and is bound to make a huge difference to those using the station.”
According to Network Rail, the Family Lounge is open from 8am until 8pm on weekdays and from 8am until 7pm on weekends.
There are several other interesting features at the station too, including Platform 9 and 3/4 – a fictional platform where Harry Potter and his friends board the Hogwarts Express.
Families can take a photo of themselves pushing a luggage trolley into a wall before browsing the Harry Potter Shop just to the left.
There are plenty of places to grab a bite to eat at the station too, including high street faves like Leon, Greggs, Pret a Manger and Starbucks.
London Kings Cross Train Station first started welcoming passengers in 1852, with just two platforms in operation at the time.
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In the last 170 years, the station has grown in size to encompass 11 platforms and multiple train routes.
The train station has also been used as a filming location for blockbuster movies like Harry Potter, Wonder Woman, and The Imitation Game.
There’s lots to do in the surrounding area too, including a visit to the world-famous British Library.
Granary Square is also nearby, which is home to the outdoor shopping district Coal Drops Yard.
There are a range of independent shops selling clothing, jewellery and gift stores.
If you want to grab a bite to eat try Dishoom, Lina Stores, Casa Pastor and the German Gymnasium.
European Trains with play areas for kids
TRAINS across Europe have special carriages with play areas designed for children complete with slides, climbing equipment, games and TV screens.
Finland
Inter-city trains in Finland have an entire carriage dedicated to tots, with a tiny library, a slide and a wooden toy train children can climb on.
There are other features too, including a wooden bead maze, funky mirrors, and safety gates to keep younger passengers safe.
Norway
Norwegian trains that run on the Bergen Line between Oslo and the Bergen, also have a carriage specifically designed for younger travellers.
Inside the playrooms, passengers will find climbing frames, children’s books, and a TV screen that plays age-appropriate shows.
The carriages also have plenty of space for pushchairs and luggage, and they’re close to changing tables too.
Read more about the jaw-dropping compartments on European trains, here.
Meanwhile, the world’s most beautiful train station is just one hour from the UK, and it is like “travelling back in time to golden age of rail”.
And a derelict train station dating back to 1881 could be transformed into a holiday park.
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