With two big railway stations (King’s Cross and St’ Pancras International) King’s Cross is one of the most important transportation hubs in London for both domestic and international travel. Trafalgar Square of course is one of the landmark places, always crowded with tourists and close to many other attractions, including the National Gallery, Whitehall (seat of the British Government), Downing Street, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, London Eye… (Yes, the list is endless).
How to Get from King’s Cross to Trafalgar Square
Air distance from King’s Cross to Trafalgar Square is about 1.5 miles or 2.5 km. Shortest walking or road distance is about double that, which to most people is too far to walk. Luckily, there is very fast and convenient public transport connection.
The best way to get to Trafalgar Square from King’s Cross (and St. Pancras) is by taking the Piccadilly Line from King’s Cross St. Pancras station to either Leicester Square or Piccadilly Circus stations (4 or 5 stops). Both are roughly equally close to Trafalgar Square – about 5 minutes’ walk. Personally I would get off at Leicester Square, because it is one stop before Piccadilly Circus and (at least subjectively) feels a little bit closer to walk to Trafalgar Square.
Leicester Square Station Exits
When you arrive at Leicester Square station, the exits will take you either directly to Leicester Square (a square with a fountain in the middle, lots of trees and – almost at any time of day and night – lots of tourists) or to the corner of Charing Cross Road (street with buses) and Cranbourn Street (street with lots of tourists, as it is the main link between Leicester Square and Covent Garden or Holborn).
How to Get from Leicester Square to Trafalgar Square
If you exit the tube directly at Leicester Square, just go to the bottom right corner of the square and take the small street to the right (Panton Street). Then immediately (20 meters or so) take the first street to the left (and slightly downwards sloping). Its name is Whitcomb Street. You should pass the Thistle Hotel on the left side. Walk to the bottom end of the street and then turn left. You will see the National Gallery, which is at the upper end of Trafalgar Square.
If you exit at the corner of Charing Cross Road and Cranbourn Street, you should see the characteristic building of the Hippodrome Casino. Take the bigger street with buses (Charing Cross Road) downwards – the side opposite to the casino building. You should get to Trafalgar Square in about 4-5 minutes.
Taking the Tube to Charing Cross Station
There is another tube station that has an exit directly at Trafalgar Square – Charing Cross station. You can get there by changing to the Northern Line at Leicester Square station. It would save you a few steps, but time wise it is certainly faster to exit the tube at Leicester Square and just walk the short distance to Trafalgar Square.