Overview

Camley Street Natural Park is a small park in London's King's Cross. It's 1 hectare in size and consists of woodland, grassland and wetland. It has a visitors' centre and an accessible path. It also has woodchip covered surface paths too, and if you are unable to access them you will have to retrace your steps and will see about 50% of the park. However, it's a lovely open space but what makes it unique and special is it's location. One side of the reserve is adjacent to the Regent's Canal with views of the canal and barges, and views over to King's Cross industrial heritage buildings which have been transformed as part of the King's Cross re-developmental, which provides interesting, key catching vistas.

Transport & Parking

The reserve is a 5-10 minute walk from King's Cross and St Pancras railway stations, depending on your speed. The nearest tube is King's Cross, which is step free. There are several buses that stop by the stations. The 2 closest bus stops are both served by buses numbers 46 and 214. Currently both these routes going north bound first stop at St Pancras International and King's Cross Stations Stop T, which is in Pancras Road, and is 0.4 miles away and is also just across the road from where most of the other buses for King's Cross stop. The 46 and 214 then stop at Chenies Place, which is 0.3 miles away. Personally I would suggest unless you are already travelling on 46 and 214 to get to King's Cross anyway, I would not use these buses to go just one stop given their frequency and sometimes the amount of traffic in the area, it would be quicker to walk directly to the reserve. The most direct route from King's Cross/ St Pancras/ Euston Road is to walk up Pancras Road, which has King's Cross Station on one side and St Pancras on the other, as this leads directly onto Camley Street. This route is mostly level but there is a slight upward slope as you enter Camley Street and then the road is level again. There is also a step free route to the reserve from Granary Square. Walk by the Coal Drops and make for the Gasholders (which are now luxury apartments) and close to it is a step free bridge with ramps at both ends. Cross the bridge and the entrance to the reserve is on your immediate left hand side.

Access

On arrival you pass through wide, double entrance gates which are open when the park is. Immediately in front of you is the visitors' centre. This is a fairly recent addition to the reserve with modern step free facilitates. On one side there is the café counter, which is quite low. It serves hot and cold drinks, cake and sorry I'm not sure what else is does. There is plenty of outdoor seating around 3 sides of the building. Next to the counter is the largest seating area, with free standing table and chairs and it has a overhead canopy to keeps you dry you when it rains. If you follow the path around the building, then you come to the area overlooking the canal which only has tall, bar stool seating and tables, and then the 3rd side has fixed picnic tables and benches. The visitors' centre's toilets were open but the large room, which I assume is used by school groups, etc, was closed when we visited. Leaving the visitors' centre there is a wide open gateway with an accessible firm path which leads along the canal side of the reserve to the dipping pond. After the dipping pond the other paths have a woodchip covering surface. If you are unable to access the woodchip paths then you have to retrace your steps and get to see only half of the park. One path leads up a flight of stairs, see photo. I did not go up the stairs as the handrail on the right hand side was too low. My friend, who also has a mobility disability and walks with a crutch, went up and down the steps, she informed me that the steps were not of equal depth and there was one big step that she struggled with. There was another woodchip surfaced path which has a raised gradient, see photo, which we walked along. The woodchip appeared wet and slippery to me , however my friend went ahead, and told me that the path was firm. I'm quite timid walking on uneven or wet surfaces, but I found this route was manageable for me with my crutch, although where the path sloped down towards the visitors' centre at the end, I was out of my comfort zone as there was no railing support. However, I was pleased that I managed it as the views from the higher ground have lovely views.

Toilets

There is an accessible toilet in the visitors' centre. It's spacious, clean and tidy. There are plenty of grab rails and an emergency cord. It was only when I was seated on the toilet that I noticed that there were 2 entrance doors, see photo. However, I checked and the 2nd door was locked, so don't panic! Please note 2 Changing Places toilets are located a few minutes away at Camden Leisure, 5 St Pancras Square and King's Cross Station.

Staff

Only saw the staff at the cafe. They were welcoming and brought over my drink to me.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

This is a really lovely open space. Well worth visiting. Easy to get to and it's usually open daily (but check website before travelling). However, I think the woodchip path with just slopes either end could be made more accessible. If you are unable to access the woodchip path then you have to retrace your steps to exit the reserve and it means that you only get to explore less than half the reserve, whereas able bodied people can explore 100%. I would like to see the woodchip being replaced by an accessible surface, and the gradients at either end being altered to accommodate wheelchair and pram users and handrails of a suitable height provided where there are slopes or steps to support people with mobility disabilities. If you want to get out and enjoy being in the countryside in the centre of London, this is the perfect stop to visit. Also it's a 5 minute walk to not just 1 but 2 Changing Places toilets.

Photos