Welcome to a new old friend - St Pancras.
Leaving Britain by train means spending time at one of Britain's most iconic stations and becoming acquainted not just with a grand piece of Victorian engineering, refashioned for our time, but a London borough that's well worth a loiter.
Things to do
Here are some of the things you can do before boarding your train to the continent. I've also made google map with each point marked on it and a couple of strolls.
British Library
There's always something to have a browse through at this cathedral of knowledge and it's a nice place to sit and have cuppa.
If you are on your way to Figueres to look at Dali's works, including a reimagination of Isaac Newton, you might want to take a look at another Isaac Newton-esque statue in the courtyard in front of the Library which is in the style of William Blake's painting but without the anti-science vibe.
Crick Institute
It's a funny thought that while we are in St Pancras working out whether we should get a latte or a moccacino to take on Eurostar, just over the road, some of the world's leading scientists are working at the cutting edge of biomedical research. Curious to find out more? Why not pop over to the Crick Institute exhibition?
https://www.crick.ac.uk/whats-on/exhibitions
Camley Street Natural Park
This little slice of well-managed wilderness is a gem and it shows how easy it is to reimagine our cities with room for all.
...and it has a nice café.
St Pancras Gardens and Old Church
This quaint old church and surrounding graveyard/gardens gives a glimpse of how things used to be around here. It contains the postbox prototype grave of John Soane and the last resting place of Mary Wollstonecraft who died shortly after giving birth to Mary Shelley. The now blown-over Hardy Tree surrounded by gravestones, neatly stacked like pages in a book is a poignant monument by Thomas Hardy to the past that was being swept away by progress.
Coal Drops Yard
In the former depot where coal was moved from trains to canal barges and distributed around London, is a decidedly up-market shopping complex with plenty of outdoor space to loaf around and watch canal boats putter by.
London Canal Museum
If you're curious about why there's a canal running through this bit of London, what better place to find out than the Canal Museum?
Welcome Collection
Just opposite Euston Station, and a five minute walk from St Pancras, is the Wellcome Collection exploring health and human experience (I loved the Google images display in the eye exhibition). It also has roomy lockers for your bags and a nice coffee shop.
https://wellcomecollection.org
St Pancras New Church
As the parish grew in the early 19th Century, a new church was commissioned in a preacher-friendly neo-classical style - well worth a compare and contrast with the old church, especially if you're into architecture.
Camden Market
The ever-popular Camden Market is easy to get to from St Pancras - just follow the canal (marked on the google map).
The Foundling Museum
Over its two centuries in operation, the Foundling Hospital looked after 25,000 children who didn't have a parent to look after them. You can find out more about its history and the work they do now.
https://foundlingmuseum.org.uk
Platform 9¾
Around 20 years ago, half a trolley was attached to a wall between platforms 9 and 10 at Kings Cross which is next door to St Pancras. Now there's a full Harry Potter retail experience, where you can pick up a wand and some every-flavour beans.
Station stroll ideas
I've put a couple of ideas for station strolls on this google map, including walks to get you to Euston and (for the travel-light walkers) Paddington, so why not go for a wander?
You can also get maps and other information from Tourist information here.
Guided tours
If you would like a free tour from a local, why not meet a greeter? https://londongreeters.org/
Luggage
The Left Luggage office at the north end of the station, next to Boots.
Useful links
Tourist information: https://www.visitlondon.com/