Why take a car to King's Cross?
From Crystal Palace, the rail journey to King's Cross involves at least one change, usually at London Bridge or Highbury. That is fine for a day bag. It is far less fun with two suitcases, a pushchair or a heavy box of work kit.
King's Cross is also the starting point for long journeys. LNER trains run up the East Coast to York, Newcastle and Edinburgh, and Eurostar leaves from St Pancras next door. People catching those trains want to arrive calm and on time, with their luggage still in one piece. A pre-booked car does that.
Minicab to St Pancras International
St Pancras and King's Cross are neighbours, separated only by Pancras Road. That means one drop-off works for both.
If you are catching the Eurostar, check-in closes well before departure and security can take a while at busy times. Eurostar's own advice tells you how early to arrive, so follow that and then add the drive time. We will suggest a pickup time when you book. For Thameslink services north to Luton or Bedford, and East Midlands Railway trains, you will also need St Pancras.
The drive from SE19 to N1
The usual route runs north through West Norwood or Dulwich, onto Brixton Road or Camberwell, then up to Elephant and Castle. From there, drivers cross the river at Blackfriars Bridge and head up Farringdon Road towards King's Cross. It is about 10 miles.
Typical times are around 45 minutes in light traffic and an hour or more in the rush hour. Treat these figures as a guide. The slowest stretches are often Brixton, the Elephant and Castle junctions and Farringdon Road around lunchtime.
Much of the route passes through the central London Congestion Charge zone. The charge applies to private hire vehicles during charging hours, and it is part of why fares on this run are higher on weekdays.
Avoiding the worst traffic
Early morning trains are the easiest. Before 7am the roads are clear and you can often make the trip in 40 minutes. Friday afternoons are the opposite, as everyone tries to leave London at once. If your train leaves between 4pm and 7pm on a Friday, we will suggest an earlier pickup.
Where we drop you at King's Cross
The driver uses the set-down area closest to the station entrance you need, traffic and road rules allowing. King's Cross has its main concourse on the western side, facing Pancras Road and the square. Most passengers find the walk from car to departure board takes only a couple of minutes.
If you need help with heavy luggage, just ask. The driver will unload everything and make sure you have all your bags before driving off.
Collecting you from King's Cross
Coming home is just as easy. Tell us your train and arrival time, and the driver will be waiting near the station at the agreed time. If your train runs late, call us and we will move the pickup. Trains from the North often arrive late in the evening, and our booking line is open all night.
Eurostar transfer from South London
A lot of our King's Cross bookings are really Eurostar trips. Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam are all a single train away from St Pancras, and starting from Crystal Palace means you can leave home at a sensible hour if the car is booked.
For families, a 6 seater minicab gives room for everyone's case. For a romantic weekend away, a saloon is all you need.
Travelling north with family
A lot of King's Cross trips are family visits. Grandparents in Yorkshire, cousins in Newcastle, a wedding in Edinburgh. Those trips mean presents, prams and more luggage than anyone planned for.
Our advice is to book the car for the train you want, then add 20 minutes. King's Cross is busy, the departure boards change fast and platforms are often announced only a few minutes before departure. Arriving early means you can find your coach, buy a coffee and settle in without rushing.
Coming back late on a Sunday
Sunday evening trains from the North are often full and sometimes late. If you are coming home with children asleep on your shoulder, the last thing you want is a long Tube ride and a walk up the hill from Crystal Palace station. Book your pickup before you travel, give us the train details and the driver will track the time with you.
Which car to book
- Saloon for up to four passengers and around two large cases
- Estate for up to four passengers with more boot space
- MPV for up to six passengers
- 7/8 seater for groups, see our 7 seater minicab
Child seats are available on request.
King's Cross minicab fare
Your King's Cross minicab fare is fixed at booking. It depends on the time of day, the car and any extra stops. You can pay by card or cash.
To check the price now, use the booking form on this page or call 020 8659 9000.
Other central London stations
We run transfers to every major London terminus. If your journey north starts next door at Euston, see our Crystal Palace to Euston Station transfer. For trains to the west, try the minicab from Crystal Palace to Paddington. For a quicker run into the City, the London Bridge Station transfer is a short hop. Flying instead? Our Luton Airport minicab covers the airport north of here.
We pick up from every corner of SE19 and the nearby areas, from Anerley to Dulwich.
