UPDATE: The Pond was closed in October 2016.
How refreshing! A dip in a 15 degrees Celsius freshwater pool in Central London? On a hot summer’s day, or even in other seasons, the pond at King’s Cross has a lot to offer.
The King’s Cross Pond is actually an art installation: created in 2015, it was designed to have a life span of only two years. The Pond is a man-made creation using a sophisticated and all-natural water filtering system. It was designed as an interactive art installation by Eva Pfannes and Sylvain Hartenberg from Ooze Architects and artist Marjetica Potrc.
Having first enjoyed the pond only in 2016, I feel there is so much potential and it would be a shame if the installation expires permanently in 2017. The landscape all around the pond is relaxing and mimics a natural pond environment with wild flowers and plants. In contrast to this, the area is surrounded by tall buildings and you can hear (and see) the Eurostar trains passing through in the near distance.
Just behind the pond is the Skip Garden, where I volunteered in 2015: there you can find a cafe and many plants, mostly aromatic herbs and edible plants, plus a chicken coop and an apiary.
You need to book a ticket in advance to enjoy the King’s Cross Pond: booking link.