When St Pancras International station opened in 2007, everything began to change.
It marked the beginning of an ambitious regeneration project that transformed the area. King’s Cross had become the gateway to London for tourists arriving on the Eurostar and began to sharpen up its act accordingly — smart new restaurants opened, clean-cut green spaces emerged and shiny office buildings shot up. The corner of north London became a genuine 'destination'.
Up until that point, it had a very different reputation, especially among the city’s clubbers. The area's gritty, industrial edge had meant that, from the 1980s onwards, it was a hub of warehouse raves. The place seemed to exist in a bubble — it offered parties more like the ones you’d expect to find in east Berlin, rather than somewhere that was only a 15-minute bus ride from Fitzrovia.
But with the sweep of gentrification, that was largely lost. Three of the best local clubs — Canvas, the Key and the Cross — were all pushed into extinction by the end of 2007.
Through all of the hardship, though, one club in King’s Cross has stood firm. Egg, which has been celebrating its 15th birthday this year, has continued to thrive and is now deservedly counted among the city’s finest night spots.
A huge space, spread across three floors with five rooms and an outdoor terrace, it has forged a stoic reputation thanks to its hard-hitting, marathon club nights.
Here is the GO Clubbing guide to Egg.
Vital statistics
Where is it? 200 York Way, N7 9AX
What’s the capacity? 900
When did it open? May 2003
What’s the music like?
The broad policy at Egg is house and techno — but of course, the lines between the two are quite often blurred, so you’ll find a heady mix of both throughout the club’s programming. Expect flashes of electro, drum’n’bass and disco, too.
Who plays there?
The club strikes a good balance between booking the big, crowd-pleasing names and showcasing the emerging talents. Jeff Mills, Nina Kraviz and Sven Väth have all played incredible sets there in the past.
How expensive are tickets?
Pretty average for London. First release tickets for weekend events can be nabbed for a fiver if you move quickly enough. By the time it gets up to the fourth release, however, you’ll likely be paying around £20.
Tickets for the popular midweek events cost £5 (occasionally a couple of pounds more, if demand is high).
How late does it stay open?
Late. The club has a 24-hour license and, although it only uses that to its fullest extent on rare occasions, it is always one of the latest curfews of all the clubs in London.
Tuesdays and Wednesdays run until 5am and 3.30am respectively, making it one of the best places in the capital to visit in order to get your midweek boogie on.
Fridays usually roll on into 6am, while Saturday goes one better and doesn’t stop the party until 7am.
How good is the sound system?
Superb. The club is home to a Flipside sound system in each of its three main areas. The DJs that Egg tends to book are fans of big, bassy sounds and this rig can more than live up to them.
What should I wear?
The dress code is pretty relaxed, described by the club as “smart-casual”. Jeans and smart trainers are allowed, but “hoodies, man bags and sport brands” are prohibited.
Is there a cloakroom?
Yes. As with pretty much everywhere, it doesn’t accept cards, so bring some coins.
How do I get there?
The nearest Tube stations are Kings Cross St Pancras and Caledonian Road. They’re both on the Night Tube but are about a 15-minute walk away from the club.
The 390 bus stops just outside and runs throughout the night.
Somewhat uniquely, the club also runs a free shuttle bus on Fridays and Saturdays from 11pm. It goes from just outside the American Carwash on York Way, so it works best if you’re coming from the King’s Cross area, rather than from the north.
There are always licensed cabs waiting outside the venue and it’s easily accessible for an Uber.
