King’s Cross First Class Lounge to Close for Refurbishment Ahead of Spring Reopening
An extensive refurbishment of the LNER First Class Lounge at London King’s Cross is set to begin at the end of January 2026, marking one of the station’s most significant passenger-facing upgrades in recent years. LNER says the project follows customer feedback and aims to improve comfort, capacity, and functionality. The work is scheduled to start on 26 January, with the lounge reopening in spring once construction is complete.
The redesign aims to improve how the existing lounge space is used. It includes more seating and clearly defined areas for working and resting, giving passengers quieter corners and a bit more separation depending on how they want to spend their time. LNER has confirmed that the updated interior will combine heritage-inspired design elements with modern finishes, including improved lighting and additional greenery, while maintaining the First Class atmosphere passengers expect.
What will change inside the lounge
The refurbishment also covers several practical upgrades intended to improve everyday use of the space:
- expanded luggage and pushchair storage
- a redesigned reception area
- relocation of the refreshments zone to open up the lounge
- refurbishment of existing toilet facilities
Throughout the works, the First Class Lounge will remain closed, with no temporary replacement announced during the construction period.
Once reopened, the upgraded lounge will continue to serve as a convenient base for exploring London ahead of rail journeys. King’s Cross provides direct access to nearby cultural areas such as Bloomsbury, the British Library, and Regent’s Canal, as well as onward Underground links across the capital. The improved layout is expected to suit passengers combining city visits with longer-distance rail travel.
We recognise how much our customers enjoy using the First Class Lounge at London King’s Cross ahead of their journey. Throughout this investment, we have listened to what our customers would like from the space, and this redesign will bring some wonderful improvements that will be enjoyed by hundreds of customers every day.
The temporary closure highlights how rail operators are increasingly investing in station facilities as part of the travel experience, not just the journey itself. The temporary closure may cause some inconvenience, but the planned changes point to a clearer emphasis on how the space is used day to day. Passengers passing through King’s Cross in early 2026 should expect to spend time elsewhere in the station until the lounge reopens in spring.