Passengers using London King’s Cross now enter the staion via a spectacular new semi-circular concourse which is part of a £500 million upgrade.

The concourse, with a steel and glass lattice roof housing a refurbished booking hall which closed in 1973 and a shopping area, was designed by architect John McAslan and Partners and Arup.

“It is the greatest station building ever,” said Mr McAslan who was born in Glasgow.

The new concourse opened on 19 March 2012 and is just a few yards from the refurbished Midland Railway station of St Pancras which is served by Eurostar, Javelin, East Midland and Thameslink trains.

Transport Secretary Justine Greening said: "For rail passengers arriving from the north of England and now Europe, the King's Cross area is their first glimpse of the capital.

“The new ticket concourse is a wonderful addition to the station that completes the area's transformation."

The original roof of the grade I listed building has also been renovated. Together the two roofs and their 1,400 glass laminate photovoltaic solar panels will produce 10% of the electricity needs of the station.

In September the shabby 1973 buildings at the front of the station will be demolished to reveal the original 1852 Euston Road facade and allow the creation of a new public square.

The project to renovate King's Cross station, which is used by 120,000 passengers a day, will be completed next year (2013).

Information from Network Rail