Euston Road, London
Where is Euston Road?
Euston Road is a key arterial route that runs across central London. It lies primarily within the London Borough of Camden, though a short portion near its western end falls into the City of Westminster.The road forms part of the London Inner Ring Road and serves as the northern boundary of central London’s congestion charge zone. It's a critical east-west route connecting Paddington to Islington, and a key access point to several major London transport hubs.
How Long is Euston Road?
Euston Road stretches approximately 1.1 miles (1.8 kilometres) from Marylebone Road at Great Portland Street in the west to Pentonville Road at King's Cross in the east. It is part of the longer A501 route, which runs from the A40 at Paddington to the A1 at Angel.A Brief History of Euston Road
Euston Road was originally built as the New Road in the 18th century. Opened in 1756, it was one of the earliest bypasses created to reduce congestion in central London, allowing cattle and goods to move more easily to Smithfield Market from the northwest.The New Road was a pioneering development of its time—wider and straighter than most London streets—and marked a significant improvement in road planning. As London expanded, the New Road was gradually absorbed into the urban fabric and renamed in segments.
The section we now know as Euston Road took on its present name in the mid-19th century, following the opening of Euston Station in 1837.
Map of Euston Road, London
Origin of the Name “Euston”
Euston Road is named after Euston Hall, the ancestral home of the Dukes of Grafton in Suffolk. The station, and later the road, were named in honour of the Earl of Euston, the heir to the Grafton dukedom.The renaming was likely a way to bring prestige and a sense of heritage to the newly established railway terminus and its surrounding infrastructure during the Victorian railway boom.
Roads That Connect to Euston Road
Euston Road intersects with many significant streets and thoroughfares. These include:- Marylebone Road (western continuation)
- Pentonville Road (eastern continuation)
- Great Portland Street
- Gower Street
- Tottenham Court Road
- Upper Woburn Place
- Gordon Street
- Hampstead Road
- Eversholt Street
- York Way
- Gray’s Inn Road
Painting of Euston Road (View full-size image here)
Major Landmarks and Buildings Along Euston Road
Euston Road is flanked by an impressive range of buildings, from historic landmarks to modern architectural feats. Key sites include: On the North Side:- University College London Hospital (UCLH) – A major NHS teaching hospital with cutting-edge medical facilities.
- Wellcome Collection – A free museum and library exploring health and human experience.
- St Pancras Renaissance Hotel – A striking Victorian Gothic building restored to its former grandeur.
- British Library – The UK’s national library and one of the world’s largest, holding over 170 million items.
- Euston Station – One of London’s major railway termini, serving the West Midlands, North West England, and Scotland.
- Friends House – Headquarters of the Quakers in Britain, offering public events and exhibitions.
- Regent’s Place – A modern business and residential campus home to tech and media companies.
Nearest London Underground Stations
Euston Road is extremely well-served by public transport, especially the Underground. Key nearby stations include:- Euston – Northern and Victoria lines
- Euston Square – Circle, Hammersmith & City, and Metropolitan lines
- King’s Cross St Pancras – Northern, Piccadilly, Victoria, Circle, Hammersmith & City, and Metropolitan lines
- Great Portland Street – Circle, Hammersmith & City, and Metropolitan lines
Fun Facts About Euston Road
- The British Library houses the Magna Carta, Beatles manuscripts, and handwritten lyrics by the likes of The Rolling Stones and Adele.
- St Pancras Station, right off Euston Road, is often considered the most beautiful train station in the UK—and home to the Eurostar terminal.
- Euston Road is part of the original Monopoly board game, grouped in the blue set along with Pentonville Road and The Angel Islington.
- The Wellcome Collection often features quirky exhibitions like the history of laughter, pain, or bodily fluids—completely free and open to all.
Conclusion
Euston Road is more than just a busy thoroughfare—it's a historic boundary line, a vital artery of London’s transport system, and home to some of the city’s most important cultural and academic institutions.Whether you’re hopping off a train, heading to the British Library, or simply navigating central London, Euston Road serves as a gateway and a destination in its own right.