London's King's Cross Station gets a makeover (PHOTOS)

GlobalPost

London's King's Cross Station, home to Harry Potter's Platform 9 3/4, reopened to the public on Thursday after receiving an $880-million makeover that revealed the original facade of the station for the first time in 150 years.

A 75,000-sq ft tree-studded square was unveiled in front of the station, replacing a green metal canopy that had blocked the view of the Victorian train station.

King's Cross dates back to the 1850s and helps around 47 million passengers travel annually. The station's makeover is part of a wider redevelopment of the area, which was once known as a red-light district. The neighborhood will now be home to upscale apartments and offices, including Google's new London headquarters.

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