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

September 26, 2013 · 11:45 AM EDT

By Jill Langlois

Members of the public walk through the newly opened King's Cross Square on September 26, 2013 in London, England. The opening of the square, which reveals the original facade of King's Cross station for the first time in 150 years, marks the final stage in the 550 million GBP redevelopment of the station.
Oli Scarff

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.