The miracle of St Pancras and slideshow:

St Pancras was destined to be connected to the continent ever since the day in 1877 when Sir George Gilbert Scott’s magnificent station and hotel were finally declared complete. And next month that destiny will finally be realised, when the Queen launches the terminus into the world of 21st-century high-speed European rail travel. From November 14, Eurostar trains will writhe out from under the station’s unforgettable train shed roof through new tunnels and £5.8bn-worth of newly forged engineering works to reach Paris Gare du Nord in just two-and-a-quarter hours.

Smogr’s previous St Pancras coverage.