What to expect when visiting and staying in Victoria, London
Victoria is the main gateway to London for visitors flying into Gatwick Airport. The neighbourhood revolves around Victoria train station, London’s second busiest after Waterloo, with Victoria underground station just beneath the railway station.
The hotel areas of Victoria are one of London’s largest too; visitors are attracted by its central location and great transport links. The overall area is so large it can be divided up into sub areas, which we detailed below, each with their own different character.
We have a dedicated page looking at the Victoria train station and another looking at Victoria Coach Station, London’s only major bus station for scheduled buses outside of London, including most day tours from London.
In and around Victoria Station
The front of Victoria Railway Station is the hub of the district, where all the major roads intersect in a fragmented, complicated one-way system. This area is by far the busiest, with traffic-clogged streets at all hours.
There are more than 70 million rail passengers passing through Victoria Station annually, the majority of whom are commuters. To service all of Victoria’s visitors a host of retail outlets are available, mostly aimed at this passing trade.
Budget hotels can be found to the south of the railway station, where you also find Victoria coach station.
Just behind the coach station, you’ll discover a Sainsbury’s Local supermarket, as well as convenient local services such as launderettes, hairdressers, and other amenities.
The 4- and 5-star luxury hotels are mostly in the immediate vicinity of Victoria Railway Station, north and north east of it going towards Westminster Abbey and St James’s Park.
The Clermont Hotel is the old station hotel and is actually part of the railway station itself. You can walk off the train and directly into reception from the station.
Food and Drink
There are just about every type of food and drink outlet you can think of in and around Victoria Station from fast food and cafes to restaurants and traditional English Pubs. There is a Sainsbury’s Local supermarket – ideal for those staying at self-catering accommodations.
Landmarks and Theatres
Victoria has two West End theatres, the Victoria Palace directly opposite the front of the station and the Apollo Theatre just down the side of the station. These host some of the top shows on the West End Theatre scene.
Attractions
About 200 metres north of Victoria Station is the start of the grounds of Buckingham Palace, where you will find most of the high-end luxury hotels. Eastward from the Station, Victoria Street leads to Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament, less than a mile away.
Further out in Victoria neighbourhood
Victoria Road
Leading eastward Victoria Street is a wide street leading out of the district to Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament less than a mile away.
The area prioritizes functionality over memorability. It boasts numerous amenities and shops, such as pharmacies, bookstores, and convenience food markets. However, it lacks a full-sized supermarket, and given its status as the most affluent neighbourhood, you won’t find services like launderettes available here.
The majority of hotels are south of Victoria Station, offering a complete contrast to the area you’ll experience from outside the front of the station.
Belgrave Road
Covering a distance of approximately 1km from the rear of Victoria Station to Pimlico, you’ll find an Underground Station just one stop away on the Victoria Line. Belgrave Road serves as the central hub of the hotel area, with nearly every building along this road being a hotel.
Wilton Road
Wilton Road runs alongside Belgrave Road. At the railway station end, you’ll discover a quaint shopping and dining district featuring a variety of global cuisines.
This area has a distinct vibe compared to the bustling space in front of the station, offering a more community-oriented and relaxed atmosphere filled with locals rather than just commuters and workers. Notably, there’s a full-sized Sainsbury’s supermarket here, which is quite rare for a central London setting.
Supermarkets
The area’s only full-size supermarket, Sainsbury’s, is ideal if you require food, drink, common medicines, clothes or other personal goods. Throughout the neighbourhood, you will find various other small convenience stores, mainly the national chains Tesco and Sainsbury’s.
Historic Buildings
Nearly all the buildings in the area were built 100 years ago or more, there are very few hotels in new modern, purpose-built buildings. Nearly all are housed in terraces of 4 to 6 storey town houses, from the outside the cheapest hotels looks no different to an expensive one.
Services
Littered around the hotel district there are various cafes, bakeries, traditional English pubs and small parades of neighbourhood services. Among these, you will find other useful services in the neighbourhood such as launderettes, hairdressers and dentists.
Victoria Coach Station
The coach station is located over to the west of the hotel district, a 10 minute walk south of the railway and underground station.
Visit our Victoria Coach Station London page for more information.
Belgravia & Ebury Street
Running behind the Coach Station is Ebury Street which just about marks the western border of the hotel district. It’s like an invisible border. Once you cross Ebury Street, it immediately becomes more upmarket. This is Belgravia, home to many national embassies, diplomats and J.K. Rowling!
The hotels along Ebury Street are a strange mix, with some of the cheapest and most expensive accommodations located beside one another.
Navigating London from Victoria
Airport and Cruise transfers
Visit our Victoria to London airport and cruise port transfers page for more information.
Bus
The number 24 bus travels along Belgrave Road from one end to the other around the clock, running approximately every 5 minutes. Even during the early hours, around 3am, it still runs roughly every 15 minutes. Riding the number 24 bus feels like a mini sightseeing adventure all on its own.
If you’re not in the mood for a stroll to the nearest Underground Station, you can catch the 24 bus, which will take you to Westminster Abbey and Big Ben in just 10 minutes. It will also get you to the vibrant West End nightlife area in about 15 to 20 minutes.
Additionally, there’s a reliable night bus service right outside the station that can take you to various locations throughout Central London.
Visit Transport for London for more information.
Hop-on hop-off buses
While hop-on hop-off buses are available for sightseeing across London, the three primary bus tour companies—Toot Bus, Big Bus and Golden Tours—are all based at Victoria coach station.
Underground
The District, Circle and Victoria lines of the London Underground all stop at Victoria Underground station. These lines all run from 5am until around midnight except the Victoria line which runs for 24 hours on Fridays and Saturdays.
Central London tours and day tours outside London
Victoria is the best place in London to base yourself if you have booked or planning to book tours in and out of London.
Most of the major formal coach tour companies start and end their trips at Victoria Coach Station, offering guided tours of London as well as day trips from London to destinations like Stonehenge, Bath, Windsor, Oxford, and others.
If you are more independently minded and enjoy exploring on your own, there are buses to Windsor Castle and Oxford, these are a cheaper alternative to the train.
Canterbury can also be reached by train from the Victoria railway station.