Victoria, London

---

Neighbourhood in the City of Westminster centred around one of London's busiest transport hubs

Victoria is a vibrant and centrally located neighbourhood in the City of Westminster, London. It is bounded by Victoria Street to the north, Vauxhall Bridge Road to the east, Warwick Way and Ebury Bridge to the south, and Buckingham Palace Road with Grosvenor Gardens to the west.

The heart of the area is Victoria Station, a major hub for trains, Underground services, and buses. The neighbourhood is just a short walk from landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, Westminster Cathedral, and St James’s Park, making it a key gateway for both commuters and tourists entering central London.

The History of Victoria

Before the 19th century, the area now known as Victoria was a low-lying expanse of marshy land and open fields, largely undeveloped and considered part of the Great Westminster Marsh. There were few roads or structures, and the landscape was known more for its natural features than urban activity.

The early 1800s saw gradual transformation, spurred by the expansion of London and infrastructure improvements. The construction of Grosvenor Canal in 1825 brought some commercial traffic to the area, and the development of nearby Pimlico contributed to further change. Still, it remained a relatively quiet and underdeveloped part of Westminster until the arrival of the railway.

How Victoria Got Its Name

The name “Victoria” was not historically associated with the area. It was the construction of Victoria Station that gave the neighbourhood its now-familiar identity. The station opened in two parts: the London Brighton and South Coast Railway side in 1860, and the London, Chatham and Dover Railway side in 1862.

The station itself was named in honour of Queen Victoria, whose reign marked the era of railway expansion and imperial growth. As the area around the station grew in significance, especially with increasing commuter and commercial traffic, the name “Victoria” came to refer to the surrounding neighbourhood by default. So yes, the railway station came first, and the district later adopted the name.

The Character of the Area

Victoria is best known as a busy transport interchange and commercial hub, but its character is more layered than that. In recent decades, it has undergone extensive redevelopment, blending historical buildings with new architecture and public spaces.

The neighbourhood is home to a mixture of office buildings, hotels, residential apartments, and retail outlets. The Nova Victoria development and Cardinal Place have added high-end shops and restaurants to the area, changing its tone from purely functional to lifestyle-oriented.

Despite its urban density, the area also has pockets of tranquillity, including Eccleston Square and St George’s Square. The proximity to Royal Parks like St James’s and Green Park adds to its livability.

Streets in Victoria

1. Alderney Street
2. Belgrave Road
3. Buckingham Palace Road
4. Cambridge Street
5. Eccleston Square
6. Eccleston Square Mews
7. Gillingham Street
8. Grosvenor Gardens
9. Guildhouse Street
10. Hugh Street
11. Longmoore Street
12. St George's Drive
13. Upper Tachbrook Street
14. Vauxhall Bridge Road
15. Warwick Place North
16. Warwick Way
17. Wilton Road

Real Estate and Property Prices

As of May 2025, property prices in Victoria remain high, reflecting its prime location in central London and excellent transport links. Prices vary significantly depending on the type of property and its proximity to Victoria Station.

• 1-bedroom flats typically range from £750,000 to £1.1 million and average around 600 sq ft (56 sq m).
• 2-bedroom apartments are usually between £1.2 million and £2 million, offering around 850 to 1,200 sq ft (79–111 sq m).
• Luxury penthouses and new builds in developments like Nova Victoria can exceed £3 million for around 1,500 sq ft (139 sq m) or more.

Rental prices are also steep, making the area popular among professionals working in Westminster, Belgravia, and the West End. While prices are higher than the London average, they remain slightly lower than in neighbouring Belgravia or Mayfair.

Victoria Station: Underground and National Rail

Victoria Station is one of the most significant transport hubs in London. It is served by three London Underground lines:

• Victoria line (light blue): Fast connections to the West End, Euston, and King's Cross.
• District line (green): Serving west to Wimbledon and east to Tower Hill.
• Circle line (yellow): Looping through central London including South Kensington, Liverpool Street and Paddington.

In addition to the Underground, Victoria is a major terminal for National Rail services. Trains from here serve destinations across the South East, including:

• Brighton and the South Coast
• Gatwick Airport (via the Gatwick Express)
• Croydon, Clapham Junction, and Kent towns like Dover and Canterbury

Bus Services in Victoria

Victoria is extremely well-connected by London Buses. The Victoria Bus Station and surrounding stops are served by multiple routes that run through central London and out to the suburbs.

Key bus routes include:

• 24 (to Hampstead Heath)
• 11 (to Fulham and Liverpool Street)
• 52 (to Willesden)
• 38 (to Clapton via Piccadilly Circus)
• C1, C10, and 507 (to South Kensington, Elephant & Castle, and Waterloo)

Night bus services are also frequent, adding to the 24-hour connectivity of the area.

Fun Facts About Victoria

Victoria is home to the Victoria Palace Theatre, where the hit musical “Hamilton” has played since 2017. The theatre was built in 1911 and remains a landmark for fans of live performance.

The Little Ben Clock, a smaller version of Big Ben, stands outside Victoria Station. It was originally erected in 1892 and restored in 1981 as a symbol of Franco-British friendship.

Victoria also marks the southern end of The Queen’s Walk – a pedestrian route connecting Buckingham Palace with Westminster and beyond, offering scenic views and landmarks along the way.

Quick Facts about Victoria, London

Map of Victoria, London

Painting of Victoria, London (View image in full size)

Page Details

This page was created on 8 May 2025.

List of Places in London, Map of Places in London

Your hotel room in London

Visiting London? Get your hotel room from Agoda, the online travel agency catering to customers around the world.

Return to London Streets & Sights Guide