About Victoria
The area surrounding Victoria Station is the central district of the City of Westminster, right in the heart of London. It's within walking distance of many of the capital's headline sights, both royal and historical. It has some of the best transport links in the city, so it's easy to get to different suburbs, districts or indeed cities. You might even catch a few people having impromptu show-tune singalongs in the street after the area's world-class theatres (and notable pubs) close for the night.
There are many hostels near Victoria Station. You can also get the true English experience with a hostel in rooms above a typical London pub, or a traditional bed-and-breakfast with en-suite bathrooms. You'll find hostels that host events such as pub crawls and walking tours to help you get to know your fellow travellers, while most also have a common room and a shared kitchen. Wi-Fi is usually free, and look out for a Victoria Station hostel with bicycle parking if you're renting a bike to explore the city.
Victoria itself has traditional pubs, excellent restaurants and outstanding theatres. It's also in easy reach of other parts of London, including nearby Westminster, which is home to the city's most famous sights such as Trafalgar Square and Horse Guards Parade. The quirky shopping hotspot of Covent Garden is about a 30-minute walk away, as are the bright lights and bustling atmosphere of Leicester Square. For great nightlife and live music, Brixton is just four stops south on the Victoria line.
If you're coming for London's big hitters, Victoria is an ideal base. It's around a 12-minute walk from Buckingham Palace. St James's Park is just next door and is a surprising wildlife haven within the city. At 2.30pm, you can see the local pelicans being fed. The stunning Westminster Abbey is 17 minutes away on foot, and the iconic Houses of Parliament and Big Ben are about 10 minutes further on. Both the Apollo and Victoria Palace theatres are in Victoria, so you can catch a show while you're visiting.
Victoria Station is both a well-connected railway hub, with trains to cities like across southern England, including Brighton and Dover, and a busy Underground station, served by the Victoria, Circle and District lines. If you're flying in, you can jump on the 30-minute train from Gatwick or take the 45-minute Underground trip from Heathrow. You can walk between the major sights; to explore further out, the bus or Underground will be your best bet.