Victoria Coach Station

Victoria Coach Station stands in the City of Westminster, just south of Buckingham Palace. It is the largest coach station in London and the main terminus for long-distance coaches across the United Kingdom. The station covers 3.3 acres with separate buildings for arrivals and departures on opposite sides of Elizabeth Street. Its Art Deco design by Wallis, Gilbert and Partners dates from 1932, when it was opened by the Minister of Transport John Pybus. The building originally housed shops, a buffet, restaurant, lounge and bar on the ground floor, with offices above. During the Second World War the War Office took over the premises for military use. The station handles 14 million passengers and 472,000 coach movements every year. London Buses routes 11, 44, 170, C1, C10, N11 and N44 stop right outside, and it is a short walk from London Victoria station. In recent years profits for the station’s operator have risen steadily. The building was listed Grade II by English Heritage in 2014, protecting it from redevelopment. Despite earlier plans to move the station to Royal Oak, operations continue on the same site. Inside the departure terminal there are food and retail outlets, left-luggage facilities and a ticket hall. The station’s Art Deco interiors remain largely unchanged since the 1930s. London Fire Brigade found serious fire risks in 2019, including broken sprinklers and blocked exits, which have since been addressed. A short walk leads to the mainline station for trains across the country.