Victoria, London facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Victoria |
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 The "Little Ben" clock tower, and Victoria Palace Theatre |
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 Victoria
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| London borough | |
| Ceremonial county | Greater London |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LONDON |
| Dialling code | 020 |
| Police | Metropolitan |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| EU Parliament | London |
| UK Parliament |
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| London Assembly | |
Victoria is a busy area in Central London, located within the City of Westminster. It gets its name from Victoria Station, which is a very important place for trains and buses. The station itself was named after Victoria Street, a road that opened way back in 1851.
This area includes many streets close to the station, like Victoria Street, Buckingham Palace Road, and Vauxhall Bridge Road. Victoria is mostly known for its offices and shops. You'll also find homes here, both private and social housing. The main streets are filled with all sorts of stores.
Victoria is one of the busiest transport hubs in London and the whole United Kingdom. It has a famous railway station and an underground (subway) station. Terminus Place is a major spot for buses and taxis. Just a bit further away, you'll find Victoria Coach Station. This is where long-distance buses leave for places all over the UK and even other countries in Europe.
Victoria Street runs from Victoria Station all the way to Broad Sanctuary, which is near Westminster Abbey. A modern shopping area called Cardinal Place opened in 2006. It has restaurants, banks, and shops, including a big Marks and Spencer store. Further down the street, there's a large House of Fraser department store. Near Westminster Abbey, you can find the building for Transport for London, which manages London's public transport.
Contents
Exploring Victoria's Past
The Victoria area was once part of a larger parish called St George Hanover Square.
A Big Brewery's Story
Long ago, before Cardinal Place was built, there was a huge brewery called Stag Brewery. It was located at the western end of Victoria Street. This brewery started small in the 1600s. It grew a lot and was eventually owned by Watney & Co. They even built homes and facilities for their workers. By the late 1800s, many people worked there. The brewery closed in 1959 and was taken down. Today, only a street called Stag Place and a pub named The Stag remind us of it.
Changes to the Area
Part of an old, poor area, which writer Charles Dickens called "Devil's Acre", was cleared away. This made space for Victoria Street, which opened in 1851. In 1913, a group of women called suffragettes, including Pleasance Pendred, broke windows in shops on Victoria Street to protest for women's right to vote.
Victoria Station itself was built in 1860. Many famous engineers had offices on Victoria Street until the 1970s. One of them was Archibald Leitch, who designed many famous football stadiums. These included Goodison Park, Craven Cottage, and Old Trafford.
The famous comedian Norman Wisdom once slept near the statue of Marshal Foch when he was a child. This was near the bus station at the end of Victoria Street. Before he became a comedian, he worked as an errand boy at Artillery Mansions. This was once a grand hotel on Victoria Street. In the 1980s, it became run-down. But in the 1990s, it was beautifully renovated into elegant apartments.
Famous Buildings and Places
Victoria is home to several well-known landmarks.
Westminster Cathedral
Westminster Cathedral is the biggest Catholic church in the UK. It is the main church for the Archbishop of Westminster. It was built between 1895 and 1903. Its unique style is called Neo-Byzantine. Before the church, a prison called Tothill Fields Bridewell stood on this spot from 1618 to 1884.
Theatres in Victoria
The Victoria Palace Theatre opened in 1911. It replaced an older music hall. The Apollo Victoria Theatre was built in 1929 in the Art Deco style. It first opened as a cinema in 1930. After closing in 1975, it reopened as a theatre in 1981. From 1984 to 2002, it was home to the popular musical Starlight Express.
Little Ben Clock Tower
You might spot Little Ben, a 20 feet (6.1 m)-tall clock tower. It looks like a smaller version of Big Ben. It stands where Vauxhall Bridge Road and Victoria Street meet. It was first put up in 1892. It was moved in 1964 for road work but was brought back and restored in 1981.
Shopping and Entertainment
Opposite Victoria Station's entrance, there was once a cinema called Metropole Kinema. It operated until 1977. It then became a live music club called The Venue from 1978 to 1984. The building was taken down in 2013.
The House of Fraser department store on Victoria Street opened in 2005. It is built where the famous Army & Navy Stores used to be. That store opened in 1872 and was bought by House of Fraser in 1973.
Local Schools
Victoria is close to some important schools. These include Westminster City School for boys and Grey Coat Hospital for girls. The independent Westminster School is also nearby, close to Westminster Abbey.
Victoria's Future
Victoria is seen as an 'Opportunity Area' by London's city planners. This means it has great potential for new businesses and homes. This is because it has excellent transport links. There are plans to improve Victoria Underground Station and develop other sites in the area.
Images for kids
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The "Little Ben" clock tower, and Victoria Palace Theatre
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A map showing the Victoria area of Westminster in 1916.
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Victoria bus station in 2007, with buses waiting. This is different from Victoria Coach Station.
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Public art by Patrick Heron in the Victoria area.
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The Cardinal Place shopping area.
See also
In Spanish: Victoria (Londres) para niños
