Victoria Square, London facts for kids
Victoria Square is a small, rectangular garden area in Westminster, Greater London. It's about 170 feet long and 75 feet wide. You can find it near famous places like the Royal Mews (where the Queen's horses live, close to Buckingham Palace) and Victoria Station, a big train and bus hub. In the square, there's a statue of the young Queen Victoria.
A part of the Goring Hotel is next to the square. It has its own private gardens that are similar in size to Victoria Square.
Most of the land in the Victoria and Belgravia areas, including this square, used to belong to the Duke of Westminster's Grosvenor Estate. This means the Duke's family had a big say in how the area was planned and developed. Over time, many of the properties have been sold to individual owners.
Contents
About Victoria Square
History and Design
The square is surrounded by 26 houses. These houses are very special and are listed as Grade II* buildings. This means they are important historical buildings that need to be protected. They are among the second rarest type of protected buildings in the UK.
These five-story houses have a special outer coating called stucco, which makes them look smooth and grand. They were designed by a famous architect named Sir Matthew Wyatt. He oversaw their construction between 1838 and 1840. This was done to celebrate the start of Queen Victoria's time as queen.
Even though many houses were once part of the Grosvenor Estate, most are now owned by the people who live in them. Rules about planning and building in this area have been made stronger to keep the beautiful look of Belgravia.
Recent Updates
In the 2000s, the private gardens in Victoria Square were updated and made new again. Local residents helped pay for this, giving a lot of money to improve the area. As part of this renovation, a new statue of the young Queen Victoria was created by artist Catherine Anne Laugel. It was put in place in 2007.
Famous People Who Lived Here
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Many interesting people have lived in the houses around Victoria Square:
- Ian Fleming (1908–1964): He was the author who created the famous James Bond spy novels. He lived at No. 16 from 1953 until he passed away in 1964. His first James Bond book, Casino Royale, came out shortly after he moved in. He even hosted a party at his house after the movie From Russia with Love premiered in 1963.
- Michael Portillo (born 1953): He was a Conservative government minister, which means he held an important job in the UK government. Later, he became a journalist and author, known for his travel shows.
- Thomas Campbell (1777–1844): A well-known poet who lived at No. 16 from 1840 to 1844.
- John Ella (1802–1888): A musician who lived at No. 16 from 1868 to 1888.
- Henry Hope Crealock (1831–1891): An army officer, artist, and author who lived at No. 20 from the 1860s until 1891.
- Mike Oldfield: A musician and composer who lived at No. 1 for some time.
Victoria Square in Movies
In 1991, Victoria Square was used as a filming location for the movie Howards End. This film was made by Merchant Ivory Productions, known for their historical dramas.
