Looking for attractions near London Victoria? When you arrive in the capital at this railway hub, you’re within easy walking distance of some of London’s best-known landmarks, including Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey and Big Ben, as well as beautiful Royal Parks and a selection of museums, galleries and cultural attractions.
Whether you’ve got a few hours to fill before catching the train home, or you’re planning a day out in London, there are plenty of things to do near London Victoria. Here are some of the best places to visit near Victoria Station, organised by the type of attraction you might be looking for.
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Classic attractions near London Victoria
Whether it’s your first time in London or you just feel like being a tourist in your own city, some of the capital’s best-known landmarks are within walking distance of Victoria station.
Buckingham Palace
Distance from London Victoria Station: 10-minute walk
Best for: Iconic sightseeing, royal history, guided tours
Plan your visit: www.rct.uk/visit/buckingham-palace
Buckingham Palace is one of the most famous attractions near London Victoria and the perfect choice if you want to see one of London’s most recognisable landmarks. The palace sits at the end of The Mall and is around a 10-minute walk from Victoria Station.
The Changing of the Guard Ceremony takes place at 11:00am on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and it’s well worth timing your visit to see it. The Palace has a vibrant calendar of events throughout the year, from exhibitions to performances, and you can see inside by booking a guided tour.
Big Ben & The Houses of Parliament
Distance from London Victoria Station: 20-minute walk
Best for: History, iconic London views, photography
Plan your visit: www.parliament.uk/visiting/visiting-and-tours/big-ben-tour
Big Ben is the nickname of the Great Bell inside the Elizabeth Tower, next to the Houses of Parliament. From London Victoria Station, it’s around a 20-minute scenic walk, taking you past Buckingham Palace and through the heart of Westminster. Once there, you can admire the Elizabeth Tower and the Palace of Westminster as well as views across the Thames.
It’s well worth booking an official tour of the Elizabeth Tower. Tours include the 334-step climb to the belfry and are available to visitors aged 11 and over. Tickets need to be booked in advance, and it’s worth combining this with a tour of the Houses of Parliament too.
Westminster Abbey
Distance from London Victoria Station: 15-minute walk
Best for: Breathtaking architecture, history, royal connections
Plan your visit: www.westminster-abbey.org
Westminster Abbey is one of the most important historic buildings in London and is an absolute must for places to visit near Victoria station. It’s been the coronation church since 1066 and is the final resting place of more than 3,000 people, including monarchs, poets, scientists and politicians.
Even if you’ve visited London countless times, this awe-inspiring building is well worth visiting. Even better, you can get 2FOR1 entry with your train ticket, making it one of the best value things to do near London Victoria station.
The Mall
Distance from London Victoria Station: 15-minute walk
Best for: Sightseeing, walks, cycling
Plan your visit: www.royalparks.org.uk/visit/parks/st-jamess-park/mall
The Mall is the grand avenue running between Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square and these days is mostly closed to traffic. It’s often used for royal processions and ceremonial occasions and provides one of the classic approaches to Buckingham Palace.
From London Victoria station, you can walk towards Buckingham Palace before continuing along The Mall towards St James’s Park and Trafalgar Square. It’s a particularly good option if you want to see several London landmarks without relying on public transport and it provides the perfect place for cycling.
Outdoor attractions near London Victoria
One of the best things about visiting London Victoria is how close you are to some of central London’s most famous green spaces. The Royal Parks are free to visit and are perfect for picnics, friendly sports games, wildlife spotting, and more.
Green Park
Distance from London Victoria Station: 15-minute walk
Best for: Relaxing, walking, picnics, spring flowers
Plan your visit: www.royalparks.org.uk/visit/parks/green-park
Green by name and green by nature, The Green Park is a peaceful stretch of mature trees and grassland between Buckingham Palace and Hyde Park. It covers 40 acres and is the smallest of the eight Royal Parks.
Unlike many of London’s other parks, it’s known for its simple landscape rather than formal flower beds, but it’s still well worth a visit. This is one of the best Royal Parks to visit in spring, with over a million daffodils bursting from the green lawns.
St James’s Park
Distance from London Victoria Station: 15-minute walk
Best for: Formal gardens, wildlife, royal views
Plan your visit: www.royalparks.org.uk/visit/parks/st-jamess-park
St James’s Park is one of the most picturesque attractions near London Victoria, with its lake, landscaped gardens, and views towards Buckingham Palace. The park is home to more than 40 pelicans, which have lived here since 1664, and you’ll often see other wildlife including squirrels and birds.
You can walk along The Mall and see the Horse Guards Parade from the park, making St James’s Park a particularly good choice if you want to combine outdoor space with some of London’s most famous sights.
Hyde Park
Distance from London Victoria Station: 20-minute walk
Best for: Walking, water activities, sports, picnics
Plan your visit: www.royalparks.org.uk/visit/parks/hyde-park
Hyde Park is one of London’s largest and best-known Royal Parks. It’s home to the beautiful Serpentine Lake, where families can enjoy water activities like pedal boats and rowing boats. There are four large cafes which serve sustainably prepared hot and cold food with vegan, vegetarian, and other dietary options.
As Hyde Park is so large, it’s perfect for playing sports with friends and you’ll often see groups kicking around a football or playing volleyball or tennis. It’s the ideal spot for a picnic under one of the many enormous London Plane trees or just a peaceful walk.
Pimlico Gardens
Distance from London Victoria Station: 20-minute walk
Best for: Riverside views and a peaceful break
Plan your visit: www.parksandgardens.org/places/pimlico-gardens
Pimlico Gardens is a small Thames-side park with lawns, mature London Plane trees and river frontage. The gardens are on Grosvenor Road in Pimlico and provide access to the riverside footpath. There’s also a notable statue of William Huskisson, a 19th-century politician and financier.
It’s a good option if you’ve already explored the main attractions near London Victoria and want to see a quieter part of central London.
Cultural attractions near London Victoria
There are plenty of museums, galleries and cultural attractions within walking distance of London Victoria railway station, making it one of the most exciting neighbourhoods in London.
Apollo Victoria Theatre
Distance from London Victoria Station: Less than a minute
Best for: Theatre and evening entertainment
Plan your visit: www.theapollovictoria.com
For an attraction that's practically on the doorstep of the station, head to the Apollo Victoria Theatre. This beautiful Art Deco theatre is directly opposite Victoria Station and is currently home to the hit West End Musical, Wicked.
It’s the perfect choice if you’re looking for things to do near London Victoria in the evening, as you can go straight from the train to the theatre within minutes.
National Gallery
Distance from London Victoria Station: 20-minute walk
Best for: Art and free things to do in London
Plan your visit: www.nationalgallery.org.uk
The National Gallery sits proudly on Trafalgar Square and is home to more than 1,000 paintings, including works by artists such as Turner, Van Gogh, Uccello and Gentileschi. It’s an easy walk from London Victoria station, past the scenic views of Buckingham Palace and St James’s Park.
General admission to the National Gallery is free, although some temporary exhibitions charge an entry fee. It’s well worth adding to your itinerary if you’re looking for things to do near London Victoria, especially as you can then enjoy the fountains and scenery of Trafalgar Square, and head down to the river Thames afterwards.
Royal Academy of Arts
Distance from London Victoria Station: 20-minute walk
Best for: Art exhibitions and architecture
Plan your visit: www.royalacademy.org.uk
The Royal Academy of Arts is close to Green Park and a short walk from Buckingham Palace. This independent art institution stages a changing programme of exhibitions and events, including talks and lectures from leading names in art, short courses, workshops and classic film screenings.
If you’re interested in the creative world, this is one of the best attractions near London Victoria, which you can combine with a visit to Green Park, Buckingham Palace and The Mall to create a longer sightseeing walk from Victoria station.
Moco Museum London
Distance from London Victoria Station: 10 minutes by bus
Best for: Modern, contemporary and immersive art
Plan your visit: www.mocomuseum.com
Ready for something a little more unexpected? Moco Museum London brings together bold, boundary-pushing art at Marble Arch, with more than 100 works spread across three floors.
The collection spans modern, contemporary, street and digital art, with big names including Banksy, Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring and Yayoi Kusama. Alongside paintings and sculptures, you’ll find immersive digital installations that turn the traditional museum experience on its head.
Hidden gem attractions near London Victoria
If you’ve already ticked off the bigger attractions near Victoria station, these are the lesser-known places and hidden gems to discover.
The King’s Gallery
Distance from London Victoria Station: 10-minute walk
Best for: Exclusive art exhibitions and royal history
Plan your visit: www.rct.uk/visit/the-kings-gallery-buckingham-palace
If you’re looking for a hidden gem attraction near London Victoria, The King’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace is well worth a visit. The gallery showcases a changing selection of paintings, furniture, decorative arts and photographs from the Royal Collection.
It’s a more intimate, exclusive alternative to some of London’s major galleries, and its location makes it easy to combine with Buckingham Palace, Green Park and the surrounding royal sights. London Victoria is around a 10-minute walk away.
FRAMELESS
Distance from London Victoria Station: 15 minutes by bus
Best for: Immersive art, families, couples, rainy-day activities
Plan your visit: frameless.com
If you’re looking for something a little different, FRAMELESS is an immersive art experience at Marble Arch, where famous works of art are projected across huge gallery spaces. Even better, you can get 20% off when you travel with Southern Railway.
The experience features four immersive galleries showcasing works from artists including Monet, Van Gogh, Klimt and Kandinsky, combining art, music and digital projections. It’s a good option if you’re looking for things to do near London Victoria on a rainy day or want to experience art in a more interactive way.
Westminster Cathedral
Distance from London Victoria Station: 5-minute walk
Best for: Architecture, history and a quieter cultural attraction
Plan your visit: westminstercathedral.org.uk
Not to be confused with Westminster Abbey, this incredibly eye-catching neo-Byzantine cathedral is one of the best hidden gem attractions in London. The cathedral is free to enter and is known for its distinctive architecture, mosaics and marble interior. For a different perspective of London, you can also visit the cathedral’s Tower Viewing Gallery, which is 210 feet above Victoria Street.
Little Ben
Distance from London Victoria Station: 10-minute walk
Best for: Unusual landmarks, hidden gems near London Victoria, a quick photo stop
Little Ben is a small cast-iron clock tower near London Victoria station, inspired by the more famous clock tower at Westminster. It’s a quick stop rather than an attraction that will take up a large part of your day, but it’s a fun addition to a walk around Victoria and Westminster.
How to make the most of these attractions near London Victoria
One of the easiest ways to explore this part of London is to group attractions together so that you can make the most of your day out.
For a royal sightseeing walk, start at London Victoria Station and walk to Buckingham Palace, then continue through St James’s Park and along The Mall towards Trafalgar Square.
For Westminster landmarks, walk from Victoria to Westminster Abbey and Big Ben, taking in the Palace of Westminster and Parliament Square along the way.
For a green-space day out, combine Buckingham Palace with St James’s Park and Green Park before continuing towards Hyde Park.
And if you’re looking for attractions which are super close to the station, Westminster Cathedral, Buckingham Palace and the Apollo Victoria Theatre are among the most convenient attractions.
