• History of Victoria station

  • Over 115 million people pass through the station each year.

    Victoria station in its current form has grown from the merging of two stations. The Kent side provides services to Medway towns and the Kent coast. The remainder serves routes to Sussex

    Chronology

    • The original London Brighton South Coast Railway (LBSCR) station opened on 1 October 1860 and was designed by Robert Jacomb-Hood. It was demolished in 1906.
    • The London Chatham and Dover Railway (later South East and Chatham Railway, or SECR) station was opened on 25 August 1862.
    • The LBSCR station was rebuilt and opened on 16 June 1906 but was significantly shortened during redevelopment work in 1979.
    • The SECR station’s new frontage was opened in 1908.
    • The two stations were unified in 1924.
    • The eastern platforms were extended in 1960.
    • The British United Airways terminal was operational by 1 May 1962, with the BOAC terminal operational a year later.
    • The south central concourse was enlarged in 1979 and with Gatwick Rail-Air reception opening in 1980.
    • The Grosvenor hotel opened in 1861 and was purchased by LBSCR in 1899. It was leased to Gordon Hotels and re-opened on 10 December 1900. It was extended in 1907, providing a new frontage building to the station beneath. British Transport Hotels took it over in 1977 but it was then sold to Thistle Hotels in 1983. 

    Station design

    South central shed and frontage building 

    • This was designed by Sir Charles Morgan, chief engineer for the LBSCR. It is transverse ridge and furrow in construction, covered by a longitudinal ridge and furrow roof.
    • Sir Charles Morgan also designed the extension and new frontage to the station hotel.
    • The frontage building is built in red brick and Portland stone in the Edwardian Baroque style.

    South east shed 

    • This was designed by Sir John Fowler, consultant engineer to the Victoria station and Pimlico Railway company.
    • It has a segmental tied arch roof with light iron tie rods arranged polygonally between radian iron struts. It comprises two spans, the first of which is 127ft by 455ft, the other is 129ft by 385ft.
    • The frontage building was designed by A. W. Blomfield, architect to SECR, and is in Portland stone. It incorporates four caryatids supporting two broken pediments.

    Grosvenor Hotel 

    • The building was designed by J. T. Knowles and is in an Italianate style with a French Renaissance roof.

    Venice Simplon Orient Express

    • The majestic British section of the Venice Simplon Orient Express leaves from Victoria most weekdays, offering weekend and day excursions to some of England's most beautiful and historic landmarks. Passengers are able to check in and wait in comfort here. The telephone number for reservations is 020 7805 5100.