Central location, close to sights and Victoria station
Housed inside a classic London row house
Basic rooms with flat-screen TVs and kettles
Breakfast, which includes cereals, pastries, and yogurt, included in rates
Free Wi-Fi when guests book directly with the hotel
Dated, dreary decor throughout
Complaints about noise and housekeeping
No in-room AC, and some rooms share bathrooms
No on-site parking or elevator
The one-and-a-half-pearl Victoria Station Hotel is a good pick for travelers who want to be within walking distance of major attractions, such as Buckingham Palace and Big Ben, without breaking the bank. The 22 rooms are basic to the point of feeling barren and lack air-conditioning -- although fans are provided -- and some have shared bathrooms. Breakfast is included in the rate, as is Wi-Fi when guests book directly with the hotel. There's seating across from the reception desk but no large public spaces. The hotel can get noisy, and past guests have complained about subpar housekeeping. Days Hotel London-Waterloo, which has a restaurant, bar, and more up-to-date rooms, is a good alternative with similar rates.
Scene
No-frills budget hotel with dated decor and cramped spaces
From the outside, Victoria Station Hotel, with a lovely maroon sign with its name looping in gold font, looks inviting. Once inside, though, guests find faded red and gray carpeting, low ceilings, and a cramped lobby that combines with the breakfast room. Decor is pretty barebones, and the furniture shows wear and tear. Narrow hallways have stained and worn carpeting, and steep stairways add to the difficultly of hauling suitcases up to one's room (there’s no elevator). Aside from the lobby and breakfast area, there’s no place for guests to gather during the day. This hotel draws travelers from across the spectrum traveling on the cheap.
Location
Excellent location next to Victoria station and within walking distance of major attractions
While its rooms and public spaces may be lackluster, Victoria Station does boast an especially excellent location. It's conveniently located about a three-minute walk to Victoria station, a major hub for trains, buses, and the London Underground, connecting guests to the city as a whole and points outside as well. But guests don't have to use transportation to reach many major attractions, as several can be reached walking. On foot, guests can reach Buckingham Palace (a 13-minute walk), Westminster Abbey (a 17-minute walk), and Big Ben (a 20-minute walk). Other attractions can be reached by the tube, such as Tate Modern (22 minutes) or the Tower of London (25 minutes). As Victoria station is an area with loads of foot traffic, it's also jammed full of restaurants, bars, and shops. Heathrow Airport is about an hour's drive or tube ride away.
Rooms
Basic, cramped rooms with dated decor, flat-screen TVs, and kettles; some with shared bathrooms
Victoria Station Hotel's 22 rooms are basic to the point of feeling glum. They’re shabby and small, with white beds, maroon pillows and bed skirts, brown headboards, and dated carpeting. There’s no wall decoration, and wear and tear is evident. They lack storage and air-conditioning, though fans are provided along with flat-screen TVs and kettles. Rooms do pick up noise from the nearby train station, and guests have complained about lax housekeeping. Bathrooms include narrow shower stalls, and toiletries are available through wall dispensers. Units with shared bathrooms have sinks and hairdryers in the rooms.
Features
Free Wi-Fi for direct bookings and a basic breakfast buffet
Victoria Station is barebones -- meaning there's no restaurant, bar, or large public spaces on the premises. Wi-Fi is free for guests who book directly with the hotel (otherwise, it comes with a fee), and a breakfast of pastries, cereal, and yogurt is also included in the rate. Nearby parking is available at Victoria station, though not on-site.