Luggage storage at Victoria Station: your 2023 guide
Have you just arrived at Victoria, the second-biggest and busiest train stop in London? Maybe you’re stopping by Victoria Coach Station or coming straight from Heathrow Airport with your bags. If you’re traveling in or out of this incredibly busy area, you might need to drop off some heavy luggage before heading off and exploring London. No worries! There are plenty of different left luggage storage facilities around Victoria railway, King’s Cross, London airports, and many other places all around the city. This article goes in-depth to tell you what your best option is to drop off your bag at a luggage storage point in London and around airports and main railways for a few hours or more. You will quickly understand why booking lockers and storage in London can be convenient in many locations, especially if you’re coming from or going to the airport. Even if you need luggage storage lockers just for two hours and a single item. Our recommendations are based on the characteristics of the main luggage storage services located in London transport stops and airports, and client reviews.
Every year, around 74 million passengers pass through the station. It takes passengers directly to and from Gatwick Airport, the second busiest airport (right after Heathrow Airport) in the UK and the eighth busiest of all of Europe’s airports. Victoria also has an underground metro that serves the Circle, District, and Victoria lines across London. Trains leaving from here usually have a destination in the South or South East of England, but it’s also possible to catch the luxurious Venice-Simplon Orient Express from London Victoria station, which takes you to Venice.
Victoria station was opened in 1860 as part of the London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway. Two years later, the other side of the station, to serve the Chatham service, was completed, leading to the divided nature of the building ever since. It was named after Queen Victoria, who was on the throne at the time. Originally, Victoria only had four platforms, but it has since expanded to become the second busiest station in London. Over the years, it has undergone several renovations and upgrades to keep up with the increasing demand for rail transportation. In the 1980s, a major renovation project was undertaken to modernize the premises and improve its facilities, which included the introduction of many shops on the concourse and the “Victoria Place” shopping center, as well as lots of new office space. The connected underground station, which suffered from overcrowding problems, was refurbished during the 2010s.
Open since 1932, Victoria Coach Station, the largest coach station in London city, is located in the same area, only 300 meters away from London Victoria Station.
Don’t bounce around the city with heavy luggage, read our luggage storage reviews to find your ideal luggage storage option and drop off your bag for a few hours instead!
Does Victoria Station have luggage storage lockers?
Yes! London Victoria Station operates a left luggage office where you can leave bags and other luggage items in storage lockers for a few hours, a day, or more. Much like it’s the case at Kings Cross or some London airports the Excess Baggage Company provides luggage storage, and its office is found between platforms 6 and 7. As we’ll discuss below though, this might not be the best left luggage storage option for you, due to price. We will compare other luggage storage services to the left luggage lockers provided by the station, so you can decide what option will be the most convenient for you and avoid the most common problem travel problem: having to bounce around a city with your bags for hours. Our ultimate goal is to not only make sure that you don’t bounce around London with heavy bags but also keep your travel companions from calling you a stasher because you couldn’t find proper luggage storage. Let this useful travel guide coach you into booking the ideal luggage storage locations to drop them off instead! This will give you extra time to enjoy London without wasting time having to bounce around the city with luggage for hours.
How does luggage storage work?
Luggage storage involves temporarily storing items such as suitcases or any luggage item in a secure space or in one or several luggage lockers until you need them again. In London, this can range from small lockers to larger rooms, depending on the size of your luggage and your budget. Some left luggage storage facilities may charge an hourly rate, while others require a minimum of 24 hours of storage. However, you can retrieve your belongings at any time that is convenient for you. Your items are kept secure under lock and key, and they are often insured for added financial protection. Typically, you’ll be provided with a card or token to use when retrieving your item. Often it’s cheaper or indeed required, to reserve one of these luggage storage facilities or lockers online before leaving your item. Some hotels occasionally provide this type of luggage service for a few hours but most places only allow overnight guests to drop off luggage. So more often than not, if you don’t have a hotel room, you won’t be able to drop off any bag or luggage items in hotel storage, even just for a few hours.
What to do and see around Victoria Station London
The first thing to see if you’re looking to do some London sightseeing around Victoria Station (after leaving luggage in storage, of course) is to go to Buckingham Palace, only around a ten-minute walk to the north of the station. The official residence of the British monarch, this iconic palace is a great photo spot. You can witness the changing of the guard ceremony which takes place every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday at around 10:45 am, or spend a couple of hours exploring its State Rooms.
Victoria station is also right beside the Westminster area of central London. Here you will find some of the city’s most famous attractions, such as London’s magnificent, ancient Westminster Abbey, where some of the most famous Britons from history are buried and where coronations and royal weddings take place. The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament is the seat of the UK government and is a striking building that’s a must-see for any visitor. There’s also London’s Big Ben clock tower to check out right beside it, a true symbol of London and a must-see for a visitor. Why not book a hotel room near the London Eye, the enormous Ferris Wheel located on the Thames, from where you can get amazing panoramic views of London? In truth, though, Victoria Station is so accessible to the whole city (and easy to get to from the airports) that anything you have on your to-do list in London is easily reached from here! This could also be a great opportunity to visit some famous London museums, such as the British Museum, the Science Museum or the Victoria & Albert Museum! Maybe you’re more of a London Design museum kind of person? Unless tracking celebrities in London is your thing, in which case Madame Tussauds Museum is where you’ll want to go! And why not take some time for a stroll into one of London’s many parks? St James’ Park is one of these locations and is located within walking distance. Once you’re luggage-free for a few hours thanks to luggage storage, you’ll be free to explore all the locations you want in the city!
Services available at Victoria Station London
There are all the necessities at the station that any traveler might need if you’re spending a couple of hours here waiting for a train. There’s free WiFi, Photo Booths, Sixt Car hire, coaches and a direct line to Gatwick Airport, Cash machines, a Bureau de Change as well as accessible toilets and baby changing facilities. As previously mentioned, there’s a left luggage service run by Excess Baggage Company if you need to store some bags, and lost property is also handled here in case you lose an item.
There are also plenty of food options open, ranging from something satisfying and quick, like McDonald’s and Burger King, to good Japanese food places like Itsu and Wasabi. There are also loads of cafés open, like Starbucks, Caffé Nero, and Costa. Fancy drinking something a little stronger? There’s a Wetherspoon’s Pub, the Sloe Bar, and the Beer House. If you need to do some shopping, places like M&S and WHSmith have the essentials, but you can also get jewelry and clothes in Accessorize or Oliver Bonas, or cards, gifts, and stationery at Paperchase, among other handy and interesting shops. Victoria’s central London position means that you can find any shop you desire not too far away.
Luggage storage solutions near Victoria Station
London Victoria Station offers various storage options for you to choose from. The station’s own left luggage storage service is managed by Excess Baggage Company, which provides secure storage for different luggage sizes and durations in Victoria, Kings Cross, and several other train stops and airports. It’s located between platforms 7 and 8. However, this option is expensive, with prices ranging from £7.50 for up to 3 hours to £30.00 for up to 72 hours.
Alternatively, luggage storage apps such as LuggageHero and Bounce can be used to find cheap options located in the area of Victoria Station and most London train stations. LuggageHero charges an hourly rate of £1.29 but costs £8.95 per item per day, while Bounce is slightly cheaper but often has hidden fees that appear once you’re done booking. For a flat rate of €6 per item per day with no hidden charges, Nannybag is recommended. This option provides secure open partner locations (such as hotels, restaurants, or shops), financial protection up to €1000, and a really easy booking process. Don’t let anyone nickname you “the stasher” because you couldn’t find a hotel or storage facility to store your luggage in while you enjoy the day. Drop off your bag or any other luggage item at a London luggage storage point instead.
3 reasons to download the best luggage storage app for your London trip
1. Flat Price
One of Nannybag’s biggest advantages as a service, besides its many positive reviews, is its flat price to store bags, no matter what size your luggage is. The price of £6 per item per day makes them among the very cheapest of any option, but they’re the only company that won’t shock you with hidden costs and surprise fees when you’re done booking. Their price, which is cheap, is final, and you won’t have to pay anything else, whether you use the luggage storage service for a few hours or several days.
2. Security
When you store bags at a Nannybag location in London, you can be assured that they’ll be safe, regardless of how many hours or days your item is in storage. All of the partner locations have been verified, and your bags are kept in secure storage rooms. They’re even closed up with a secure biodegradable seal, and there’s €1000 worth of financial protection in the very unlikely case that something goes wrong.
3. User Friendly
Their app is super easy to use and the process to book a left luggage point couldn’t be easier. Just enter your location – in this case Victoria Station – to find a Nanny (partner hotel, shop, or restaurant) located nearby where you can store luggage. It’s a very quick process, you pick a time to store, book the location, and travel hands-free. This safe luggage service has partner locations with storage space and lockers at London airports, stations, and many other central locations in cities all around the world. If you have time while at the airport (for instance), take two minutes to book luggage storage because it’s all the time you need to book safe luggage lockers.
The Nannybag app is also conveniently available on the App Store and Google Play, where you’ll find app user reviews. For more positive info, check out the many positive reviews online! There is nothing better than the travelers’ words to convince you that Nannybag is the better luggage storage service!
FAQ
Where is the luggage storage office at Victoria Station?
The station’s official luggage storage service, the Excess Baggage Company, is found between platforms 7 and 8 so you can store bags or any luggage item of your choice. However, as discussed above, there may be other luggage storage options and lockers with many reviews that are preferential to you at locations nearby in London for a few hours or several days!
What are Victoria Station’s opening hours?
Victoria Station’s opening hours are every day from 04:00 – 00:45 On Friday and Saturday nights, hours change slightly. There are three night trains at 01:10, 02:10, and 03:10 the station will open 15 minutes before each train departs. After the train leaves the station closes again.
How far is Buckingham Palace from Victoria Station?
Buckingham Palace, one of London’s most popular landmarks, is only around a ten-minute walk away from the station to the north.
How to travel between Gatwick Airport and Victoria Station?
The quickest way to travel between this London airport and Victoria Station is the Gatwick Express, a train running between the airport and Victoria every 15 minutes and takes 30 minutes. Southern trains are a little cheaper, costing around £11 for a single journey to and from the airport. The cheapest way to get into London from this airport (however, not stopping at Victoria) is to get an A3 National Express coach. For as little as £8 (book online and in advance) this coach will take you into central London.
How much is the Gatwick Express?
This shuttle service, which connects travelers to the airport from central London, costs £18.50 for one way and £36.80 for a round trip to the airport if booked on the same day.
Where can I park my car at Victoria Station?
Parking at Victoria Station is managed privately by a company named APCOA. You’ll find more information about opening times and prices to park a car in London Victoria.
Hit the comment section with your questions if you need more info about luggage storage in Victoria and how to travel there.