Victoria Coach Station celebrates its 85th Anniversary

Victoria Coach Station will open its doors to visitors this weekend in celebration of its 85th anniversary. The iconic Art Deco station – which is operated by Transport for London (TfL) – will play host to heritage vehicles from every decade since 1930 in an ode to Britain’s colourful history of coach travel.

Designed by the venerable Art Deco architects Wallis, Gilbert and Partners, Victoria Coach Station was officially opened to the public on 10 March 1932. The station was initially operated by London Coastal Coaches and quickly became a major transport hub. In 1992, Victoria Coach Station was made step-free, and six years later, it became a part of London Transport, the precursor to TfL. In 2014, the station was given Grade II listed status in recognition of its national historic interest.

Today, Victoria Coach Station is a gateway to destinations across the UK and numerous cities in Europe, with 13.4 million passengers now passing through each year. In recent years, TfL has transformed underused parts of the station into modern retail outlets, while taking steps to improve lighting, design and customer information.

Visitors to the 85th Anniversary Festival will be offered a chance to explore a dozen nostalgic heritage coaches, which will be on display over three days.