Best areas to live for commuting to Victoria

Victoria is both a major rail terminus and a large office district in Westminster. The streets around the station contain government departments, headquarters of large companies, modern office developments and shops, and Whitehall, Parliament and St James's Park are within walking distance. Victoria Coach Station, a short walk south-west, is the hub for long-distance coaches.

The station serves two very different commuting flows. Southern and Southeastern trains bring commuters from south London, Surrey, Sussex and Kent, including from Clapham Junction, Balham, Streatham, Croydon, Herne Hill, Brixton, Denmark Hill and Bromley, and Gatwick Express trains run direct to Gatwick Airport. Underground, the Victoria line runs from Brixton, Stockwell, Vauxhall and Pimlico to the south and from King's Cross, Highbury, Finsbury Park, Tottenham Hale and Walthamstow to the north, while the Circle and District lines stop here too.

The Victoria line is one of the most frequent lines on the Underground, and journeys from Brixton or Walthamstow are quick, but trains can be extremely crowded at peak times and the station's entrances are sometimes controlled. Rail commuters from south London often have shorter, more reliable journeys than tube passengers, but are dependent on timetables and disruption on the network. The District line brings commuters from Putney, Fulham and Wimbledon. For people living close by, walking from Pimlico, Westminster or Belgravia is common, and cycling along the river from Battersea or Vauxhall is straightforward. Victoria is also the fastest link to Gatwick, which matters for anyone who flies often for work.