What to do Near Victoria Station, London

Another great advantage of staying near Victoria Station is the amazing concentration of museums within walking distance (or at the least a very short Tube journey). Most of these are also family friendly, offering days worth of diversion and education for visitors young and old. For example, the Natural History Museum can be found on Cromwell Road in Kensington, which is right next door to the west. Thanks to recent additions and renovations, it's become one of Europe's premier nature-centered museums, being dubbed a "cathedral to nature" by some scientists, and who are we to argue?

The whole complex houses a whopping 80 million items, and 5 million people pass through the gates every year, but it never feels crowded. Highlights are everywhere, although at 26-meter-long, Dippy the Diplodocus makes a suitable mascot for the giant museum. The only contemporary painting of the extinct dodo bird, an original copy of Darwin's "Origin of Species" and a macabre cup fashioned from a human skull are all typical of what's to be found there. Basically, if you have any interest in natural history, stay near Victoria Station London and you'll be in paradise.

Aside from the Natural History Museum, Victoria Station London is right next door to two other exceptional London attractions. First off, the Science Museum is a brilliant place to head when you need to entertain youngsters. Situated on Exhibition Road in Kensington, it's crammed with educational exhibits and artifacts like giant steam engines, components from the Colossus machine that cracked the Nazi Enigma Code, and Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine - a direct ancestor of today's computers. Add in IMAX cinemas and space simulators, and science geeks will find it tough to leave.

Then there's the Victoria and Albert Museum - a very different beast. This time, the theme is design and fashion. It's the kind of place you might find a whole hall dedicated to David Bowie's fashion sense, or galleries packed with 3,000 jewels from Europe's elite. There's one of the world's greatest wedding dress collections (some as much as 500 years old) and furniture made by master craftsmen from Renaissance Italy onwards. So it's one of the best places to visit near Victoria Station London if you have a passion for art and crafts. In fact, it's probably the best place in the UK, period.

When we list the shopping opportunities near Victoria Station London, you'll wonder why visitors stay anywhere else. Truly, the area stretching a mile or so around the station is one of the world's great retail centers, so bring an extra canvas bag or two to use during your stay.

For starters, Victoria Station London is a stone's throw away from Harrods. One of the world's most famous department stores, Harrods is less than a mile from Victoria, and has been outfitting the capital's elites since 1834. Nowadays, it's the place to go for the very best in everything, whether it's picnic hampers, Dolce and Gabbana handbags, Swarovski watches, or bespoke toys that can't be bought anywhere else. But don't just get your head down and shop. Be sure to check out the Art Nouveau windows and sculptures that adorn each floor, and take time for afternoon tea at the popular cafe (bookings are advisable).

But you don't even have to leave the shops at Victoria Station London to enjoy an exclusive retail experience. There's a shopping mall right above the station concourse called Victoria Place, which hosts brands like New Look, the Body Shop, and the Parisian gift store Pylones. So when you're staying in the area, don't forget to ride the escalator to the first floor for a little window shopping.

Another one of the best places to explore near Victoria Station London is Notting Hill. This upmarket part of West London is probably most famous for the 1999 movie starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant, and for it's lively street carnival in late August, but in fact there's much to see and buy at any time of year.

A major highlight is Portobello Road market, which antiques fans will adore. Taking place every Saturday and Sunday, it's basically a narrow street lined with sellers offering everything from antique clocks to unique photos and prints. Anything could be there, and rummaging in the stocks of stallholders is great fun.

And just down the road, why not have a look at the Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising? It's not huge, but what they have there is fascinating, with exhibits of consumer goods from the late 19th century onwards. After that, take it easy at one of the neighborhood's many pubs, such as the Cow or the Ladbroke Arms. You should even find beers made by local legends Fuller's who are based in nearby Chiswick.

It's not all about swanky bistros and upmarket Italian restaurants near Victoria Station London. If you want to experience London's street food scene in all of its glory, Brixton is a better place to head. You can get there via the Victoria Line (which takes less than 10 minutes), and when you get there you'll find one of the capital's most vibrant food scenes. Make a bee-line for the covered market to track down artisan pizza, Eritrean jeera, Jamaican ackee and saltfish, and Okonomiyaki Japanese pancakes. The global selection is always changing, making it a really exciting part of town for foodies to check out. And, while you're there be sure to peruse the clothes stalls of Brixton Village, nibble some tasters at the Chocolate Museum, and rest for a while in Brockwell Park, before heading back over the river to Victoria Station London.

The beautiful thing about staying in the area is that when you're based near Victoria Station London is just a walk away. 15 minutes to the north, you can reach Buckingham Palace and Hyde Park. By strolling the same distance to the west, you can get to Harrods, while the Tate and Parliament are hardly any distance to the east. And the boutiques of Chelsea's Kings Road stretch out to the south west. Whichever way you look, there's something to see, do, or buy around Victoria Station London. So if you're planning a trip to the UK's capital, give Victoria Station London a look. It could have everything you need - and just a little bit more.