busy get a good list of terminals for destinations but a downside is peole scrounging for money and travel tickets

Victoria Coach Station is a joyless place. First, you have to get there - it’s not next to the train, underground and bus stations but a way down the road. In fact, just far enough to be a real pain when you’ve got luggage to carry without quite justifying the hassle of waiting for a bus.

When you do arrive, you’re greated by a large bank of screens to look up your departure gate: essential, because the station is large with corridors going in two directions. Whiling away the time isn’t much fun as facilities are rather limited and seating not particularly comfortable. The ticket office always seems to have long queues, and staff throughout the station tend to be as fed-up as the customers. Finally, be prepared for the fact that arrivals are in a different and more depressing building.

On the plus side, you do get to wait indoors, there are some refreshments available, and it does make life easier to have a single location from which so many coaches depart. There is also a (rather expensive) left luggage office.