For a woman who never travelled outside of Europe (well, they were pre-aviation days) Queen Victoria’s influence around the world was great. Today, there are many, many places in the world named after the queen. Whatever you call Victoria Day (May Long Weekend or May Two-four), it spells the start of summer for many Canadians. To mark the day, the team at Cheapflights has rounded up its favourite places with “Victoria” in the title.
The United Kingdom
Roads, streets, docks, museums, gardens, train stations, hospitals, schools – there is no shortage of places named after Victoria. Perhaps the most famous of all is the Victoria Memorial that stands in front of Buckingham Palace in London.
Victoria on Vancouver Island, Canada
The heritage buildings, tea rooms, horse-drawn carriages and flower gardens give this former colonial outpost its old-world charm. The grandest lady in town now is the Fairmont Empress at the Inner Harbour and taking Afternoon Tea there is one of Victoria‘s greatest traditions.
Regina, Saskatchewan
Pile of Bones was the early name for the area, but naming it Regina was a family affair. Princess Louise, wife of the Governor General, named it after her mother in 1882.
Victoria Park, Hong Kong
It’s called Victoria Park after the bronze statue of Queen Victoria, which has been there since 1952 (long and chequered history – moved from Statue Square and was almost melted down by the Japanese during World War II). Today, this 19-hectare park, the largest in Hong Kong, has picnic spots and a children’s park, and is a magnet for revellers during Lunar New Year.
Victoria, Australia
The colony of Victoria has a rough-and-ready history. In the early days, it was settled by the “convicts” from Britain and Ireland, then gold miners. Its natural attractions are pure gold – from cosmopolitan Melbourne to the towering Twelve Apostles along the Great Ocean Road, the Surf Coast to the Mornington Peninsula, the wineries of the Yarra Valley to the towns along the Murray River, and the Central Victorian Highlands to the even higher Victorian Alpine Region.
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Discovered by David Livingstone, the Scottish missionary and explorer, in 1855, he named them for his queen. The locals knew them – and know them still – as Mosi-oa-Tunya (the “smoke that thunders”). Zimbabwe “shares” the falls with Zambia and there are several ways to see this Unesco World Heritage site – by plane, jetboat, bungee jump, or just by standing in the viewing area.
Victoria, capital of the island of Gozo, Malta
Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee in 1887 provided the opportunity to change this city’s name from Rabat. The town encompasses the Citadel, the island’s ancient city, and Rabat, the old suburb of the Citadel. There is also a Queen Victoria Statue in the centre of Valletta, a short ferry ride away.
Lake Victoria, Kenya
John Hanning Speke was the first European to see the lake and called it after the monarch. It’s Africa’s largest lake, bordering Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania – paradise for birdwatchers, fishermen and photographers.
Victoria, Seychelles
Victoria, on the island of Mahé, is the smallest capital city in the world. Victorian architecture abounds, but the most famous landmark is the Victoria Clock tower, a replica of the clock that stood near Victoria Station in London.
Victoria, Virginia, United States
Two English queens have influenced this region. One is Queen Elizabeth, monarch at the time of the first New World colonies, and the other is Victoria. This tiny railroad town was established in 1906 and named after the queen by Henry Rogers, the rail baron, who was a great admirer.
Featured image: Steve Jurvetson
