To answer your questions:

1. http://www.gobycoach.com (National Express) is great. They run on time, there is more than one option per day and the buses are comfortable. They are quick as well, as soon as you are out of Central London.

2. The Victoria area is a nice area and from personal experience hotels are reasonably cheap and the area is quite safe. It is like Earls Court and Kings Cross a very international area with (budget) travellers from all over the world staying there.

Regards,

Bard Vos Arroyo de la Miel - Costa del Sol (Spain) http://www.apartamentosmundial.com