Gatwick to Victoria station

[Alsonification]

Myself & dd are going to London for 2 nights, flying from Dublin into Gatwick. We’re staying in the Double tree by Hilton in Victoria which I think is across the road from Victoria station so I’m assuming the train from Gatwick to Victoria is the best option for getting there?
Also can anyone recommend restaurants around that area? We’re going to see Wicked in the Apollo one of the nights but will need dinner beforehand.
Any other advice welcome. Thanks.

Dd is 24 (or she will be a week before we go!).

I’m passing on all this information to her too. I’d love to see Buckingham palace alright. I know dd wants to shop (not my fave thing to do but it’s her weekend).

@ChairCareOh - well when I was in the West End (Oxford Street) what with a couple of the department stores closing down I did find it much quieter and was also in Fitzrovia which was much quieter too.

Friend works near Hanover Square and another near Wigmore Street and both of them said it's quieter.

I work in King's Cross and yes it's busier there when I go in.

@Alsonification

Dd is 24 (or she will be a week before we go!).

I’m passing on all this information to her too. I’d love to see Buckingham palace alright. I know dd wants to shop (not my fave thing to do but it’s her weekend).

@Alsonification - As you know Buckingham Palace is very near where you'll be staying but there's changing of the guard etc to do. If you want to do Changing of the Keys at Tower of London book it now as another poster here is in London and found it was all booked up.

@ChairCareOh - Horseferry Road might be a bit boring but it's on the way to Tate Britain so can do a nice walk there and near the river.

Victoria is near West End but depending on how fit and how much walking OP wants to do it's not exactly that near. Which is why I suggested hop on hop off buses so then they can take in parks etc.

We were around Covent Garden area (dd works on The Strand). We didn't go down Oxford Street to be honest although we did venture to Laderach. Oxford Street is a bit samey after a while. Leicester Square was heaving, it was unpleasant.

What we often do when heading across to Victoria is take the tube as far as Green Park then walk from there. It's a nice walk.

Victoria, Buckingham Palace, Green Park, Piccadilly Circus(Regent Street), Leicester Square, Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square is a nice walking route, giving a flavour of the West End then bus back to hotel. Day show tickets are available at the booth in Leicester Square and several galleries on the way.

You could save the bother of finding a restaurant and just eat cake:
Peggy Porschen or Bake

Guys honestly I can’t thank you all enough. I really really appreciate all the fantastic info & tips.
I can’t wait to go. I adore London. I’ve been a couple of times but last time was to an arsenal match with ds so we spent our time either at the Match or on an emirates stadium tour lol. Not much shopping or sight seeing. This time round I’ll do more of that with dd.
I remember the first time I went was with friends about 10 years ago. We got a boat tour to Greenwich. The tour guide was the funniest man alive. We spent the whole trip crying with laughter.

@ChairCareOh - I wasn't suggesting the tourist bus, just meant the routemasters which you can hop off and on.

Totally depends on OP and her DD how much she wants to walk. It can be great to do a walk going via St James Park/Mall etc and around various parts of London or it can be easier to combine with tube and bus.

@Comefromaway

We were around Covent Garden area (dd works on The Strand). We didn't go down Oxford Street to be honest although we did venture to Laderach. Oxford Street is a bit samey after a while. Leicester Square was heaving, it was unpleasant.

What we often do when heading across to Victoria is take the tube as far as Green Park then walk from there. It's a nice walk.

@Comefromaway - you're not wrong about Leicester Square - I've been there this year a couple of times and last year a few times too and couldn't wait to escape - it is heaving and it was unpleasant!

If you're near Victoria Sloane Square isn't far away.

I don't think the Gatwick Express is actually running currently, though it comes back next month. Better and cheaper to get the Southern service though. Coincidentally I came across this discussion yesterday: www.railforums.co.uk/threads/gatwick-express-hiding-in-plain-sight.229277/

(it's quite technical as it's full of rail employees and rail geeks)

If the weather is good, grab sandwiches from a cafe/deli/supermarket and head to one of the big parks, Chinatown has cheap eats, lots of smaller chains which might seem boring to londoners but we don't have them elsewhere, eat before 7pm for the best deals

If I was going to the Apollo then I think I would probably aim to get something to eat around Pimlico - 10 mins walk from Cictoria, or one stop on the tube. Nothing super-push but a few nice restaurants and pubs, and you're off the tourist trail too.