The Best Cycle Routes for Londoners
London is not only the UK's capital city, it is also a leading light in Britain's cycling revolution. Literally thousands of Londoners commute by bike every day, choosing a fast, easy and cheap way to get to work.
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There’s a bewildering array of cycle routes throughout Greater London, so we’ve picked out a few to try when you fancy a pootle around, whilst taking in the capital’s sights and sounds.
Lee Valley Artway: Scenic Cycles
This trail is laid out within the rural 10,000 acre River Lea Country Park. It is a 5 mile car-free haven for cyclists wanting to escape the city, with interesting sculptures and pieces of art for tourists to enjoy. The Artway is ideal for a day trip, to cycle and maybe chill out on the River Lea. The area is a popular spot for those wishing to take a picnic in this stunning Glade. It's child friendly too, with play sculptures such as the Giant Chair to climb, and a giant xylophone! In the 1960’s Lee Valley was a collection of scrap yards and industrial sites, but over the last 50 years the space has been redeveloped into a vast, beautiful open space dotted with woods, wild flowers and lakes.
King’s Cross – Kentish Town & Whipps Cross – Millfields Park
These two amazing London cycle routes take in sights such as the British Library (the largest national library in the world with around 200 million items), the iconic Camden Market (with fascinating shops, eateries and music venues), Regents Canal Footpath (14km of scenic views from Paddington to Limehouse Basins), Lee Valley Ice Rink, Epping Forest (2,400 hectares of parkland are home to Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge, Iron Age forts, and sixty football pitches) and Water Works Centre Nature Reserve & Middlesex Filter Beds.
Kensington & Chelsea Commuter Route
The Kensington & Chelsea Commuter Route offers leisure cyclists a two wheeled adventure which embarks on a typical commuter route into the heart of the city from from Putney Bridge Station to Westminster Abbey. It is a 10.8 mile bike ride with a 13 metres climb suitable for all bike types and takes in some fantastic and iconic London sights.
Dulwich Park: Scenic Cycles
Leave the madness of the city behind to enjoy a cycle route through Dulwich Park, one of the most beautiful tranquil parts of London. The Dulwich Park ride is a scenic 3 mile amble, taking in the stunning Dulwich Park, Dulwich Picture Gallery, Dulwich Village and Christ’s Chapel. Dulwich Park is completely car-free with plenty of cycle parking on the route, it’s perfect for beginners or those who don't want anything too strenuous. Dulwich Park was created in 1890, and is Grade II listed. It was once farmland and meadows with several of the original boundary oaks still in exitsence. The park covers 70 acres, with features, gardens and The Pavilion Café which sits in the middle of the park. For those wishing to make a day of it, there's a children’s playground, boating lake, tennis courts and outdoor table tennis. There’s a whole range of different bikes including tandems available to hire in Dulwich Park. There’s also a Brompton Cycles hire dock at Peckham Rye for hire for people aged 18 and above.
Thames Cultural Cycling Tour route
The is nothing more exciting than riding along the banks of the river Thames whilst exploring the city on two wheels. This can be done as part of an organised tour or alone Long stretches of the river Thames provide traffic-free cycling, which make up the Thames Path National Trail. This runs from the source of the Thames in the Cotswolds to the Thames Barrier at Greenwich. Thames Cultural bike tour is 27km (16.8 mile) long and starts at the South Bank. The route then follows the Thames through Rotherhithe to the World Heritage Site of maritime Greenwich. Cyclists then head north, under the Thames, to Canary Wharf where they are routed west through Limehouse and Wapping, over Tower Bridge and back to the South Bank. This fascinating trail is designed for experienced cyclists who wish to get off the beaten track. It offers an insight into parts of London that most tourists never get to see – a truly immersive experience.
