London is a metropolis. Its surface area is almost as big as the province of Utrecht. You can travel 10 tonnes of kilometres without leaving the city. Comparable to metropolises like Los Angeles, Mexico and Paris. London has a cycling culture, although the car is still king. Still, London certainly has some great routes and you can get around quite nicely on a bike. I'll give you some tips & tricks for going cycling in London. That way, like me, you can combine a visit to the city with a nice rite of passage by bike.
1. Hit the parks
London is home to a large number of parks. Well-known parks such as Hyde Park and Regents Park are just a few options. A favourite among cyclists is Richmond Park, towards the south-west. I think it is the park that is closest to cycling through and where you also have ample space as a cyclist. Another option is the Hackney Marshes and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, which run into each other. The infrastructure here is also fairly new. You can further combine that with Lee Valley and the Walthamstow Wetlands. To the north, you'll also find Hampstead Heath. Around Greenwich, too, you can get around nicely.
2. Next-level coffee rides
If there is one thing London is good at, it is coffee culture. Of course, the big chains are dominant, but London has a great selection of coffee joints, (outdoor) bars and even some bike cafes. Famous spots like Borough Market, as well as the Rope Walk, have good coffee. As does north of Kings' Cross/St. Pancrass. My tip: Redemption Roasters. They help keep ex-prisoners on the straight and narrow. I think that's cool. The signature brew is worth it!
A tip from local Rianne: Fortitude Bakehouse is a favourite with many cyclists in London. The Beignets there are also next level!
3. London also has real bike cafes
Are you looking for the best combination of a fun coffee shop and café, where you'll also find a bike theme? You'll find several fun bike cafés in London. A few closed during the 2020-2021 pandemic, but by now there is a nice solid core of bike shops in this giant city.
- Perhaps the most famous is the Soho Clubhouse of clothing brand Rapha. Regular rides leave here, there are events and you can get a nice cup of coffee.
- Relatively close to the city centre, you'll find London Bike Studio, a hip bike cafe, where you can also get your cart repaired. www.Londonbikestudio.org
- Across the Thames you will find two cool alternatives.
- The Dynamo in Putney is the best option if you want to head towards Richmond Park from the city. Putney is relatively close to the city centre and at the The Dynamo you can take a ride with a good cup of coffee and a cake. https://www.the-dynamo.co.uk
- Also in Putney and just new: The Clubhouse From Raptor bikes. Coffee - cake - 10mins cycling from Richmond Park.
- G!ro in Esher. If you want to go further out of town, towards the Surrey Hills / Box Hill then G!ro is a good starting point. Wonderful business. https://www.girocycles.com/.
4. Follow the cycle paths
Although London is not known as a bike haven, the city has a large network of cycle paths. These vary in type/size/state of maintenance. I myself rode the CS2 and CS3, among others, and they were remarkably good. Sometimes there's still an abrupt stop, or you have to meander through traffic lights, but there are also long stretches that you can cycle through nicely. For instance, from Tower Bridge towards Greenwich Park, along Lower Road. Almost Dutch beautiful!
5. Lights on
Londoners drive at almost any time of day. One thing I did notice is that everyone drives with lights even during the day. This could certainly be due to the other road users. Because if there is no bike lane available, it quickly becomes quite tight, especially with trucks and rubbish trucks, which leave little room for the lone two-wheeler. Want tips on the right bike light? Then read our article on bicycle lighting.
6. Rent a bike
London was one of the first cities to introduce the famous pick-up/drop-off bicycles. Then called 'Boris Bikes', after the then Mayor of London, those bikes caused a small revolution. They were joined by all kinds of variants, but the one I'd like to point out is the Brompton Bicycle Hire. Because if you can't bring your own road or gravel bike, a Brompton is an alternative you can still get some speed on. Install the app, link a debit card and for £5 (€6) a day you can ride the bike unlimited times. Only downside: it doesn't come with a lock and you should always store it safely. That said: it folds up small and if you use it for meetings, it's great. I myself also used the Brompton for my training rides and that went perfectly. Want to hire a road bike? Livelo in London offers good bikes and 'guided tours'.
7. Go for the KOM/QOM
London is not flat. Unlike Amsterdam or Copenhagen, London is anything but flat. Indeed, the hill near Greenwich has sections of 10%+. So if you think you can do a short lap in your jeans, you may be disappointed. My tip: go in your cycling clothes and make it a nice round of exercise. If you've conquered the little climb at Greenwich, you do have one of the best views of the city and the river Thames.
Maze Hill, Greater London, United Kingdom
- Distance: 743 m, Height difference: 38 m, Average slope: 5.1 %
8. Longer time? Head south
Got longer in the city? Then seek out the Surrey Hills, south of the city. Known for the Tour of Britain, the London Prudential Ride, but most importantly the 2012 Olympics, this is the playground of London Mamils and other cycling enthusiasts. You'll know the routes if you've cycled virtually in Zwift before, but in that setup you do skip a whole lot of the city. See if you can join a club ride on Sundays. Also read our article on cycling routes south of London.
9. Participate in a cool event? Ride London is the way to go
One of the biggest events in the city is the RideLondon. You can choose from several distances and you'll pretty much be conquering the hills south of London. The event usually sells out quickly, so pay close attention to when you can register. Especially if you've been to the city before, it's very cool to see the city in a different way. The 2025 edition has unfortunately been postponed, but the organisers are working on a new concept, so keep an eye on the site of RideLondon definitely keep an eye on it! It was usually combined with a UCI race, so stay tuned.
10. Crazy about cycling but not a cyclist? Rouleur Live is a cool event
Rouleur Magazine is one of the leading magazines in the European cycling market. The originally English magazine also has a Spanish and Italian edition. Apart from that, for several years they have had one of the coolest bike events in Europe, Rouleur Live. Every November, the UK bike industry gathers here. There is a gala evening, speakers, a bike show, but with class. A cool event to write up. In 2024, Rouleur Live will be from 14-16 November. Location: Truman Brewery in Spitalfields. Tickets in info: Rouleur Live
What is also lovely: a bike shop where you can browse around and drool on that one dream bike. VIA studio, right near Fortitude Bakehouse, is one such shop. With brands like Argonaut, Factor Bikes, Standert and Dario Pegoretti, you can indulge yourself. You'll also be fine with the clothing selection (only top brands like Velocio, Rapha, PNS and Q36.5. 18-19 Stable street in London.
Do you have any good tips for cycling in London yourself? Then share them in the comments!
