{"id":3484,"date":"2014-06-24T13:17:33","date_gmt":"2014-06-24T13:17:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.travelodge.co.uk\/news\/?p=3484"},"modified":"2023-03-28T13:09:52","modified_gmt":"2023-03-28T13:09:52","slug":"best-places-cycle-london","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.travelodge.co.uk\/blog\/destination-guides\/best-places-cycle-london\/","title":{"rendered":"The best places to cycle in London"},"content":{"rendered":"

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One of the best ways to get around London is by bike. Not only is cycling a green way to travel, it will also keep you fit and is a great way to see the city from street level. London is big on bicycling and well equipped for cyclists looking for some good places to ride. Whether you have your own bike and are looking for somewhere you can get up some speed or are a tourist, wanting to see all the sites, London can accommodate your cycling needs. If you’re staying in a London Travelodge<\/span><\/a>, then a great way to get around is on the Barclays Cycle Hire bikes. They’re fun and environmentally friendly as well being a lot cheaper than taking the tube.<\/p>\n

1. Central London<\/strong><\/p>\n

Using the Barclays Cycle Hire<\/span><\/a> scheme is a great way to get around Central London. Perfect for short journeys, the easy to use service has docking points all over the city and near all of London’s main attractions. London is introducing many cycle routes and cycle super highways, so travelling has never been easier. You can order a cycle guide<\/span><\/a> on-line and remember to plan your route in advance. It is best to have some road knowledge if you are planning on cycling around Central London and it’s not recommended for children. Another alternative to cycling on your own around London is to join a cycle tour such as with The London Bicycle company. The Central Tour<\/span><\/a> includes the changing on the guard and all the main must see sites!<\/p>\n

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2. Richmond Park<\/strong><\/p>\n

Richmond Park<\/span><\/a> is a beautiful Royal park just outside the centre of the city, perfect for cycling. The road around the edge of the park is 7 miles long and perfect for road cycling, however there are also family bike trails and a mountain bike trail, away from the cars. Richmond Park is the former hunting ground of Henry VIII and is still full of beautiful trees and an abundance of deer. If you don’t have your own bikes then it’s easy to hire bicycles in the park. In the summer months you can cycle well into the evening and it’s a lovely place to take a picnic and drink in the summer air.<\/p>\n

3. Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park<\/strong><\/p>\n

London’s brand new Royal Park is the perfect spot for some biking. Utilising the Olympic space, the park boasts the Lee Valley VeloPark<\/span><\/a>, the first centre in the world to support BMX, mountain biking, tract racing and road racing. Centred around the award-winning 6,000 seat Olympic velodrome, most days the VeloPark will be open to the public on a ‘pay and ride’ basis. Whether you are a cycling pro or a bicycle beginner, taking to two wheels in the velodrome is an amazing experience in a venue that has made history. However, if you don’t fancy paying to ride then the rest of the park boasts some brilliant trails and roads for family cycling. You can hire bikes at the View Tube<\/span><\/a> and explore the park for yourself.<\/p>\n