Cycling in London

Cyclists must abide by The Highway Codeː

• You must use lights at night. By law, your bike must be fitted with white front and red rear lights. You can be fined for not using lights at night.
• You must stop at red traffic lights. By law, you must obey all signs and signals. Some locals and tourists choose to ignore red traffic lights, but you can be fined for breezing through.
• You must not cycle on pavements unless they are marked for cyclists' use using blue signs bearing a bicycle or similar icon . You must give way to pedestrians at zebra crossings.
• Cyclists must not ride on motorways or routes marked by a circular white sign with a red border, bearing a bicycle icon
• Cycle on the left in the UK and allow other cyclists to overtake where possible.
• Use arm signals to indicate your direction. Make sure you are aware of your surroundings before turning at junctions.
• You may use cycle lanes where they are available, but they may not be suitable for faster riders, who might find it easier to use the main carriageway.
• You may cycle two abreast on London's roads.

Cycle routes are maintained by several local authorities, including London's 32 borough councils and the City of London Corporation.

Cycleways (C1, C2, C3...) are maintained by Transport for London (TfL). TfL is also responsible for some routes on major A roads, such next to the A406 North Circular Road. You can report problems on the network to TfL using its Streetcare tool: https://streetcare.tfl.gov.uk/

The Royal Parks is responsible for cycleways in some of London's green spaces, including Hyde Park, Green Park, The Regent's Park, Greenwich Park and Richmond Park.

There are several organisations and campaign groups in London, some of which produce maps for and guides to cycling and wheeling in the capital:

Critical Mass London takes place at 7:30PM on the last Friday of each month, starting at the National Theatre near the South Bank. The direct action campaign began in 1992 in San Francisco, in the United States. It is a decentralised ride, so the route is decided spontaneously month-to-month.

Cycling For All was set up to provide cycling opportunities for people in London with disabilities and health conditions.

Cycling UK runs campaigns under the "Transforming our Streets", "Off-road Access for Cycling" and "Less Traffic, More Cycling" banners.

London Cycling Campaign lobbies local authorities, Parliament and private companies to make cycling safer in the capital. As well as localised campaigns at a borough level, LCC runs campaigns such as "Climate Safe Streets", "End Lorry Danger" and "Women's Freedom".

Sustrans looks after the National Cycle Network, including routes in London. The national charity works with policy makers to develop cycling and wheeling networks throughout the country.

Wheels for Wellbeing sets up cycling and wheeling opportunities for mobility impaired people. Its website features a resources page.

You can carry folded cycles on most National Rail trains at any time. You can carry unfolded cycles, except tandems, on most National Rail trains outside of peak hours. There may be restrictions on carrying e-bikes on some routes. Unfolded bikes are not accepted on most rail replacement buses.

There is a Train Travel with Bicycles page on the National Rail website.

• Avanti West Coast into London Euston from Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, North Wales, the Lake District, the North West and Scotland — Avanti West Coast can carry bikes in its secure bike storage area. You can make a free bike reservation for your journey online, by train or at railway station ticket offices.
• c2c into London Fenchurch Street from Basildon and Southend — You cannot take unfolded bikes on c2c trains which arrive into London between around 7AM and 9:30AM on weekdays, or which leave London between around 4.30pm and 6:35PM on weekdays. Outside of these hours, you should put your bike in the labelled designated cycle area. You should not leave your cycle unattended.
• Caledonian Sleeper night trains into London Euston from Scotland — You must make a free cycle reservation before taking your bike on board Caledonian Sleeper trains, and store your cycle in the dedicated storage area.
• Chiltern Railways into London Marylebone from Bicester, Oxford, Warwick, Stratford-upon-Avon and Birmingham — You cannot take unfolded bikes on Chiltern Railways trains which arrive into London, Oxford or Birmingham Moor Street between 7:45AM and 10AM on weekdays, or which leave London, Oxford or Birmingham Moor Street between 4:30PM and 7:30PM on weekdays.
• East Midlands Railway into London St Pancras International from Luton, Corby, Leicester, Nottingham and Sheffield — Cycle reservations are essential on services to and from London, which have limited space, and they must be booked before the day you travel; they cannot be booked on the day.
• Eurostar into London St Pancras International from Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam — Cycle spaces are limited and you can book by email at travelservices@eurostar.com. You may have to disassemble your bike and store it in a box or bag on some services. You will need to drop your bike off at the luggage area before you head to departures.
• Elizabeth line through central London from Reading, Slough, Heathrow Airport and Brentwood — You must not carry unfolded cycles arriving into central London between 7:30AM and 9:30AM on weekdays, and leaving after 4PM and 7PM on weekdays.
• Gatwick Express into London Victoria from Brighton and Gatwick Airport — You must not carry unfolded cycles arriving into London between 7AM and 10AM on weekdays, or leaving London between 4PM and 7PM on weekdays.
• Grand Central into London King's Cross from Bradford and Sunderland — You can made a free reservation at least 24 hours before you travel online or by phone. It may not be possible to turn up with your bike, as there are limited cycle spaces on board.
• Great Northern into London King's Cross or London Moorgate from Hertford, Stevenage, Peterborough, Cambridge, Ely and King's Lynn — You may be asked not to board a train with your bike at busy times. You cannot take unfolded cycles on trains between Finsbury Park and London Moorgate at any time. You cannot take unfolded cycles on trains due to arrive in London between 7AM and 9:30AM on weekdays, or leaving London between 4PM and 7PM on weekdays.
• GWR into London Paddington from Windsor via Slough, Reading, Oxford, Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth, Gloucester, Worcester, Cardiff, Swansea — There is limited cycle storage space on Intercity Express Trains, and you can make a free reservation online. You do not have to book spaces on local routes, but you cannot carry unfolded bikes on local trains arriving into London between 7:30AM and 9:30PM weekdays, or leaving London between 4PM and 7PM. A bike reservation is mandatory on the Night Riviera night train from Cornwall and Devon.
• Greater Anglia into London Liverpool Street from Chelmsford, Colchester, Ipswich, Norwich, Hertford, Cambridge and Ely — You cannot take unfolded bikes on local Greater Anglia trains due to arrive into London between 7:45AM and 9:45AM weekdays, or due to leave London between 4:30PM and 6:30PM weekdays. You can take any bike on Intercity trains, but you must have a free cycle reservation, which you should book at least 24 hours before you travel.
• Heathrow Express into London Paddington from Heathrow Airport — You cannot take unfolded bikes leaving Heathrow between 6:30AM and 10PM weekdays, or trains leaving Paddington between 4:30PM and 7PM weekdays.
• Hull Trains into London King's Cross from Hull — You must make a reservation. Space is limited and you must store your bike in the designated area.
• LNER into London King's Cross from Stevenage, Peterborough, Leeds, York, Newcastle and Scotland — Space is limited. Although you can travel without a booking, you might be asked to wait for another train if someone else has already booked the cycle spaces already.
• London Northwestern Railway into London Euston from Watford, Milton Keynes, Birmingham and Liverpool — You can take bikes on most LNR trains on a first come, first served basis. You cannot take bikes on trains due to arrive in London between 7AM and 10AM weekdays, or leaving London between 4pm and 7pm weekdays.
• Lumo into London King's Cross from Newcastle and Edinburgh — You cannot take bikes on Lumo trains, but LNER operates trains on a similar route.
• South Western Railway into London Waterloo from Guildford, Windsor, Reading, Portsmouth, Salisbury, Southampton, Exeter, Bournemouth and Weymouth — You cannot take bikes on trains due to arrive in London between 7:15AM and 10AM, or leaving London between 4:45PM and 7PM. You must have a reservation on trains from Exeter and Salisbury at any time.
• Southeastern into London Bridge, London Cannon Street, London Charing Cross, London Victoria and London St Pancras International from destinations in Kent including Canterbury, Margate and Dover — You cannot take bikes on Southeastern trains arriving into London between 7AM and 10AM weekdays, or leaving London between 4PM and 7PM.
• Southern into London Bridge and London Victoria from East Grinstead, Gatwick Airport, Horsham, Littlehampton and Brighton — You cannot take bikes on Southern trains arriving into London and Brighton between 7AM and 10PM on weekdays, or leaving London between 4PM and 7PM.
• Stansted Express into London Liverpool Street from Stansted Airport — You cannot take bikes on Stansted Express trains.
• Thameslink through central London from St Albans, Luton, Bedford, Stevenage, Peterborough, Cambridge, Rochester, Sevenoaks, Gatwick Airport, Horsham and Brighton — You cannot take bikes on Thameslink trains due to arrive into London between 7AM and 10AM weekdays, or leaving London between 4PM and 7PM weekdays.

Intercity coach companies in London have different rules about bikes on their buses:

• BlaBlaCar - Bikes permitted in the hold, stored in a protective cover. No e-bikes.
• Filxbus — Bikes permitted, but you must pay for a reservation before you travel. No e-bikes.
• Megabus — No unfolded full-size cycles. Folded or small children's bicycles may meet the luggage requirements, but they must be stowed in a bag or box in the hold.
• National Express — No unfolded/full-size cycles. No e-bikes. Cycles must be folded and stored in a padded bag or hard case.

You can take bikes on some ferries, including:

• Dieppe to Newhaven with DFDS — one bicycle or e-bike per passenger permitted. You must be able to ride it through the port to reach check-in. Dieppe and Newhaven are on L'Avenue Verte Paris-London cycle route.
• Calais/Dunkirk to Dover with DFDS — one bicycle or e-bike per passenger permitted. You must be able to ride it through the port to reach check-in.
• Calais to Dover with P&O.
• Hook of Holland to Harwich with StenaLine — bicycles, tandems, e-bikes and trailers are allowed on board. One bicycle per person is permitted, and you must be able to ride it onto the boat. You can book a Rail & Sail ticket, which will involve a journey with Greater Anglia into London Liverpool Street.
• Cross-channel ferries into Portsmouth with Brittany Ferries — Book "with bicycle" online, which is available on some routes.

There are several national and international cycle routes into London, including:

• Avenue Verte — 247 miles to the London Eye on the South Bank, London from the Notre Dame in Paris (France), mostly quiet lanes and traffic-free routes. Cross the English Channel between Dieppe and Newhaven.
• EuroVelo 2 Capitals Route — from Windsor, Reading, Bristol, Bangor, Dublin (Ireland), the Lee Valley, Chelmsford, Colchester, Harwich, The Hague (Netherlands) and Berlin (Germany). Follows National Cycle Network Routes 1 and 4 in London.
• EuroVelo 5 Via Romea — from Lille (France), Brussels (Belgium), Luxembourg (Luxembourg) and Brindisi (Italy). Follows National Cycle Network Route 1 in England. Ends in Canterbury, Kent.
• EuroVelo12 North Sea Cycle Route — from Canterbury, Dover, Dunkirk (France), Hamburg (Germany), Bergen (Norway), the Lee Valley, Chelmsford, Colchester, Ipswich and the Scottish Highlands. Follows National Cycle Network Route 1 in London.
• National Cycle Network Route 1 — from Canterbury, Dover, the Lee Valley, Chelmsford, Colchester, Ipswich and the Scottish Highlands.
• National Cycle Network Route 4 — from Windsor, Reading, Bristol, Cardiff and Fishguard.
• National Cycle Network Route 21 — from Redhill, Crawley and Eastbourne.
• National Cycle Network Route 22 — from the Surrey Hills, Guildford, the South Downs and Portsmouth.

TfL coordinates much of London's public transport network. There is a "taking cycles on rail services map" on the TfL website. As a general rule, you cannot take your bikes on trains (London Underground, London Overground, Elizabeth line, DLR) during peak hours:

• In the mornings, between 7:30AM and 9:30AM
• In the evenings, between 4PM and 7PM

You can take cycles on a some peak-time  OGD  routes at London Liverpool Street - leaving London during the morning peak, or arriving into London during the evening peak.

Off-peak, you can take unfolded cycles anywhere on  CIR  DIS  H&C  MET ,  ELI  and  OGD . On other routes, you can only take your unfolded bike on board between:

•  BAK  — Queen's Park and Harrow and Wealdstone
•  CEN  — Epping and Leyton, Woodford and Hainault, Hainault and Newbury Park, White City and Ealing Broadway, White City and West Ruislip
•  JUB  — Stanmore and Finchley Road, Canning Town and Stratford
•  NOR  — Edgware and Colindale, Hendon Central and Golders Green, High Barnet and East Finchley, Mill Hill East and East Finchley
•  PIC  — Cockfosters and Oakwood, Barons Court and Hounslow West, Barons Court and Uxbridge
•  DLR  — Anywhere except Shadwell and Bank

You cannot take your unfolded bike on  VIC  and  W&C  at any time.

You can take an unfolded bike on the Cable Car at any time.

Peak time restrictions apply on most National Rail services.

There are several cycle hire schemes in London.

Santander Cycles — sometimes known as "Boris bikes" - is a TfL scheme in central London. You can hire pushbikes and e-bikes from around 800 docking stations in the capital. For bikes, you pay £1.65 for up to 30 minutes, then £1.65 for each additional 30 minutes. Use your debit card or the Santander Cycles app to pay-as-you-ride when you get to the docking station. For e-bikes, you pay £3.30 for up to 30 minutes, then £3.30 for each additional 30 minutes. You must have the app to hire e-bikes.

Be sure to dock your cycle when you arrive at your destination. There are docking stations throughout central London including the City of London, and in: Canary Wharf, Clapham, Hammersmith, Hyde Park, Islington, Putney, Regent's Park, Rotherhithe, Shepherd's Bush, South Kensington and Stratford.

Beryl in Hackney, Westminster, Borehamwood (Hertfordshire) and Watford (Hertfordshire). Cargo e-bikes only in central London. Remember to end your journey in a designated parking area. Hire using an app.

Brompton Bike Hire from £5 per day. You can find your bikes in bike lockers throughout the UK. You can register and hire using an app. Find docking stations in: central London, Cyprus and Poplar, Ealing, Penge, Stratford, Twickenham and Walthamstow, and in Guildford and Woking in Surrey.

You can hire Forest e-bikes using an app in 14 London areas: Camden, City of London, Hammersmith & Fulham, Islington, Kensington & Chelsea, Kingston, Lambeth, Merton, Richmond upon Thames, Southwark, Sutton, Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth, Westminster. You get 10 minutes of free riding each day, plus a £1 parking fee. Park in designated areas to unlock free minutes. Check the app for details.

Green dockless e-bikes by Lime can be found throughout London. If you want to end your journey in Camden, City of London, Hackney, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Hounslow, Lambeth, Lewisham, Kensington and Chelsea, and Westminster, you must park in a designated parking area, which you can find on the app. Elsewhere, you must park the cycle considerately. You could face a warning, £20 charge or a ban if you fail to park correctly. Check the app for prices.

Blue Tier e-bikes are available in London. Check the app for details.

There are a network of cycleways throughout London. Look out for cycle signs:

— route on the London Cycleways network. Each route has a number (C1, C2, C3...) which will appear on lime green or pink signs.

— route on the National Cycle Network. Each route has a number (1, 4, 6...) which will appear in a red box.

— route for pedal cycles only. You should not encounter pedestrians or motor traffic on routes marked using this sign.

— route for pedal cycles and pedestrians only. You will have to share the route with pedestrians, but you should not encounter motor traffic on routes marked with this sign.

— separated track and path for pedal cycles and pedestrians. You should stay on your side of the path but be aware there may be pedestrians in your way. You should not encounter motor traffic on routes marked with this sign.

— on-road cycle route begins. You may encounter parked cars or bus stops on your route, and motor vehicles will pass nearby, usually to your right.

— cycling is prohibited. You should dismount and push your bike or seek an alternative route.

TfL's Cycleways typically follow on-road cycle lanes or quieter streets. They are typically designed for commuters but many pass major London attractions including Buckingham Palace, Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben) and the Houses of Parliament, The Tower of London and the Tate Modern. They are all signposted, but it can be easy to lose track with gaps in the signage network. TfL has a Cycleways map online: https://tfl.gov.uk/maps/cycle

Major routes include:

C1 between Southwark Bridge and Freezywater (it may be quicker for confident riders to travel using the A10, which is a busy road following roughly the same route):

• Southwark Bridge
• Mansion House
• Bank of England — The nation's central bank dates back to 1694 and the building, at the heart of the City of London, dates back to the 1700s. You can visit the Bank of England Museum which features a collection of banknotes, artwork and documents from the bank's history.
• The Barbican — Art gallery, theatre, cinema, library and bars at this iconic brutalist venue.
• Moorgate
• Old Street
• Shoreditch Park — One of Hackney's largest parks with a beach volleyball court.
• De Beauvoir Square — To the east, De Beauvoir Square is a small landscaped garden.
• Dalston — Famous for its friendly LGBT+ bars and clubs, as well as independent cafés and boutiques.
•  OGD  Dalston Kingsland
• Abney Park — A 13-hectare park, also a cemetery.
•  OGD  Stamford Hill
•  OGD  South Tottenham
•  OGD  Seven Sisters
• Bruce Castle Park — Bruce Castle Park is home to an oak thought to be about 500 years old, a tree trail, a café and sports facilities including a multi-use games area.
• North Middlesex University Hospital
• Pymmes Park — Once part of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley's estate - which he bought in 1582 - Pymmes Park features a walled garden, football pitches and a lake.
•  OGD  Edmonton Green
• Durants Park — This urban park features sports pitches and play areas.
• Freezywater — Where London meets Hertfordshire and Essex, Freezywater is in the Lee Valley, with cycle routes onwards to the nearby market town of Waltham Cross, riverside trails and meadows in the Lee Valley Regional Park.

C2 between the Tower of London and Stratford is a busy commuter route, but it's a useful connection to know for Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park visitors staying in the city centre:

• Tower of London — Its White Tower dates back to 1078, built during William the Conqueror's reign. Once used as a prison, famous inmates included Queen Elizabeth I, Sir Walter Raleigh and the Kray twins. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is open to the public.
• Aldgate
• Aldgate East
•  ELI   OGD  Whitechapel
• Whitechapel Gallery — Founded in 1901, the Whitechapel Gallery hosts contemporary art exhibitions by makers, designers and artists locally and worldwide.
• Mile End Park — Canalside park with plenty of cycle paths, an ecology park and children's play areas.
• Mile End
• Bow Road
•  DLR  Bow Church
•  ELI   OGD  Stratford — with routes onward to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, once home to the London 2012 Olympic Games venues.

C3 between Lancaster Gate and Barking is predominantly on its own track. It features high quality infrastructure and passes some of the world's most famous landmarks — including Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye (opposite bank):

• Lancaster Gate
• Hyde Park — There are plenty of pleasant cycle routes around Hyde Park — some geared up for fast cyclists, some shared with pedestrians for more leisurely rides. Hyde Park is one of London's Royal Parks.
• The Serpentine — Swim in the Serpentine Lido (outdoor, open seasonally) or see contemporary art exhibitions at the Serpentine Galleries.
• Knightsbridge
• Hyde Park Corner
• Green Park
• Buckingham Palace — King Charles III's official London residence. Its core, a large townhouse, dates back to 1703 and it has been the monarch's official London residence since 1837 when Queen Victoria acceded to the throne. Open to the public seasonally.
• St James's Park
• Parliament Square
• Houses of Parliament — The UK's legislature comprising the House of Commons and the House of Lords. You can see MPs and peers in action when the houses are sitting free of charge. You can also book tours of the Houses of Parliament. Note: There is airport-style security at the main visitor entrance (Cromwell Green). It is likely you will have to hand cycle equipment, particularly cycle lights, to security staff before you go in.
• Westminster
• Embankment
• Temple
• Blackfriars
• Tower of London — Its White Tower dates back to 1078, built during William the Conqueror's reign. Once used as a prison, famous inmates included Queen Elizabeth I, Sir Walter Raleigh and the Kray twins. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is open to the public.
• Tower Hill
•  DLR  Tower Gateway
• Cable Street — Famous for a clash in 1936, known as the "Battle of Cable Street", between the British Union of Fascists and various protesters including trade unionists, British Jews and socialist groups. C3 is a two-way cycle track along Cable Street.
•  DLR   OGD  Shadwell
• Limehouse Basin
•  DLR  Westferry — Leave C3 here for Canary Wharf. Follow blue cycle signage.
• Bow Creek — Leave C3 here for ExCeL London events.
•  DLR  Canning Town
• Greatfields Park

C4 between London Bridge and Greenwich:

• London Bridge
• The Shard — A 72-storey skyscraper and the second-tallest building in Europe outside of Russia (missing out to Warsaw's Varso Tower). The View from the Shard is the building's privately operated observation deck.
• London Bridge
• Bermondsey
• Southwark Park
• ( OGD  Surrey Quays)
• Deptford — An arty, forever "up and coming" neighbourhood near Goldsmiths University of London, home to the famous Deptford Market.
• Greenwich — The Meridian Line (+0 GMT) passes through Greenwich. Laze on Greenwich Park or find out about Britain's history at sea at the Cutty Sark, National Maritime Museum and the Old Royal Naval College museum. Also visit the Royal Observatory. Although Greenwich is on the bank of the River Thames, the ride southbound to Blackheath, Lewisham and Eltham is very hilly.

C6 between Kentish Town and Elephant and Castle:

• Kentish Town — A bustling high street (Kentish Town Road) is home to independent and chain shops, bars and restaurants.
•  OGD  Camden Road
• St Pancras Gardens — The Hardy Tree was in the St Pancras Gardens, encircled by headstones. A young Thomas Hardy (writer) was working as an architect when he was involved in a mass exhumation to make way for The Midland Railway. The tree fell in 2022. St Pancras Gardens remains home to the St Pancras Old Church, thought to be one of the oldest churches in London, possibly dating back to 314 (but there is little evidence to support this claim).
• London St Pancras International
• Bloomsbury — Filled with bookshops and cafés, Bloomsbury comes alive in the mornings as students head to their universities nearby. It remains busy into the evenings as local bars open up.
• The Postal Museum — The history of the Royal Mail and Post Office, and the underground Mail Rail which connected the sorting centre with London's train stations.
• Farringdon
• City Thameslink — Near London's St Paul's Cathedral.
• Blackfriars
• Southwark
• Tate Modern — Includes a permanent collection and a calendar of exhibitions throughout the year. Find work by the likes of Hanri Matisse and Pablo Picasso at this South Bank museum.
• Imperial War Museum — Explore Britain's wartime history from the First World War to the present day.
• Elephant and Castle — C6 meets C7, which continues south to Clapham Common and Colliers Wood.

There are several leisure routes throughout London.

L'Avenue Verte to Paris, France begins at 🌍 Westminster Bridge and ends at the Notre Dame.

The Colne Valley trail runs 8 mi (13 km) between 🌍 Uxbridge and 🌍 Watford. Following National Cycle Route 6, this 40-minute ride through London, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire follows the winding River Colne through waterside landscapes.

The London Docklands and Lee Valley trail - 20.7 mi (33.3 km) along London's canals and through bustling canalside districts including Canary Wharf, the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and Cheshunt. It begins in 🌍 Greenwich and ends at 🌍 River Lee Country Park in Hertfordshire.

The Wandle Trail is the 12.5 mi (20.1 km) route which winds its way beside the Wandle through woodland in south London - from 🌍 Croydon to 🌍 Wandsworth. Much of the route follows National Cycle Network Route 20.

There are plenty of cycle cafés in London, including:

• 🌍 London Bike Studio, 129-131 Stoke Newington Road, London, N16 8BT, ☏ +44 20 3940 6586, cafe@londonbikestudio.org. Tu-F 9AM-5PM, Sa 10AM-6PM. (updated Mar 2024)
• 🌍 Lavelle, 51-52 Rathbone Place, London W1T 1JP, ☏ +44 20 7323 0251. (updated Mar 2024)