Cycling in London - bike on Thames

Tales of the Riverbank

Thanks for raising the bridge!

Mill End

Surprisingly, it’s easier to cycle in the Big City than our small town in Bucks. Of course, when we take a Thameside cycle near home we can use our local tow-paths. However, in our small town we have no cycle paths and have to brave the school run mums, the commuters and the trucks. That’s not the case in London. Being simple country folk it was quite a surprise to find ourselves on a Cycle Superhighway along the Thames as we approached Westminster for the Tour of Britain racing. The ‘thick blue line’ made for safe and easy cycling so we vowed to use it again later in the week.

London in the sun

We parked for free in a quiet residential street in Wandsworth just off the A3 and headed downhill into town to pick up CS 8 (Cycle Superhighway 8) to take us into the City. As the route signs are painted on the street it’s simple, even for us, to navigate and we soon found our way to Battersea where we crossed the river and headed East along the Embankment. It’s not perfect for pedalling but when you are used to taking your chances without any cycle infrastructure it almost felt too good to be true.  At Westminster we crossed over to the South Bank and cycled on Sustrans 4 to Tower Bridge and beyond. Morning coffee and loo stop at the National Theatre before pedalling on the cobbles past the Golden Hind and Globe Theatre.

TW on Bankside

We joined up with the office types at a Simply Food near City Hall to buy a Lunchtime picnic to eat in the sunshine, the Shard behind us.  

A cool and necessary beer was savoured at Browns by the Thames before we headed upstream and back to Wandsworth to pick up the car.

Real cyclists at Tour of Britain

On Westminster Bridge

Passing Big Ben
Real cycling - Cav with his mates at HTC

Am sure there are lots of negative comments on the cycle superhighways but they certainly benefit these two occasional visitors from upstream. 

Bit more tranquil near home - at Hurley