When coming up with our 48-hour guide to London on a bike, we selected Cheltenham-born photographer Henry Little, who spends a huge amount of time exploring the city on his bike.

Henry uses his custom-made British Racing Green Quella to cruise around the city with his camera at the ready. He has given us two great days out on a bike, comprising a West to Central and East to Central route.

To meet your needs, these can be reversed or switched around – and if you have two days, you can even do both! Remember, you are permitted to take a non-folding bike on the tube outside of peak times, so if you get tired, you can shorten the distance easily!

STARTING WEST AND HEADING INTO TOWN…

Wherever you start your day on a bike in West London, you won’t be far from the Thames Embankment. It is a pleasure to cycle on with great views, especially from the South side.

First, cross the beautiful Chelsea Bridge and keep left, working your way along Embankment until you reach Lots Road. Follow it up past Chelsea Design Centre and up to Stamford Bridge, home of Chelsea FC, before heading North into Brompton Cemetery.

Brompton Cemetery

This is one of London’s best-kept secrets, a huge plot housing 35,000 graves. The site is beautiful, atmospheric and filled with history. From the cemetery, you will arrive at Lillie Rd, where we recommend breakfast at Pedal Back Cycling, a great cafe/bike shop. The premises is run by Nicky and Ria, a lovely couple, offering a fab breakfast and delicious coffee. They also offer bike servicing and sell a nice range of accessories!

With your breakfast on board, head back through the cemetery and wiggle your way down Edith Grove to the beginning of the famous Kings Rd. King’s Road is the heart of Chelsea’s best boutiques, great bars and cafes.

Make your way up all the way to Sloane Square, stopping anywhere that takes your fancy. The road is dotted with council-provided secure cycle racks in well-populated areas, meaning you can stop and check out the shopping along the way – while being confident that your bike will be there on your return!

A definite stop-off is Duke of York Square, just before Sloane Square with 3 bike racks, and great shopping, dining and cafe options. On Saturday there is an excellent Fine Food Market offering amazing street food as well as great ingredients from niche suppliers.

Saatchi Gallery

The Square also houses the beautiful Saatchi Gallery, which has a constantly changing menu of contemporary art exhibitions. The gallery is less daunting and quieter than some of London’s bigger galleries, so you can take in an exhibition in an hour or two and leave yourself with plenty of time to keep exploring.

From Sloane Square, cycle through Eaton Square to Buckingham Palace. You will meander up through beautiful Belgravia, past some of London’s best houses and many countries’ embassies up to Wellington Arch. Here, hop off the bikes and walk across the square to the other side where you can remount and cycle alongside Green Park to Buckingham Palace.

From there, you can keep going along the famous Mall with St James’s Park on your right. Both parks are beautiful, and there are plenty of options to cut into the parks to explore. If you are ready for a coffee, a great option (where you can keep your bike in sight) is St James Cafe. The building is set in an award-winning contemporary wooden pavilion overlooking the lake, providing great views!

Just a few yards from the cafe, you can wheel your bike over can watch the pelicans being fed at Duck Island Cottage, situated by the end of the lake by Horse Guards Rd. Next, head back up to The Mall and head under Admiralty Arch into Trafalgar Square. You can hop off and wheel your bike past the famous Lions and stop for a photo, and there are often great street performers in front of the National Gallery. As a result, the area is worth a visit in its own right, especially when you have more time to spend!

Back on the bike for a short push up Haymarket, past Piccadilly Circus and into Regent Street, it’s busy here but it’s just a few hundred yards and it’s time for a rest. Drop your bike at BIKE DROP on Conduit Street, you can pre-book online and they will take your bike off your hands and store it securely while you enjoy some lunch and a wander around Soho.

Restaurants

You are now in the heart of London’s dining area, with endless choices. We have picked a few great options here:

Rapha Clubhouse – £ – A great spot to stop by with great coffee, light meals and an amazing retail space.
Bar Italia, 22 Frith Street – ££ – One of London’s most famous and authentic coffee and snack bars serving up tasty Italian food and coffee since 1946, in an authentic atmosphere. You will be surrounded by memorabilia from the world of cycling, football, and celebrity. The family also own Little Italy at number 21 if you want a proper sit-down meal!
Princi, 135 Wardour Street – £££ – This beautiful cafe, bakery and restaurant can sit you down for a full-service meal or serve yourself from the tasty array on the counter.
After a wander around Soho and Regent Street, head back to Bike Drop, collect your bike, and head West through London’s most glamorous district, Mayfair. Take a right from Conduit Street onto New Bond Street to pass through Mayfair and some of London’s fanciest shops and restaurants.

Hang a left on Maddox Street – you’ll want to avoid the traffic on Oxford Street! – and then cross Park Lane. Here, enter London’s biggest and most beautiful open space, Hyde Park, which contains The Diana Memorial, The Serpentine Lake/Gallery and The Italian Gardens. There are many ways across the park and lots to see – but you want to end up near Kensington Palace, close to your first stop of the day at Pedal Back Cycling to head back to your start.

To send the day off, we recommend visiting Dynamo on Putney Bridge Road. They offer great pizzas and a warm welcome, all in a bike-friendly venue with secure indoor bike storage!

EAST TO CENTRAL ROUTE…

Our East to West bike day has to start at Look Mum No Hands, London’s first and best-known cycling cafe. There is plenty of secure bike parking and they serve a great breakfast from 8.00 on weekdays and 9.00 at weekends!

Full of breakfast, it’s time for some culture. The British Museum is worth visiting just to see the famous atrium but is also a great museum full of iconic and awe-inspiring artefacts. Check out what is on and pick something that interests you – as you could easily spend a full day here! Bicycle racks are available inside the gates of the Main Entrance on Great Russell Street.

With a short spin south, you’ll reach the famous Piccadilly Circus. Here, visit Bike Drop’s valet bike parking. You can book online, meaning you can drop by and go at this secure storage facility, before taking a lunch break on foot.

Take a short walk north into Soho (see restaurant recommendations above in the West to Central route!), or, if you are on the two-day tour, we recommend heading up Wardour Street into Chinatown. You can also wander down the pedestrianised Gerrard Street and take your pick of hospitality sites, but we recommend trying Vietfood on Wardour Street.

When you are refuelled and ready, pick up your bike and head to Convent Garden. Here, you can store your bike safely with Spokesafe, as it is easier to explore on foot.

Convent Garden is an iconic London attraction and is a great place for a wander with endless bars, cafes, restaurants and boutiques. There is also the covered market, which is great for gift shopping! Around the square, you will see some excellent street entertainers and the side streets are well worth exploring.

Now, it is back on the bike for the longest leg of the day, cycling East away from Central London. This route will take you down the famous streets of The Strand, Fleet St, and Ludgate Hill, with the next stop at St Pauls’s Cathedral. The site is well worth a stop, especially with a visit to the Whispering Gallery – a must if you have the energy in your legs for the 259 stairs! We recommend taking advantage of the large bike rack on New Change to the East of the cathedral.

The next stop is South of the river, checking the views from London Bridge and Tower Bridge – both definitive photo stops! Foodies might want to make a very small detour as you cross the London Bridge and head a hundred metres straight onto Borough Market, located on your right-hand side. This is London’s most famous food market and offers endless possibilities, no matter your dietary requirements! If not, you will head down Tooley Street, before turning back over the river across the iconic Tower Bridge – straight past the Tower of London!

Now, it’s due North, close to where your day started. You can reward yourself with a pint at Boxpark in Shoreditch, which offers secure well-lit racks with 24-hour CCTV. If you need a snack, there are around 20 street food options in this funky space, all created from shipping containers!

From here, we recommend a good walk around Shoreditch, London’s hippest area – the place is no stranger to a good fixie bike! In fact, the fixie is the preferred method of transport for London’s hipsters, many of whom live here.

There is SO much going on in this regenerated area – but you MUST take a wander down buzzing Brick Lane and The Truman Brewery for street art, street food, music venues, cool bars, restaurants and clubs. There are too many options to cover, but if you are a curry fan, you’ll love it. If not, there are a few more options here:

Your Ultimate Brick Lane Guide