Another superb video to remind me of the sheer beauty and diversity of London. I'm not a cyclist, but look forward each week to another journey through really interesting streets and their varied architecture. Thank you so much to taking the time and trouble to do these-I thoroughly enjoy your commentary and the snippets of historical and other interesting bits of information that you provide.
Interesting to see from 3:00 to 4:00 a delivery rider who is on a presumably illegal e-bike, as he doesn't pedal once but somehow manages to speed up and down, so presumably has a throttle - naughty!
Another nice one! Personally for me, i think many others feel the same, backstreet routes through the LTNs wherever possible are much better than protected bike lanes because no cars near you and hence no polluted air fumes just by you.
Really great summery video, thank you! I used to commute these locations and I bet that westbound button is still broken even now! Typically I used A3 which was really not great where Borough High St meets London Bridge. This is a much nicer alternative with fewer traffic lights. Cant help thinking about the £293 million used to construct Limehouse Link in 1989-93 whenever I cycle along Cable St!
I watched the GCN slow cycle video on the ride to Canterbury and was astounded to see the Chaucer mural close to Peckham. I couldn't believe I had never seen it in all the years I travelled the old kent road. I agree with you that the historical murals add much to an area linking the present population to the ones before them.
Great route! When not in rush and it's sunny, I prefer to take through Ste Katherine Docks / Wapping instead of CS3 via Cable street. Lovely area to cycle there, small canal, some greens. You arrive at the end of Narrow Street and then continue the same route till CW.
Oh yes is really like it down there- how do you usually access it from CS3 end, dismount and use the crossing? I’ve struggled to find a good connection to it (one reason I’ve not been to wapping yet in a video)
🤙🏼🤙🏼 that blackfriars bit is one of my favourite to skate through to/from east london. *Havin the wide segregated lane/s is great.* Bit insane seein so many cyclists come down opposite towards you down a the narrower east london side 😭 that bit where the "limehouse causeway" text comes up, where you mention the white columns, I've seen videos from others goin that way, not sure how many cyclists use it but I do like the "waterside". When on earth did they add those yellow gates opposite the cinema, used to be nice and open! Not a fan of when they add "blocks" into areas, all it does it annoy people who never speed through anyway.
haha I bet that narrow bit is terrifying! and I completely agree about the gates. they're probably illegal under disability regs. I think it's all owned by Canary Wharf Group rather than a public place, so they can do what they like. Judging by the no motorbike signs they think it'll stop them - presumably delivery drivers go that way.
Don’t have one myself but you see them a lot and hear from friends they’re ‘fine’! Whereabouts are you moving to? Some areas are hillier than others, Crouch End for example!!
@@kyleross9622 Thanks for replying! I think I’ll be somewhere around Highbury/Arsenal. I think there’s a bit of a slope from centre of town…but doable?
@@neilfowler3284 Good choice of where to live! It’s great there. yes it’s very doable from there, and Arsenal/Highbury has some of the best cycle infrastructure in London, so it’s really safe
@@neilfowler3284 it *should* be fine but there are a few hills around there, especially if you want to go further north. I don't have personal experience of one but I'm definitely glad to have gears when I cycle on e.g. Aubert Park which which is a useful way to get to Hackney from Highbury etc
I get the appeal from a cost / simplicity / reliability standpoint, but you do get the same reliability from hub gears so I'd suggest considering that. I have a three speed and I wish it had more gears sometimes. I live in Hackney too, so not exactly hilly, but you still occasionally encounter ramps to bridges and things like that. I borrowed my brother's seven speed when I went out to visit him in Hamburg recently, and it was nice to be able to keep a more consistent cadence. With less gears you are having to kind of grind it out a bit more rather than happily spinning away, but that's probably not actually an issue unless you have dodgy knees or something like that.
It would be nice to have routes to amd from Bromley though, it’s an area with a lot of cyclists but not so good infrastructure so a route into London would be nice
@@peterheller5633 yeah it would be good... there are a few short-ish decent sections I've worked out but as far as I can tell it's really difficult to get into Bromley town centre by bike without just going on a main road. the council there seems really awful!
Hey mate - do you you know if they have started the last bit of Cycleway 4 from Lower Rd to Southwark Park yet? I saw them doing markings down there a few weeks back and got excited
Thanks so much for this video!! I was wondering if you could do one for Tufnell Park to Paddington - lots of maps suggest going along in the Regent's canal towpath but this doesn't feel particularly safe at right, and these routes also go on a lot of main roads which isn't great either. Thanks so much
Good idea! I have to say I’d probably take the tow path there as there aren’t great options going west, I guess another possibility would be going through Marylebone (Crawford street etc) though it’s not a great ride. Will see what I can do!
@@Londoncycleroutes Thank you so much, I'd really appreciate it!! Towpath is perfect during daylight I agree, but when its dark it doesn't feel safe at all so would really appreciate any more advice!
The two way cycle tracks on cable street are pretty narrow, I wonder how the route could be improved in future (maybe would need a change in control of the council first). I'm not convinced that it needs to be a through route for cars, given it's surrounded to the north and south by main roads, and particularly given it only adds capacity in one direction. If the through traffic was directed elsewhere, it could just be an ordinary two-way road and still be perfectly suitable for all cyclists.
Yeah or maybe use the existing track as a contra flow in one direction or something? there was a plan a while back from TH to do something to it but I don’t think it involved a filter and it looked kind of crap. But filtering it would make sense I think - runs parallel to various big A roads. Unfortunately it’s LBTH so any improvement is at least 4 years away…
Could you please do a quiet route from Clapham Common to Richmond Park? I could link up with your Richmond Park-Westminster route by going on the A3216 from Clapham Common to Battersea Park but it's pretty horrendous on a bike. I'm actually coming from Beckenham but I can get to Clapham Common via other routes you've uploaded.
The map shows that a crossing is sorely needed between Deptford and the Isle of Dogs. The only thing there seems to be the Greenwich Ferry. Are bikes permitted in the Rotherhithe Tunnel?
They’re permitted but I wouldn’t want to ride in it! There’s the Greenwich foot tunnel but you’re meant to push your bike. There were plans for a Rotherhithe to Canary Wharf cycle and walking bridge which would have been amazing but it got cancelled
Would you recommend the C3 cycle route from where you cross the river to Canary Wharf instead of using the Thames Path via Wapping High Street? Are bikes allowed to use the Thames Path from Wapping all the way through to CW or is it pedestrian-only?
Yeah I definitely prefer C3- I think bikes can use the Thames path as far as narrow street, the issues is getting to it from the west, I think it’s a pretty tricky junction at Tower Hill?
@@Londoncycleroutes Thanks - really helpful! Yeah, that's the problem. The only way I can see is cycling East along Tooley Street, North over Tower Bridge before dismounting and carrying the bike through the underpass to the St Kt Dock. From there, up Wapping High Street to the Thames Path. But with all the faff, I think I'll try the C3 first.
First time I'll offer some criticism / make a request from fellow cyclists: please DON'T cut through the Vauxhall bridge / pleasure gardens lane when it's busy. It's not only a blind spot where you're not meant to cross, but it's tight as well, and there is far too much going on when both cyclists and motorists are rushing through / building up at the lights.
fair comment, it is a dodgy turn - is there an easy way I'm missing? You still have to turn right across the cycle track to get to the toucan crossings from there if you make the turn earlier, with the added pressure that people behind you are often racing to get through the two sets of lights.
@@Londoncycleroutes I think there's a little pull-in to the left to bring you to the toucan so you can wait for the crossing signal and enter the pleasure gardens from the main entrance? Or continue on under the bridge to the Albert Embankment side and u-turn back under the bridge again to make a safer left turn onto Godling St. Could still be a bit unsafe at busier times.
@@123eee C5 is one of my regular commuting routes, so do that turn quite a lot. It looks dodgier than it actually is -- the cycle lane is actually quite wide, so people can pass on the inside quite easily if you have to stop to let others pass in the opposite direction. Cyclists tend not to bomb under the bridge.
Another superb video to remind me of the sheer beauty and diversity of London. I'm not a cyclist, but look forward each week to another journey through really interesting streets and their varied architecture. Thank you so much to taking the time and trouble to do these-I thoroughly enjoy your commentary and the snippets of historical and other interesting bits of information that you provide.
Thank you for watching and the very kind comments!
Interesting to see from 3:00 to 4:00 a delivery rider who is on a presumably illegal e-bike, as he doesn't pedal once but somehow manages to speed up and down, so presumably has a throttle - naughty!
Ah yea those are everywhere…
Another nice one!
Personally for me, i think many others feel the same, backstreet routes through the LTNs wherever possible are much better than protected bike lanes because no cars near you and hence no polluted air fumes just by you.
yeah that is definitely one big advantage. in many respects they can be more pleasant
Really great summery video, thank you! I used to commute these locations and I bet that westbound button is still broken even now! Typically I used A3 which was really not great where Borough High St meets London Bridge. This is a much nicer alternative with fewer traffic lights. Cant help thinking about the £293 million used to construct Limehouse Link in 1989-93 whenever I cycle along Cable St!
That is a looot of money! that junction around borough high st gets really tricky doesn’t it, I know it well
Interesting facts and good route!
Thank you for watching!
I watched the GCN slow cycle video on the ride to Canterbury and was astounded to see the Chaucer mural close to Peckham. I couldn't believe I had never seen it in all the years I travelled the old kent road. I agree with you that the historical murals add much to an area linking the present population to the ones before them.
I’d never heard of the Chaucer mural in Peckham that’s amazing! Just checked it out and it’s brilliant
Great route! When not in rush and it's sunny, I prefer to take through Ste Katherine Docks / Wapping instead of CS3 via Cable street. Lovely area to cycle there, small canal, some greens. You arrive at the end of Narrow Street and then continue the same route till CW.
Oh yes is really like it down there- how do you usually access it from CS3 end, dismount and use the crossing? I’ve struggled to find a good connection to it (one reason I’ve not been to wapping yet in a video)
🤙🏼🤙🏼
that blackfriars bit is one of my favourite to skate through to/from east london.
*Havin the wide segregated lane/s is great.* Bit insane seein so many cyclists come down opposite towards you down a the narrower east london side 😭
that bit where the "limehouse causeway" text comes up, where you mention the white columns, I've seen videos from others goin that way, not sure how many cyclists use it but I do like the "waterside".
When on earth did they add those yellow gates opposite the cinema, used to be nice and open! Not a fan of when they add "blocks" into areas, all it does it annoy people who never speed through anyway.
haha I bet that narrow bit is terrifying! and I completely agree about the gates. they're probably illegal under disability regs. I think it's all owned by Canary Wharf Group rather than a public place, so they can do what they like. Judging by the no motorbike signs they think it'll stop them - presumably delivery drivers go that way.
Great video. 👍
Many thanks.
Thanks for watching as always!
Very useful! Thank you for posting this.
Thanks for watching!
Great video! Thank you! Would you be able to look at a route to the Olympic park? Coming from Herne Hill station? :)
I think that could work! will see what I can do
Moving to London and wtf this channel is brilliant.
Question for anybody: is a single speed fine for London? Sensible answers only please.
Don’t have one myself but you see them a lot and hear from friends they’re ‘fine’! Whereabouts are you moving to? Some areas are hillier than others, Crouch End for example!!
@@kyleross9622 Thanks for replying! I think I’ll be somewhere around Highbury/Arsenal. I think there’s a bit of a slope from centre of town…but doable?
@@neilfowler3284 Good choice of where to live! It’s great there. yes it’s very doable from there, and Arsenal/Highbury has some of the best cycle infrastructure in London, so it’s really safe
@@neilfowler3284 it *should* be fine but there are a few hills around there, especially if you want to go further north. I don't have personal experience of one but I'm definitely glad to have gears when I cycle on e.g. Aubert Park which which is a useful way to get to Hackney from Highbury etc
I get the appeal from a cost / simplicity / reliability standpoint, but you do get the same reliability from hub gears so I'd suggest considering that. I have a three speed and I wish it had more gears sometimes. I live in Hackney too, so not exactly hilly, but you still occasionally encounter ramps to bridges and things like that. I borrowed my brother's seven speed when I went out to visit him in Hamburg recently, and it was nice to be able to keep a more consistent cadence. With less gears you are having to kind of grind it out a bit more rather than happily spinning away, but that's probably not actually an issue unless you have dodgy knees or something like that.
If you could do a route from Edgeware to Bromley that would be great.
I'll make a note of this but that's a very tricky one!
@@Londoncycleroutes I was just messing that route would be insane haha.
@@jainee4507 ahah thank god
It would be nice to have routes to amd from Bromley though, it’s an area with a lot of cyclists but not so good infrastructure so a route into London would be nice
@@peterheller5633 yeah it would be good... there are a few short-ish decent sections I've worked out but as far as I can tell it's really difficult to get into Bromley town centre by bike without just going on a main road. the council there seems really awful!
Hey mate - do you you know if they have started the last bit of Cycleway 4 from Lower Rd to Southwark Park yet? I saw them doing markings down there a few weeks back and got excited
Yes, i believe construction starts properly in October, according to some Islington council docs I was reading the other day! Should be great
Thanks so much for this video!! I was wondering if you could do one for Tufnell Park to Paddington - lots of maps suggest going along in the Regent's canal towpath but this doesn't feel particularly safe at right, and these routes also go on a lot of main roads which isn't great either. Thanks so much
safe at night*
Good idea! I have to say I’d probably take the tow path there as there aren’t great options going west, I guess another possibility would be going through Marylebone (Crawford street etc) though it’s not a great ride. Will see what I can do!
@@Londoncycleroutes Thank you so much, I'd really appreciate it!! Towpath is perfect during daylight I agree, but when its dark it doesn't feel safe at all so would really appreciate any more advice!
The two way cycle tracks on cable street are pretty narrow, I wonder how the route could be improved in future (maybe would need a change in control of the council first). I'm not convinced that it needs to be a through route for cars, given it's surrounded to the north and south by main roads, and particularly given it only adds capacity in one direction. If the through traffic was directed elsewhere, it could just be an ordinary two-way road and still be perfectly suitable for all cyclists.
Yeah or maybe use the existing track as a contra flow in one direction or something? there was a plan a while back from TH to do something to it but I don’t think it involved a filter and it looked kind of crap. But filtering it would make sense I think - runs parallel to various big A roads. Unfortunately it’s LBTH so any improvement is at least 4 years away…
Could you please do a quiet route from Clapham Common to Richmond Park? I could link up with your Richmond Park-Westminster route by going on the A3216 from Clapham Common to Battersea Park but it's pretty horrendous on a bike. I'm actually coming from Beckenham but I can get to Clapham Common via other routes you've uploaded.
I’ll see if that’s possible! Might end up being a bit of a detour but perhaps there’s a route I’ve missed
@@Londoncycleroutes thanks a lot. Detours are fine as long as the route is quieter than the awful A3216.
The map shows that a crossing is sorely needed between Deptford and the Isle of Dogs. The only thing there seems to be the Greenwich Ferry. Are bikes permitted in the Rotherhithe Tunnel?
They’re permitted but I wouldn’t want to ride in it! There’s the Greenwich foot tunnel but you’re meant to push your bike. There were plans for a Rotherhithe to Canary Wharf cycle and walking bridge which would have been amazing but it got cancelled
Would you recommend the C3 cycle route from where you cross the river to Canary Wharf instead of using the Thames Path via Wapping High Street? Are bikes allowed to use the Thames Path from Wapping all the way through to CW or is it pedestrian-only?
Yeah I definitely prefer C3- I think bikes can use the Thames path as far as narrow street, the issues is getting to it from the west, I think it’s a pretty tricky junction at Tower Hill?
@@Londoncycleroutes Thanks - really helpful! Yeah, that's the problem. The only way I can see is cycling East along Tooley Street, North over Tower Bridge before dismounting and carrying the bike through the underpass to the St Kt Dock. From there, up Wapping High Street to the Thames Path. But with all the faff, I think I'll try the C3 first.
First time I'll offer some criticism / make a request from fellow cyclists: please DON'T cut through the Vauxhall bridge / pleasure gardens lane when it's busy. It's not only a blind spot where you're not meant to cross, but it's tight as well, and there is far too much going on when both cyclists and motorists are rushing through / building up at the lights.
fair comment, it is a dodgy turn - is there an easy way I'm missing? You still have to turn right across the cycle track to get to the toucan crossings from there if you make the turn earlier, with the added pressure that people behind you are often racing to get through the two sets of lights.
@@Londoncycleroutes I'm afraid I haven't, it's not a route I tend to take - shall investigate.
@@Londoncycleroutes I think there's a little pull-in to the left to bring you to the toucan so you can wait for the crossing signal and enter the pleasure gardens from the main entrance? Or continue on under the bridge to the Albert Embankment side and u-turn back under the bridge again to make a safer left turn onto Godling St. Could still be a bit unsafe at busier times.
@@123eee C5 is one of my regular commuting routes, so do that turn quite a lot. It looks dodgier than it actually is -- the cycle lane is actually quite wide, so people can pass on the inside quite easily if you have to stop to let others pass in the opposite direction. Cyclists tend not to bomb under the bridge.