Best bike routes in and between London and Paris
By celebrating the launch of our new bike cover collection “Velocities” we’ve decided to review the best veloroutes in each city. Since exploring big cities like London or Paris can be difficult in a short period of time, the best way to get the most of sightseeing might be by using a bicycle.
London- the capital and the biggest city of the United Kingdom, so no wonder it has many cycle routes that can cover the entire city and allow you to get a glimpse of each and every part of the city- river Thames, most popular tourist attractions like London eye, the Tower of London, countless parks and more!
- The Wandle trail
If you’re a fan of wildlife and want to escape the city noise and traffic, we’d highly recommend trying the Wandle trail. It follows the river Wandle in south west London.
During this route you’ll get to see more than 10 parks and the wildlife part of London, as well as you’ll get to drive by (or stop by) numerous cafes, pubs, restaurants and some of important tourist attractions- Merton Abbey Mills, Deen City Farm and Wandsworth Museum. The creators of this route have also created different artworks along the route, so be attentive and you’ll see many surprises on your route!
About the route:
Length: 9 miles, 14,5 kilometers
Time: 45 minutes
View the route here.
2. Tower Bridge to Greenwich
A route that connects two of the most popular London visiting areas. It starts at the Tower Bridge, with the Tower on London nearby. On most days you’ll be able to look around the City Hall building, which is a great example of neo-futurism architecture and where the London Assembly and City Mayor works.
East from there, you’ll drive through narrow streets, where old waterfront warehouses have been turned into stylish and modern apartments. At Bermondsey Wall the route goes along a historic alleyway with many interesting old pubs and buildings. Crossing the Rotherhithe Peninsular you’ll visit an area that used to be full of docks, but got transformed into a modern scenery with only Greenland Dock and South Dock remaining. The finish point is at Greenwich, where you’ll be able to explore the royal Greenwich Park (if you visit it on March, don’t miss the amazing cherry blossoms), the National Maritime Museum and the famous tea and wool trade ship from 1869- Cutty Sark (where you can park your bike while you explore the area).
About the route:
Length: 4.7 miles, 7.6 kilometers
Time: 24 minutes (but take your time to explore the attractions)
View the route here.
3. The route of history- Hampton Court to Putney
The route that passes some of the must-see attractions in southwest London. It starts at the Hampton Court Palace, Henry’s VII former residence, where you should definitely pay a visit to the Tudor court in the Great Hall with its magnificent tapestries.
From there you’ll follow the River Thames to Hampton Court Park and Kingston Bridge. You can visit the Kingston town centre, which is a pedestrianised area with many cafes and sightseeing points. Following the river north, you’ll make a turn at Teddington Lock and will enter Richmond Park which will be a bright contrast to the urban city life- a park with roaming deers and wildlife, beautiful sceneries and hillsides
The park so close to central London has protected status as an important habitat for wildlife and is a European Special Area of Conservation!
Towards the end of your route you can visit another great urban oasis for wildlife- London Wetland Centre at Barnes (which is paid entry), and where you can stroll among the lakes, ponds and gardens.
About the route:
Length: 12.6 miles, 20.2 kilometres
Time: 1 hour 3 minutes
View the route here: https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/route/3647918/Hampton-Court-to-Putney-Bridge
4. The National London-Paris bike route
If you’re feeling adventurous and are looking for an active vacation bike route, this ~400km might be the best way to explore two countries in one week on a bike! There are two route options, the shorter western one being 398km (247 miles) and the eastern one being 462km (287 miles).
If historic cities and towns is what you want to see, the eastern option would be the best for you, since it takes you to cities like Beauvais and Senlis.
On the other hand western option is the best choice for people who prefer nature sightseeing. The route takes you from the quiet waters of the Epte Valley to the rolling hills of the Vexin, a protected regional nature park.
Both of these routes are quite easy and without any difficult or dangerous road sections. On average a week is enough to get from start to end without a hurry.
The family-friendly route was created in 2012 thanks to the London Olympics, and was a great way to show the friendship between England and France and it connects the UK and French capitals, running between the London Eye and Notre Dame Cathedral. The route can be described as an easy, car-free and alternative way for active travelling.
About the route:
Length: 398- 462 km (247-287 miles)
Time: ~1 week
View the route here.
And once we’ve come the long way to Paris, the city of love, fashion and art, let’s review one of the best bike routes in the city! In order to reduce pollution and become more eco-friendly, Paris has improved it’s bicycle-friendly environment a lot in the last 20 years. There are bike routes, bike lanes on the roads and bike signs to help organise the traffic.
If you want the best Paris experience on a bike, we highly recommend the “Classic Paris, along the Seine” route.
5. The Classic Paris route along the Seine.
A great 6.5 km long route to admire most famous monuments of Paris, that goes along the river Seine.
It starts on Place de I'Alma, from where you can amaze at the Eiffel Tower and see the Flamme de la Liberté (flame of liberty), a life-size replica of the Statue of Liberty’s torch in New York City.
Then you’ll be strolling down Avenue George V, accompanied with luxurious private mansions. The route leads you to the Champs-Élysées with some world-class restaurants.
Then cycle down the world’s most beautiful avenue, with a view of Arc de Triomphe behind you, until you reach Avenue Winston Churchill, where two must-see museums: the Grand Palais to your right and the Petit Palais to your left, are located. At the end of the avenue, you’ll be back on the Seine quayside, right in front of Pont Alexandre III- a breathtaking bridge in Paris.
Across the bridge on your left the route leads you to Parc Rives de Seine, a riverside leisure area for pedestrians and cyclists only – the best spot for leisure and peaceful ride.
When you find yourself under Pont de la Concorde, you can take a small detour and walk your bike up and then cross the bridge to get to a public square “Place de la Concorde”. Return to the riverside and continue on your route. You’ll see the beautiful garden “Jardin des Tuileries” on your left and a short distance from here, you’ll spot the Louvre to your left.
Continue cycling along the quay, until you reach Notre-Dame Cathedral, finest example of French Gothic architecture, which you can visit free of charge.
About the route:
Length: 6.5 km (4.03 miles)
Time: 20 minutes
So, when you’re in London or Paris, we do hope these routes might come in handy and will let you explore some new parts of the city and combine it with the thing we’re all so passionate about- cycling.
Good luck exploring and stay safe on the roads!
Leave a comment