London cycle routes that stop for pints

Right. London on a bike on a Saturday afternoon, with a pub stop or two factored in, is one of the genuine pleasures of living in this city. The cycling infrastructure has properly improved in the last five years — Cycleways are now a coherent network, the Thames towpath is rideable from Hammersmith to Greenwich, and the Lea Valley north of the city is some of the best off-road riding within zone 3.

Here is the guide. Five routes, with the specific pubs that fit the rhythm. Each one is a properly relaxed Saturday afternoon — not a training ride. The pub is the point.

Route 1: Regent's Canal — King's Cross to Limehouse

Distance: 12km one way, 24km return. About 90 minutes plus pub stops.

Surface: canal towpath, pedestrian shared. Slow pace required, especially on weekends.

The classic. Start at Granary Square in King's Cross — there is bike parking opposite Coal Drops Yard. Roll east along the canal through Camden, Islington, Hackney, Mile End, finish at Limehouse Basin where the canal meets the Thames.

Pub stop: The Anchor and Hope on Springfield Park, north of Hackney Marshes. Slight detour off the canal — about 1.5km — but the riverside garden is one of the best in London for a slow lunch. Ales properly kept, kitchen does proper sandwiches and pies.

Alternative pub: The Crown in Hackney, walking distance from the canal at Mare Street. Beer garden, kitchen runs all afternoon, the cycling crowd is welcomed.

Return: same canal back, or train back from Limehouse with a bike (off-peak, no extra fee).

Route 2: Lea Valley — Hackney Marshes to Walthamstow Wetlands and back

Distance: 18km loop. Two hours plus pub stops.

Surface: mostly off-road. Hackney Marshes paths, Lee Navigation towpath, Walthamstow Wetlands paths.

The proper escape route. Start at Hackney Marshes, follow the Lee Navigation north past the marshes, into the Walthamstow Wetlands, loop the reservoirs, and roll back the same way. Properly green, properly quiet, you will forget you are in zone 3 for stretches.

Pub stop: The Coppermill in Walthamstow, walking distance from the wetlands' main entrance. Proper local pub, decent kitchen, the beer garden in summer is mental for the area. Bike rack out front.

Alternative pub: The Castle in Walthamstow Village. Slightly further off-route but worth it. Walthamstow Village is one of the prettiest pockets of north-east London and the Castle has a beer garden that looks like it is in the countryside.

Route 3: Thames towpath — Hammersmith to Putney to Richmond

Distance: 18km one way, train back if you want. 30km round trip if you double back.

Surface: Thames towpath, pedestrian shared. Slow pace, especially around Putney rowing clubs on weekends.

The west London ride. Start at Hammersmith Bridge, follow the towpath south-west through Putney, Barnes, Mortlake, Kew, finish at Richmond. The river is the constant; the views change by the kilometre.

Pub stop: The White Cross in Richmond. Riverside pub, properly busy, the upstairs terrace has a view of the river. Bike rack out front. Kitchen runs all afternoon.

Alternative pub mid-route: The Bull's Head in Barnes. Live jazz most evenings, but the lunchtime crowd is mellow. Beer garden, kitchen, walking distance from the towpath.

Return: Richmond to Waterloo train, bike on board off-peak, 25 minutes.

Route 4: Greenwich foot tunnel + Rotherhithe loop

Distance: 16km loop from London Bridge. About 90 minutes plus pub stops.

Surface: mixed. Cycleway 4 along the Thames, road through Rotherhithe, foot tunnel walk under the Thames at Greenwich, Cycleway back via Tower Bridge.

A proper London city ride with a river crossing through the foot tunnel that always makes the trip feel like an adventure. Start at London Bridge, follow Cycleway 4 east through Bermondsey to Rotherhithe, cross to Greenwich via the foot tunnel (you push your bike — no riding allowed), explore Greenwich Park if you have legs left, then return via Cycleway 4 on the south bank.

Pub stop: The Mayflower in Rotherhithe. Genuinely the oldest riverside pub in London still operating, with a deck over the Thames. Properly historic, properly atmospheric, and the food is much better than the tourist-trap warning sign suggests. Bike rack out front but bring a D-lock — Rotherhithe has its own theft rate.

Alternative pub: The Prospect of Whitby in Wapping, slightly further down the river on the north bank. Even older than the Mayflower, even more atmospheric, properly worth the detour.

Route 5: Crystal Palace to Dulwich Wood ride

Distance: 14km loop, more elevation than the towpath rides. Two hours plus stops.

Surface: mixed road and Cycleway. Some hills, especially up to Crystal Palace.

The south London hill ride. Start at Herne Hill (good train links), climb up to Crystal Palace via Dulwich Park and Sydenham Hill, loop through the Dulwich Wood paths, and roll back down through Dulwich Village. Properly leafy, properly quiet, the climb justifies the pub.

Pub stop: The Crown and Greyhound in Dulwich Village. Proper South London pub, big garden, kitchen does Sunday-roast all-stars all afternoon (Sat too). Bike rack out front.

Alternative pub: The Half Moon in Herne Hill. Live music most weekends, the kitchen runs late, walking distance from the train if you want to bin the ride and get the train home.

Bike-friendly practical bits

Lock: a proper D-lock is now essential in London. Chain locks alone are no longer enough — bike theft has properly risen and the chain crews are organised. Lock the frame and the front wheel, take the back wheel off if you are leaving the bike for more than an hour.

Trains: bikes are free on most trains off-peak (after 9:30am weekdays, all weekend). London Overground and tubes restrict bikes during peak hours.

Lights: even on a daytime ride, you will be coming back near sunset more often than you expect. Carry rear and front lights.

Tools: a multitool, a spare tube, a pump. The Thames towpath is fine for emergencies. The Lea Valley north of Hackney Marshes is properly remote — a puncture there is a 40 minute walk to the nearest tube.

Coffee: most of these routes pass coffee shops too. The Richmond ride hits Putney Pies, the canal route hits a dozen coffee places in Hackney, the Lea Valley route hits the Walthamstow Wetlands café.

Group rides

Solo Saturdays are great. Group rides are great too. There are a few proper group rides happening across London on weekends — Rapha CC London does monthly, the FNRttC (Friday Night Ride to the Coast) does monthly long rides, the smaller crews around Look Mum No Hands and Pavé do regular pub-stop rides.

I keep a London cycling and outdoor events page on Rifio that picks up the group rides, the closed-road events, the cycling festivals at Lee Valley and the seasonal stuff like the RideLondon weekend. The group ride calendar is genuinely the best way to find new routes and new people to ride with.

One last thing

The point of these routes is the rhythm. Ride for 30-40 minutes. Pub for 30-40 minutes. Ride for 30-40 minutes more. Pub or coffee or train back. Do not try to make the ride into a workout and do not try to make the pub stop into a session. The combination is the magic and the timing is what makes it work.

Untill you have spent a Saturday afternoon riding the Regent's Canal with a sandwich at the Anchor and Hope as the midpoint, you have not properly used a London bike.