Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

In London for Christmas Day? Join 100+ cyclists for bike ride through capital on almost empty roads

Southwark Cyclists holds annual turn-up-and-go event founded by the late Barry Mason

25th December is the quietest day of the year on Britain’s roads, making it a perfect one to get out on two wheels – and if you’re in London, this Sunday sees the ever-popular Southwark Cyclists Christmas Day ride, first organised by the late Barry Mason in 2001.

Upwards of 100 riders of all abilities have participated in the family-friendly, free-to-enter ride in recent years, and all you have to do is turn up with your bike – or, if you don’t have one with you, a Santander Cycles scheme one, which can be hired on Christmas Day – at one of the two meeting points.

Those are Cutty Sark Gardens in Greenwich (SE10 9HT), where the ride departs at 10am, with a further meeting point at the Southwark Needle at the south end of London Bridge (SE1 2SY) at the junction with Tooley Street at 11am.

From Greenwich, the route follows National Cycle Network route 4 past Russia Dock and through Rotherhithe, then from London Bridge takes a winding route through an almost traffic-free city centre towards Edgware Road with lunch there at the Beirut Café for those who have worked up an appetite.

Many riders depart before then – some, obviously, will have family or other commitments – but it’s still fun to tag along for a while before heading off elsewhere.

The total distance if starting at Greenwich is 16 miles, ridden at a very relaxed pace and passes “some fascinating and lesser-known features of central London” – in previous years, for example, it’s taken in sites and locations associated with Charles Dickens.

You’re asked to bring “warm clothing, some cash, lights, basic tools and a spare inner tube in case you have a puncture,” and “active parents are most welcome on the ride, provided that they are accompanied by at least one responsible child, and behave themselves.”

Details of the proposed route can be found here.

Latest Comments

 
Logo

Looks like your ad blocker is on.

×

We rely on ads to keep creating quality content for you to enjoy for free.

You can subscribe to road.cc to support us and turn off ads for good

Continue without supporting us

Choose your Ad Blocker

  • Adblock Plus
  • Adblock
  • Adguard
  • Ad Remover
  • Brave
  • Ghostery
  • uBlock Origin
  • uBlock
  • UltraBlock
  • Other
  1. In the extension bar, click the AdBlock Plus icon
  2. Click the large blue toggle for this website
  3. Click refresh
  1. In the extension bar, click the AdBlock icon
  2. Under "Pause on this site" click "Always"
  1. In the extension bar, click on the Adguard icon
  2. Click on the large green toggle for this website
  1. In the extension bar, click on the Ad Remover icon
  2. Click "Disable on This Website"
  1. In the extension bar, click on the orange lion icon
  2. Click the toggle on the top right, shifting from "Up" to "Down"
  1. In the extension bar, click on the Ghostery icon
  2. Click the "Anti-Tracking" shield so it says "Off"
  3. Click the "Ad-Blocking" stop sign so it says "Off"
  4. Refresh the page
  1. In the extension bar, click on the uBlock Origin icon
  2. Click on the big, blue power button
  3. Refresh the page
  1. In the extension bar, click on the uBlock icon
  2. Click on the big, blue power button
  3. Refresh the page
  1. In the extension bar, click on the UltraBlock icon
  2. Check the "Disable UltraBlock" checkbox
  1. Please disable your Ad Blocker
  2. Disable any DNS blocking tools such as AdGuardDNS or NextDNS

If the prompt is still appearing, please disable any tools or services you are using that block internet ads (e.g. DNS Servers).

Logo