The best cycle routes in London

Take in some of London's most spectacular sights by cycling from the Tower of London to Big Ben. This riverside route follows a prominent cycle lane and lets you see iconic landmarks like The Shard, Shakespeare's Globe, and Somerset House before you're rewarded with the sight of Big Ben at the finish line.

Enjoy a canalside cycle through East London by biking from Limehouse Basin up to London Fields. This quieter stretch of the canal means you're less likely to have to dodge pedestrians. You'll pass by Mile End Park and Victoria Park along the way before passing Broadway Market and ending up at London Fields, the ideal spot to relax after your journey.

Richmond Park offers tons of space to walk or cycle around and is famous for wildlife, including free-roaming deer. The Tamsin Trail is a popular spot for cyclists and walkers. It's a circular route that's almost entirely car-free, and lets you take in many of the park's fab sights. You can start the trail from a number of the park's entrances.

Cycling along North London's Parkland Walk takes you between Finsbury Park and Alexandra Palace. This leafy route snakes along beside a disused railway track lined with trees. Apart from walkers it's an obstacle-free path, with a small section of riding on the road between Highgate and Muswell Hill. If you're looking for a scenic and peaceful cycling route this is worth checking out.

Explore South London on your bike with the Wandle Trail, a 20km riverside trail for cyclists and walkers between Wandsworth and Croydon. It's a haven for nature in one of South London's most industrialised areas. Along the way you can also take a short detour in Wandle Hill Park, which is itself a popular destination.

TfL's Quirky London cycle route lets you discover bits of the capital you might not be familiar with. Expect the unexpected as you bike between Neal's Yard and London Bridge, taking in sights like the Golden Boy Statue and Cross Bones Graveyard. There are plenty of TfL bike docking stations along the way so you can always make your ride longer or shorter.

Perhaps not the most scenic route, the reward here is at the start and end points. Around the Olympic Park you'll see striking modern sights like the Olympic Stadium and the ArcelorMittal Orbit. You can then take a number of routes towards Wanstead Flats, with Cann Hill Road being the most popular. You'll finish up in a wild oasis with free-roaming geese.

For cyclists who want to avoid busy roads, the Hackney Marshes to Walthamstow Wetlands route is a suitable option. This is a gentle route taking you through lots of natural landscape. You'll bike along the River Lea up to the nature reserve. You can then explore this 211-hectare site or you can loop around and head back towards Hackney Marshes.

Explore one of London's most famous parks by taking a leisurely loop around Hyde Park. This is a safe and traffic-free bike route – start at Marble Arch and go in whichever direction you prefer. You'll pass by the Italian Gardens, Kensington Palace, and the Royal Albert Hall. You can also venture further into the park to discover some of its many other points of interest.

If you fancy venturing out of the city, start at Stratford and head north to Waltham Abbey, a market town just outside the capital. Take in the dramatic sights of the Olympic Park before biking along the River Lea. You'll get great views of the river and Walthamstow Wetlands before reaching the end point where there are plenty of quaint pubs to reward yourself in.

You can enjoy two of South London's most popular parks with the short cycle route between Dulwich Park and Brockwell Park. This quiet and gentle bike ride is ideal for beginners or more nervous riders. Start by the East Lawns in Dulwich Park, head towards the sports ground, and then keep going until you reach Brockwell Park – don't forget your celebratory loop around the park at the end.

One simple and scenic cycling route is making laps around The Regent's Park Outer Circle. Each lap is 4km but you can take as many as you like. Some parts are car-free and on every lap you'll see attractive flowerbeds, trees, and grassy areas. Start by Regent's Park station and whizz about in an anti-clockwise direction.

Although it's only about 2km long, the Swain's Lane Circuit is challenging because of the notorious climb it involves. The route starts at Swain's Lane and passes between the entrances to the East and West cemeteries at Highgate before you navigate the narrow and steep climb. You'll emerge at peaceful Pond Square before riding back to the starting point.

If you're after an easy-going route then biking between Elephant Park and Burgess Park in South London is a good option. This one is short and flat, running parallel to some main roads that are still pretty quiet. You'll finish up in Burgess Park where there's a BMX track if you fancy honing your skills and trying some tricks.

Tour vibrant East London by biking from Shoreditch to Stratford, with lots of interesting places to stop along the way. Start at Boxpark before moving along Bethnal Green Road and passing through Victoria Park and the Olympic Park. You're then free to explore the shops and venues in Stratford, or you can hop back on your bike and go back the way you came.

A route with loads of parkland and scenic views is biking between Regent's Park and Hampstead Heath. You'll head to Primrose Hill and enjoy spectacular city views before continuing to Hampstead Heath and Parliament Hill where you'll get another fab view of the city. At Hampstead Heath there's loads more to explore plus plenty of places if you need a rest.

Begin your journey at Thameside park Battersea Park and you'll be able to enjoy an impressive array of London's top landmarks including Tate Modern, the London Eye, and Borough Market. Follow this scenic riverside route along quiet streets and traffic-free paths before racing through Greenwich Park to get to the Royal Observatory.

Begin and end your bike ride in scenic park locations by travelling between St James's Park and the elegant Kyoto Garden in Holland Park. On the way you'll travel through Green Park and Hyde Park, letting you take in lots of attractive scenery. This route is mainly flat and is a great option for a gentle ride.

Travel to the west of the city by cycling between King's Cross and Notting Hill. This route is mainly flat and quiet, with most of the journey following the canal path. Start at Granary Square and follow the path towards Camden, where you might spot some residents of London Zoo. After riding over to Little Venice, you can follow some quiet streets to reach Notting Hill.

For cyclists who love a challenge, take on the Big Ben to Richmond Park loop, taking you on a journey from the heart of the capital to its edge and back. Of course, you can opt to just go one way. You'll pedal along the Thames before joining the South Circular and heading towards the park. If you tackle the whole loop there are steep climbs on the way back.

Take on The North London Escape when you've got lots of energy to burn. Taking you around the city's outer edge, you can escape the hustle and bustle here. Starting in Alexandra Park, you'll head out towards Finchley, Barnet, and Wrotham Park, just outside the city in Hertfordshire. This one's a loop so you can keep going and head back to the starting point.

Scenic Regent's Canal is popular with walkers and cyclists and you can bike the entire route from Little Venice to Limehouse Basin. It's ideal for a leisurely cycle due to its winding waterways and the presence of pedestrians. Along the way you'll spot sights like Regent's Park and Camden Lock, and there are lots of places you can stop at along the way.

You can appreciate riverside scenery as well as wildlife and woodland with the cycle route between the Olympic Park in Stratford and Epping Forest. The journey runs a straightforward route along the peaceful River Lea before you emerge into Epping Forest and can explore its ancient woodland and off-road trails.

Take in the sights of three of London's major parks by cycling from St Paul's Cathedral to Campden Hill Road, just to the west of Hyde Park. You'll take in some of the city's famous riverside sights including the Houses of Parliament before moving into St James's Park, then Green Park and Hyde Park. You can explore the parks a bit more or head all the way to Campden Hill Road.

Cycling from Blackheath to Cutty Sark might be a relatively short route but there are some challenging climbs along the way. From Blackheath you can cycle to Greenwich Park and then you're faced with a steep hill through the park, taking you towards riverside museum the Cutty Sark. Luckily there's a pub right next to it if you need a rest.

You'll be making lots of stops and there are a couple of sections you'll likely want to traverse by public transport (ie. crossing the Thames), so it's not ideal for setting any personal bests, but if you want to add a bit of culture to your ride, The Line is a great choice. This outdoor art trail winds down from the ArcelorMittal Orbit to Royal Victoria Dock before crossing to The O2, featuring an evolving programme of art installations along the way.