Cycling in London

Cycling is increasingly viable in London — a growing network of dedicated cycle lanes, Santander Cycles hire bikes available across most of central and inner London, and routes through the Royal Parks that make for genuinely pleasant rides free from traffic.

Santander Cycles (Boris Bikes)

The city's public hire bike scheme — commonly called "Boris Bikes" though officially Santander Cycles — operates around 800 docking stations across central London. Access is by credit or debit card at any docking station or through the app. The pricing model: pay a small access fee (currently £1.65 for a 24-hour pass) and then each 30-minute ride is free. Going over 30 minutes triggers a usage charge, so the model rewards multiple short hops rather than one long ride.

Best Routes for Visitors

The Royal Parks — Hyde Park, Regent's Park and the paths connecting them — are the most pleasant cycling in central London, largely traffic-free and well-signed. The Embankment route along the Thames is a good connection between the City and the West End. The Quietway and Cycleway routes (marked on TfL cycling maps) are the safest for less confident urban cyclists.

Tips for Riding Safely

• Helmets aren't provided with Santander Cycles — bring your own or accept the risk.
• Stick to the Royal Parks and dedicated cycle lanes initially if you're not used to urban cycling.
• The TfL cycling map (available free from Tube stations) shows the safest routes.
• Cycling in bus lanes is permitted — cycling on pavements is not.
• Keep to 30-minute hire sessions with Santander Cycles to avoid usage charges.