Nick Cotton Cycle Tours Outside of London: All Circular
Routes from Nick Cotton's Cycle Tours: 24 one-day routes within a 60-mile radius Around London. There are endless routes on Komoot, but that's the problem. There are too many. These 14 on road routes were curated by Nick Cotton, and have been adapted to Google Maps. Off-road routes not included.
Google Map spotting the 14 starting locations. Starting west of London, the routes are listed in clockwise order.
1. Through Chiltern beechwoods west of Henley-on-Thames
Train is Great Western Railway from Paddington to Twyford, then second train to Henley-on-Thames. About an hour.
Timetables. Route is T13 - Twyford to Henley-on-Thames (The Regatta line).
2. Through the Chilterns from Chesham to Tring
From Baker Street Underground Station take Metropolitan Line to Chesham. About an hour. Timetables
3. South from Royston over rolling downland to Buntingford
Take Great Northern Trains from King's Cross (or Finsbury Park) to Royston.
Timetables. Timetable is A. An hour and five minutes.
4. West from Stansted Mountfitchet to Buntingford
Train from London Liverpool Street. Stansted Express, Greater Anglia
Takes 48 min, every 30 minutes. Timetable
Cambridge is beyond.
5. West from Writtle along quiet lanes and through the Rodings
Take Greater Anglia from London Liverpool Street to Chelmsford. Or Elizabeth Line Shenfield to get to Stratford and switch.
Timetables. Timetable is 02 - Ipswich, Clacton, Colchester and Braintree to London Liverpool Street.
6. South from Coggeshall to the Blackwater Estuary at Tollesbury
Take Elizabeth Line to Romford. 5.2 miles to bike to London Liverpol St. Take Greater Anglia to Kelvedon. 1-1/2 hours total.
Timetables. Timetable is 02 - Ipswitch to London Liverpol Street
40 miles. over 3 hours of biking. less time to check out Coggenshall. - this has been modified.
7. East from Headcorn up onto the North Downs
Southeastern Railway, from Charing Cross. Timetables. Timetable is 1. Train takes 1:06
As this has the same starting point as the next, the two can be combined.
8. West from Headcorn through the orchards of Kent
Southeastern Railway, from Charing Cross. Timetables. Timetable is 1. Train takes 1:06
As this has the same starting point as the above, the two can be combined.
9. West from Cranbrook through the Weald of Kent and Sussex
Wadhurst is train station. Railway is Southeastern from Charing Cross. For tickets.
1 hr 46 min for tube and train
10. Through the eastern reaches of the Weald, north and east of Battle
Take Southeastern Railway from Charing Cross to Robertsbridge. Timetables. Timetable is 4. Trains goes through Tunbridge Wells.
11. Between Ashdown Forest and the South Downs near Uckfield
From Victoria Station take Southern Railway to East Croyden, then to Uckfield. An hour and a half train ride.
Use Trainline for tickets
12. South from Balcombe to the South Downs below Ditchling Beacon
Take Thameslink from several London stops. Best is Elizabeth Line Shenfield to Farringdon.
- Wakehurst (no discount for online)
- Bluebell Railway (off route. east of Haywards Heath about five miles. can return to route at Wivelsfield Green.)
13. Pines, heathland and quiet Hampshire lanes, south from Farnham
Take South Western Railway from London Waterloo to Farnham. About an hour. Change in Woking.
Timetables. Timetable 10 to Woking, Alton, Basingstoke (Suburban Services)
14. A ring around Basingstoke from Old Basing
Take Great Western Railway from Paddington to Reading, then train to Bramley. Less than an hour.
Timetables. To Reading timetable is BL. Then timetable is T14 - Reading to Basingstroke.
