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MTB
London gravel routes: 9 of the best rides to try from the UK capital
Looking for a spot of gravel grinding in the city? From Thames-side escapes to ancient woodland romps, here are some of the best to get you started.
Gravel biking is the next-level trend on two wheels, but London road cyclists have been using off-road towpaths and woodland tracks to access the wild on their doorsteps for years, handily bypassing heavy traffic on their way to country lanes out of town.
Now, the boom in knobbly-tyred-yet-road-worthy gravel bikes has kicked off a race to find the best loops and routes around London’s iconic sights, while also discovering a hidden and off-the-beaten-track side to the city.
Not sure where to start on your London gravel journey? Here, a selection of riders in the city’s scene have recommended their own favourite loops – from a truly adventurous, overnight epic, to beginner-friendly forest trails. Clip in, forget about average watt ratings and get ready to discover something totally unexpected.
1. South London gravel
The North Downs are easily reachable from the south of the city
© Canyon
This mixed road and gravel blast, from Canyon Bicycles ambassador Dalila Lecky, takes in South London and the North Downs.
“It's about 50/50 road and off-road, almost all of the off-road stuff is gravel bridleways – some parts can get a bit muddy and some of it is chalky,” says Lecky.
“It's entirely rideable on a gravel bike – there are no get-off-and-push moments – although some sections are quite technical and steep, so it’s OK to walk. It has all of my favourite bits of South London gravel in a single ride!”
2. Epping Forest chase
Epping Forest is home to some of the city's best-loved gravel trails
© Iancu Barbarasa
This ride makes use of the full length of Epping Forest, heading north east before punching out past the M25 boundary for a few miles, then cutting back down into the eastern half of the forest, which is shot through with historical locations.
“The Epping Forest main paths between 8-16km are lots of fun,” says London-based graphic designer and the man behind the cassette appreciation Instagram page The Cycling Cap, Iancu Barbarasa. “They might not be long, but some of the climbs can throw a punch.
“At 12km, the wide, hard-packed gravel road goes past Loughton Camp, an Iron Age hill fort – it’s worth a little detour on the left side of the main path if you have the time. At the bottom of the beautiful Coopersale Lane, we cross the road and hit a singletrack, going under the M25 and leading to a good section of an old Roman road. It's straight and flat, a tunnel of trees – great fun done fast!”
3. Titsey Hill Smash Up
Expect climbs reaching 17% on this south London spin
© Holly Duce
This longer distance haul from Brockley (near Lewisham) to the M25 boundary takes in the seriously steep Titsey Hill at the 33km mark, and threads the nettles elsewhere, so be prepared for some hike a bike. “Topping out at around 17%, Titsey Hill is pretty mean,” says Holly Duce, who contributed this ride to London-based bike and wheel builder Stayer Cycles' route collection, The Distance.
“Lucky for you guys there's a water refill and tearoom at the top selling the best scones, and if that's not motivation then I don't know what is, and after all it's mostly down hill from here!
“Get ready for some fast descents through woodland on the London Kent border. Watch out for walkers and make sure you say ‘Hi’.”
4. The Lovelace Project
Fields like these can be reached from the city sooner than you think
© Jonathan Forest
Riding out to the South East of central London, through Richmond Park, this route mixes road and trail. “The route cranks up the difficulty the further out from London you go,” says Jonathan Forest of routes.cc.
“You'll cross a disused airfield and working lumber mill. At the route's furthest point, you'll find a series of bridges connecting the muddy tracks, built by The Earl of Lovelace in the 1800s. It’s great fun, and showcases some of the best of the west!”
5. River Lea Navigation
The River Lea is a great introduction to gravel riding
© Tom Reynolds
Start point: Victoria Park
End point: Spitalfields Market
Distance: 37.8km
Elevation gain: 78m
This gravel ride along the narrow boat-lined River Lea navigation is a mostly flat and fast gravel blast that runs through some of London’s most extensive wetland habitats. These reservoirs and waterways are haven for everything from peregrine falcons to cormorants, and connect Tottenham with the Olympic Park.
Riding along the towpath is like discovering a vividly green, lost urban oasis, occasionally punctuated by graffitied bridges.
“Cycling along these waterways, which were the arterial links between London and the interior, I like to imagine the horse drawn narrow boats shuttling supplies between the industrial heart of England & the Port of London,” says Tom Reynolds, founder of ride guiding company E14Velo.
6. Hainault Forest Blast
Hainault Forest is a great spot for those who are after a quieter Epping
© Iancu Barbarasa
Epping Forest is a renowned riding spot for the city’s gravel grinders, but there’s another wooded paradise of gravel riding, to the east in Hainault, that is something of a hidden gem.
“The ride will take you up and down on farm gravel roads and Hainault Forest main paths between 16-20km,” says Barbarasa. “The third section is especially beautiful, with a good open view of the straight, white gravel road ahead.
“Then, at Havering Country Park (22km) there is an amazing climb through the giant redwood trees on Wellingtonia Avenue.”
7. Both banks of the Thames
The banks of the Thames are home to some truly urban gravel riding
© Tom Reynolds
Start point: London Bridge
End point: Spitalfields Market
Distance: 50.4km
Elevation gain: 157m
This riverside ride hugs both banks of the Thames. “It’s a homage to the working end of the Thames and it’s history,” says Reynolds. “It has a mix of modern living and historic warehouses and wharfs, from the O2 to the Greenwich and Woolwich foot tunnels with a cable car thrown in for good measure.
“You ride past some amazing sculptures, especially on the Greenwich peninsular, from Antony Gormley’s Quantum Cloud, to a statue of Peter The Great in Deptford, complete with a throne that you can sit in for a photo opp!”
8. London to South Downs Epic
Head out on a bikepacking trip and tick off some of the South Downs Way
© Canyon
This is an epic in three parts that requires an overnight stop, so load up the bikepacking bags – or just get your non-riding friends (aka support crew) to bring everything you need to the campsite. “The flavour is epic, with a big sense of achievement!” explains Canyon UK’s Marketing Manager Jack Noy.
“From Clapham pretty much to Steyning you are treated to mellow terrain thanks to following rivers and the downslink (an old rail path).
“Then you hit the South Downs Way – big elevation and chalky – pretty rough in parts, but amazing views of Arundel, and the sand bars around Chichester. From there, it’s onto the Shipwrights Way, through some MTB hotspots like Queen Elizabeth Country Park, before the home run back into town.”
9. The Green Tunnel
This route can be ridden one way or turned into a 140km loop
© Wild Cycles
Escape London through the "Green Tunnel". This magical gravel route winds its way out of the city along the Grand Union Canal and emerges in the countryside on a mix of towpaths, gravel tracks and country lanes.
"You'll be transported from the bustle of the big city and out into an entirely other world of rivers, canals, meadows and the rolling Chiltern Hills," says Wild Cycles' John Heard.
"The first 30 or so ks are relatively flat, after which the route ramps up gradually for another 30. The final 30k is quite lumpy as you head into the hills proper, which includes some the finest rolling gravel and forest trails where you are rewarded with far-reaching views over the spectacular Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. You'd never think you were in London's backyard!
"The bonus is that there are plenty of opportunities to refuel en-route in one of the many picturesque, canal-side pubs or cafes."
This is either a one-way route ending at Tring Station where you can hop on the train back into London - or for the more ambitious - hop back on the Grand Union Canal at Tring for a gently downward sloping 50km roll back into the city.
