London Cycle Paths: Thames and Beyond

London Cycling Restrictions

Do be aware that some sections of the Thames Path have public footpath status. This excludes cyclists from riding there unless they have permission from the landowner. Cycling on a public footpath without permission is trespass.

However, with so many miles of cycle routes in London it is possible to ride alongside most of the Thames, or at least not venture too far from it.

London Cycle Routes on the Thames Path

Cyclists can follow the non-tidal section of the river from Hampton to Teddington Lock. At Hampton Court the route is on the north bank and cyclists should cross over at Kingston Bridge and continue on the south bank. There is a short section on roads but it is mostly by the side of the river to Teddington Lock. From Teddington to Chiswick and Hammersmith there are sections on both banks.

Between Hammersmith and Putney bridges the route is on the south bank and mostly traffic-free. Between here and Docklands and Greenwich most of the riverside cycling is on roads. Some are quite quiet but the only traffic-free sections are around Battersea Park and along the Chelsea Embankment.

After Tower Bridge the routes along the south bank are close to the river, then from Greenland Dock to Grove Street at Rotherhithe they are back on the Thames Path. At Greenwich, from the bank from the west side of Greenwich Peninsula to the Thames Barrier the routes are only briefly on quiet roads. From Woolwich all the way to Erith there is a long stretch of traffic-free cycling.

Other Waterside Bike Routes in London

The Thames Cultural Cycling Tour is a 27km route that takes in a lot of London's maritime history. Read about and download a map for the Thames Cultural Cycling Tour here.

There are a number of other options for waterside cycling in London. There are miles of canal north of the Thames. Cycling is allowed along these stretches, but some sections require a permit. Check the Waterscape website.

There are also long routes along two tributaries of the Thames. In the north east is the Lee Valley offering 26 miles (42km) of traffic-free cycling. For more information visit the Lee Valley Park website.

In the south west is the once heavily industrialised river Wandle. The largely traffic-free route running alongside the river links Wandsworth, Merton, Croydon and Sutton. For more information see the Wandle Trail.

London Cycling Essentials

• A helmet is essential wherever you cycle but especially on some of the more uneven river and canalside surfaces
• A bell is very useful as cyclists often share paths with pedestrians
• You should use lights and reflective clothing if cycling after dark
• Always make sure that the bicycle is in good condition with working brakes and good tyres 

Find out more about cycling in London in our Travel section.

London Bike Tours

Organised cycling tours are available to suit all levels. For the serious cyclist, Audax UK lists major rides of around 100km all over the UK. There are a few London-based rides during the year.

If you need to hire a bicycle there is a list of a number of outlets on the London Cycling Campaign website. This is also a very useful resource for cycle routes.

Find out more about the areas covered by these cycle routes in our River & Waterways by Area section. Read more about Cycling in our Travel section.