Bike Trails in Hyde Park, Green Park & St. James Park
Well-marked paths
For those of you who think the only good bike trails are in the mountains, it’s time for you to meet some beautiful urban bike trails in the heart of Westminster and London, England. London (technically Westminster) is the home of three absolutely gorgeous urban parks:
- Hyde Park
- Green Park
- St. James Park
These three parks are criss-crossed with an incredible network of trails for bicyclists, walkers and equestrians. So even if you’re not a fan of city biking or road biking, you’ll find a scenic and peaceful network of trails whether you are a resident of London or a visitor. The trails are well marked (see photo above) to let guest know where it is and isn’t alright to ride bikes. It’s not unusual, however, to see walkers, bicyclists and equestrians peacefully coexisting in the same park areas.
What’s So Great About Bike Riding in London Parks?
Park Trails Clearly Marked
London Parks are a peaceful oasis in the midst of the urban bustle. This especially true early in the morning and on most weekdays. For a major city, the London & Westminster Park trails are relatively tranquil. Plus, the parks department takes great pride in their landscaping. Guests will find gorgeous flower gardens, vast expanses of green lawn and even some preserved areas that provide a glimpse of what the area may have offered for hunting regency and nobility hundreds of years ago.
London Cycle Hire System
But what if you didn’t pack your bicycle in your carry-on luggage? No worry. London has a fantastic cycle hire system. It has many advantages and many names. It goes by all of the following names:
Flower Gardens in Park
- Cycle Hire
- Boris Bikes
- Santander Cycles
- Barclay Bikes
No matter what name you call it, the London Cycle Hire system works well and is worth considering for the following reasons:
- It is quite inexpensive. I was able to rent a cycle for 24 hours for only £2.
- It is convenient; you can find Cycle Hire bikes all over London. Find a Santander Cycles Docking Station by visiting this web page.
- There are many places to ride your bike while in London. One of the best bike riding areas is in Hyde Park.
- The Boris Bikes provide you with exercise while in London.
Fauna & Flora in Hyde Park
- The Cycle Hire bicycles are great for both recreation and transportation.
Best Times and Places to Ride Bikes in London
- As mentioned above, Hyde Park is a great place for riding bikes in Westminster & London. The best time to ride bikes in Hyde Park is weekdays since it is less crowded than on weekends.
- If you’d like to ride your bikes on the streets of London, be very cautious. Keep in mind that:
- folks in the UK drive on the left-hand side of the road.
- there are many tourists milling about.
Secret Garden in Hyde Park
- you will find numerous one-way roads, so always look both ways when crossing the street.
- It’s a major city, therefore it’s incredibly busy. People are quite tolerant, but not alway vigilant.
- pedestrians rule the roost, so be very careful of them and yield to pedestrians. In many pedestrian-only zones, such as Leicester Square, you should dismount you bicycle and walk it.
- The best time to roam the streets on a bicycle is early mornings on weekends or very early mornings on weekdays. The traffic is much less hectic at those times, but you still need to ride with caution.
