Route Advice - South West London to Westminister - National Funeral for the Unknown Cyclist.

CS7 isn't suitable for an 8 year old, especially on a weekend. Parked cars force you into fast moving traffic.

There's a good route from Richmond Park to the centre along the old LCN 3 and then the new Q5 route. I'd be happy to cycle that that with a competent 8 year old.

However - parking restrictions are relaxed at the weekend. You could park out by Paddington and ride in via the canal tow path and the NW cycle superhighway, then back out via the EW cycle superhighway past Buckingham palace and through Hyde Park. That's the most touristy car-free route i can think of.

Shirley Basso wrote:

From RP, take priory road (there's a cycle path along the pavement), take a right at the end and follow the road all the way to Putney bridge (take a slight left when the road forks, to avoid CS7 and head towards Putney)

Go North over Putney Bridge and take CS8 which should be OK on the weekend. Only bit to be wary of is along New Kings Road (lots of side roads) and Putney high street (which is a bit narrow).

I don't have children so no idea how competent an 8 year old is.

I have a 12-year-old, who races most weekends and rides 3 miles to school on her own. I don't think I'd be happy riding that route with her. It's not so much the mechanics of riding the bike correctly in the right position on the road; it's the fact that you constantly have to have your eyes peeled for drivers doing silly things, and be ready to take appropriate action very quickly.

If you're coming in via the A3, you could park in Kingston, get the train into Vauxhall, ride over Vauxhall Bridge in the bike lane, turn right down Millbank, over Lambeth Bridge roundabout* to Parliament Square.

At Parlt Sq, you have two options, I think: take the Birdcage Walk exit, or take the next exit after that to head down Whitehall. The advantage with the latter is that you get the benefit of the bike lane lights on the inside of Parlt Sq giving you a headstart. I think you can then push your bike through Horseguards on the left hand side of Whitehall. On the other side, it's easy to join up with the bike lane down the side of the Mall, which leads all the way up to Hyde Park, where there's a pleasant three mile loop in a dedicated/segregated bike lane. You can get onto Horseguards from Birdcage Walk, but they were doing something funky with that right turn when I was there earlier this year.

*you can get off before the r'abt and walk over the pedestrian crossing to your left, and remount on the other side.

Like the others have said, there's really no great route, I'm afraid. There's parking just off Millbank, around Lord North Street and Dean Stanley St, but I think it's limited on a Saturday.

This is what the alternative loop from Paddington might look like.

You'll need advice from a local on where you can park in the Paddington area. (Or take the train in.)

A little bit of the Union Canal tow path is shut. I think I've routed around the right bit, but not sure. Buyer beware.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28758412

Tow path - car free except where it is shut. Diversion likely to be pretty quiet.
KX to Blackfriars - segregated cycle superhighway in the main. Otherwise quiet roads with cycle facilities.
Blackfriars - map is slightly out of date, but there's a fully segregated link from the NS to EW cycle superhighway.
Blackfriars to Northumberland Ave - fully segregated.
Northumberland Ave - busy but with cycle facilities. Depending on your 8 year old I'd be prepared to take to the pavement at the Trafalgar Square end but it isn't far if you have to dismount and walk.
The Mall - segregated cycle route to the North of and parallel to the road but it isn't signposted or easy to spot if you don't know it's there.
Constitution Hill to Paddington - fully segregated. Mind the peds!

Thigh_burn wrote:

Personally there's no way I'd ride any of those routes with an 8yo. The sheer weight of traffic is extensive and you need to be totally on it with drivers. I wonder how much of a pleasurable ride it will be unless you're going so early that roads are quiet.

That's not really helpfull unless you say which routes or parts of routes you object to and why. After quite a lot of research and test riding, I'd ride the one's I've suggested with a sensible 8yo.

Some bits of London are great (much better than smaller cities or the suburbs) and some bits are awful and all of it requires active parental involvement to identify the difference.

Specific information, criticism, or route advice can help them work out what's right for their child. Being dismissive just puts people off trying.

Two thoughts, I support CJ's comment on train, parking in New Malden is free as opposed to Kingston so dump your car in Cambridge Avenue just around from the station. It's the same train line and just off the A3 as opposed to Kingston.

Have a look for any of the feeder rides being run by local LCC groups. This way it may be easier to tackle more challenging routes in from the suburbs.

inbike wrote:

Thigh_burn wrote:

Personally there's no way I'd ride any of those routes with an 8yo. The sheer weight of traffic is extensive and you need to be totally on it with drivers. I wonder how much of a pleasurable ride it will be unless you're going so early that roads are quiet.

That's not really helpfull unless you say which routes or parts of routes you object to and why. After quite a lot of research and test riding, I'd ride the one's I've suggested with a sensible 8yo.

Some bits of London are great (much better than smaller cities or the suburbs) and some bits are awful and all of it requires active parental involvement to identify the difference.

Specific information, criticism, or route advice can help them work out what's right for their child. Being dismissive just puts people off trying.

I'm trying to be dismissive - I think cycling in Central London for a child, unless there are closed roads is dangerous. It's not a place for an 8yo. I totally get it's up to every parent / carer what they'd do. But I cycle and drive a lot in London and have a 10yo. There's no way I'd let them on roads in central London. None of the routes suggested are in quiet suburbs. By definition given where OP is going, it's central.

One caveat to all of this is what about a tandem?

AIm for Barnes village, park as close to the river as you can then ride the path alongside the Thames (its unmetalled most of the way from Barnes to Putney Br, then either metalled or paved). There's a little diversion when you get to Battersea power station - you either cross the river there and pick up the CS (not ideal) or divert south around it and rejoin just west of Vauxhall Br.

There are other smaller diversions when you get to the Refuse transfer centre just west of Wandsworth Bridge and at Battersea Heliport but that's v straightforward.

cjcp wrote:

On G66's post, you could ride from Kingston through Richmond Park to Barnes - there's a cycle lane down Priory Lane. I checked a mate's route, and he's ridden along the river to Putney as per Greg.

EDIT: thinking about it, depending on what time you get back, you might be able to park in Richmond Park.

If you think you might get back after the gates close, just park on the road called Roehampton Gate, just outside the gate, first left. Loads of space there to park, i used to do it often.

Plenty of free places to park around New Malden - or as I do - Motspur Park (although the station is up over a bridge) - then get the train (much more cheaply) in ...
But for this one I'd suggest going further in and riding in - we've seen free parking around Kew Gardens - then you can take the river bank path all the way in - it's very nice apparently (not done it ourselves yet)

Bugger. Did the kid enjoy the riding?

Duh - sorry, I mis-read your post.