This is a list of cycle routes in London that have been waymarked with formal route signage include 'Cycleways' (including 'Cycle Superhighways' and 'Quietways) and the older London Cycle Network, all designated by the local government body Transport for London (TfL), National Cycle Network routes designated by the sustainable transport charity Sustrans, and miscellaneous 'Greenways' created by various bodies. Most recently, in May 2020 TfL announced its 'Streetspace for London' in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Not all these routes are dedicated 'traffic free' cycle tracks: most of them also include ordinary roads shared with motor traffic and footpaths shared with pedestrians.
From summer 2019, TfL started branding new cycle routes (and re-branding and consolidating some existing routes) as 'Cycleways'. [1] [2] This was following feedback and criticism that the previous branding ('Superhighways' and 'Quietways') was sometimes "misleading". [3]
All new and existing routes must meet new, stricter 'Cycling Quality Criteria' in order for TfL to sign them as Cycleways. [3]
The Central London Cycle Grid is a partially completed scheme [4] within central London which includes both numbered and unnumbered Cycleways, Cycle Superhighways and Quietways.
Name | Route | Boroughs | Comments | Approximate Length | Map |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
C1 | Freezy Water – Ponders End – Lower Edmonton – Upper Edmonton – North Middlesex Hospital – Tottenham – Seven Sisters – Stamford Hill – Stoke Newington – Dalston – De Beauvoir – Hoxton – Shoreditch – The City (A10) | Enfield, Haringey, Hackney, Islington | CS1 route between Tottenham and the City was completed in April 2016. [5] Now rebranded as C1. | 16.2 miles (26 km) [6] | map |
C2 | City – Whitechapel – Mile End – Bow – Stratford (A11 – A118) | Tower Hamlets, Newham | As an upgrade to the old LCN 11 route, Cycle Superhighway 2 initially consisted mostly of 'blue paint' cycle lanes. In 2016, after safety concerns and fatalities, the majority of the route was further upgraded to separated cycle tracks . [7] In September 2021, the whole section was signposted as C2. | 9.3 miles (15 km) [8] | map |
C3 | Lancaster Gate – Hyde Park – Westminster – Embankment – Blackfriars – Tower Hill – Shadwell – Limehouse – Poplar – Canning Town – North Beckton – Barking (A4209 – A402 – Hyde Park – A3211 – A1202 – A13) | Westminster, City of London, Tower Hamlets, Newham, Barking and Dagenham | 13 route. Sustrans has also designated much of this stretch as being part of their NCN 13 . In 2017, TfL constructed a lengthy extension of CS3 to Lancaster Gate. | CS3 was rebranded as C3 during January and February 2023. The initial section of CS3 from Barking to Tower Hill was largely an upgrade to the old LCN14.3 miles (23 km) [9] | map |
C4 | London Bridge – Bermondsey – Surrey Quays – Deptford – Greenwich | Southwark, Lewisham, Greenwich | Originally announced as Cycle Superhighway 4, Cycleway 4 is open from Tower Bridge Road to Greenwich, although only the Bermondsey section is signed. As of May 2021, a temporary extension of the route to Monument station and a further temporary alignment of the route between Greenwich and Charlton were both open, funded by the Streetspace for London programme. The Surrey Quays section of the route is an interim alignment. Eventually C4 is proposed to run from London Bridge to Plumstead via Woolwich. | 2.6 miles (4.2 km) [10] | map1 map2 |
C5 | C14 – Waterloo – Vauxhall – Stockwell – Clapham Common | Lambeth, Wandsworth | Initially planned to link Waterloo to Croydon, but only the section from C14 (on Union Street) to Clapham Common has been launched. Initially named Q5, it also incorperates what was the southern most section of London's shortest Cycle Superhighway, the CS5. It was rebranded as Cycleway 5 in December 2021. | 4.7 miles (7.6 km) [11] | map |
C6 | Belsize Park – Kentish Town West – (→Kentish Town} – {→Camden Town} – {→King's Cross } – Farringdon – Ludgate Circus – Blackfriars Bridge – Southwark – St. George's Circus – Elephant & Castle | Camden, Islington, Southwark | Includes all of the former 'North–South Cycle Superhighway' (CS6), plus a further northward extension to Belsize Park. | 8.1 miles (13 km) [12] | map |
CS7 | City – Southwark Bridge – Elephant & Castle – Kennington – Oval – Stockwell – Clapham North – Clapham High Street – Clapham Common – Clapham South – Balham – Tooting Bec – Tooting Broadway – Colliers Wood (A3 – A24) | City of London, Southwark, Lambeth, Wandsworth | This route continues to be referred to as a Cycle Superhighway route by TfL. It featured few separated lanes, but during 2020, as part of the response to COVID-19, several sections were upgraded to segregated lanes, including the use of 'floating bus stops'. | 9.3 miles (15 km) [13] | map |
C8 / CS8 | Wandsworth High Street – Wandsworth Town – Battersea High Street – Battersea Park – Chelsea Bridge – Vauxhall Bridge – Lambeth Bridge | Wandsworth, Westminster | During 2020, the stretch of CS8 between Vauxhall Bridge and Chelsea Bridge (along Grosvenor Road and Millbank) was largely segregated from the carriageway with 'wands'; in early 2021 this stretch was re-signed as C8. | 6 miles, 10 km [14] | CS8 map C8 map |
C9 | (Syon Park) – Brentford – Kew Bridge – Chiswick – (Hammersmith) | Hounslow, (Hammersmith and Fulham) | Partly launched in Hounslow, extending eastwards from Brentford as far as Hammersmith and Fulham (where the route is yet to be signed, as it is yet to be upgraded from its current temporary infrastructure.) | map | |
C10 | Euston – Covent Garden – (Waterloo Bridge –) Waterloo – Borough – Bermondsey Spa – South Bermondsey – Deptford – Greenwich | Camden, Westminster, Southwark, Lewisham, Greenwich | Formerly Q1. The portion in Bermondsey/Southwark also forms part of NCN 425 (and includes stretches that were formerly LCN 2 ). Missing section of the route across Waterloo Bridge: Streetspace for London plans [15] included possible road restriction to only cyclists and buses on the bridge. [15] | map | |
C11 | Angel – Hoxton – Old Street – Barbican ( C6 ) | Islington, Hackney, City of London | Includes a large section of the former Q11 route. Runs from Islington's Essex Road to Farringdon Road via Barbican and provides a connection between C27 , C13 and C6 . It also connects to CS7 and C3 via a C link that previously was part of Q11. | map | |
C13 | Old Street – Shoreditch – {→Bethnal Green} – {→Haggerston} – Broadway Market – London Fields – Hackney | Islington, Tower Hamlets, Hackney | Previously was Q13. Connects C11 to C27 . | map | |
C14 | (Waterloo) – London Bridge – Rotherhithe – {→Canada Water} – (Deptford) | Southwark | Originally planned and partially signposted as Q14, C14 is waymarked from Blackfriars Road where it meets C6 as far as Tower Bridge Road, where it meets C4. It is also signed from the Jamaica Road/Dockhead junction, as far as South Dock near the Lewisham border, mostly following NCN 4 . The route will eventually extend along the rest of the partially-implemented Q14 route, running along the NCN 1 Thames path through Greenwich and Thamesmead. | 4.1 miles (6.6 km) [16] | map |
C16 | (Hackney Wick –) Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park – {→Stratford} – Forest Gate – Manor Park – Aldersbrook – Valentines Park – Barkingside | Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Newham, Redbridge | Valentines Park is closed at night. Formerly signed as Q6, which was planned to extend from Mile End to Barkingside, but Tower Hamlets council's originally proposed section was not approved by TfL. | map | |
C17 | Borough – Walworth – Burgess Park (– →Denmark Hill ) | Southwark | Northern section of what was formerly known as Q7. There are proposals to extend C17 further south into Camberwell. | 1.8 miles (2.9 km) [17] | map |
C18 | Greenwich – Catford – Lower Sydenham – New Beckenham – Kent House | Bromley | map | ||
C20 | Enfield Town – Winchmore Hill – Palmers Green | Enfield | Route currently ends at the Enfield-Haringey border. | 5.9 miles (9.6 km) [18] | map |
C21 | Bush Hill – Edmonton Green – Meridian Water | Enfield | Connects C20 at Bush Hill Parade to Meridian Water train station. | map | |
C22 | Stratford High Street ( C2 ) – West Ham – Plaistow – East Ham – North Beckton ( C3 ) | Newham | An upgrade to the section of LCN 16 along The Greenway connecting C2 and C3 . Formerly known as Q22, this route is planned to be extended to Victoria Park. | map | |
C23 | Dalston – Hackney Downs – Lea Bridge Roundabout – {→Hackney} – Lea Bridge – {→Leyton} – {→Walthamstow} – Bakers Arms – {→Walthamstow Village} – South Woodford | Hackney, Waltham Forest | This upgraded an 8 km section of the old LCN route along Lea Bridge Road. [19] Eastwards the route currently ends to the south of Waterworks Roundabout. A westwards extension to Dalston is mostly complete as of Nov 2024. | 6.8 miles (11 km) [20] | map |
C24 | Tottenham Hale – Walthamstow Wetlands – Blackhorse Road – Bell Junction | Haringey, Waltham Forest | Signed as C24 in Waltham Forest. | map | |
C25 | Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park – Leyton – Leytonstone – Wanstead | Waltham Forest | C25 launched in Waltham Forest in July 2024. | map | |
C26 | Blackhorse Road – Argall – {→Leyton } – Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park – Stratford | Waltham Forest, Newham | Connects C24 to C16 | map | |
C27 | East Acton – Wormwood Scrubs – North Kensington – {→Notting Hill} – Paddington – Marylebone – Fitzrovia – Bloomsbury – {→Clerkenwell} – Angel – Canonbury – De Beauvoir Town – London Fields – Clapton – Lea Bridge – Argall – Walthamstow Central | Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea, Westminster, Camden, Islington, Hackney, Waltham Forest | Part of a long east-west Quietway formerly known as Q2. The Waltham Forest section of the route now shares a section of C23 and goes via Argall (instead of following the former Q2 alignment that passed outside the south entrance to Walthamstow Wetlands.) | 16.2 miles (26 km) | map |
C28 | Kingston – {→Surbiton} – Dittons | Kingston upon Thames | An upgrade to part of the old LCN 3 route; initially waymarked as Quietway Q19 before being rebranded as Cycleway 28 in December 2019. Has a C-link to Kingston University and there is also a signed connection towards Surbiton (crossing over to Palace Road to get to C29 ). | 1.1 miles (1.8 km) [21] | map |
C29 | Kingston – {→Surbiton} – (Tolworth) | Kingston upon Thames | An extension to Tolworth is under construction. | map | |
C30 | Kingston Town Centre – Kingston Hospital – Kingston Vale | Kingston upon Thames | Route is open, although there are short sections where the proposed mini-holland cycling infrastructure has not yet been delivered (due to reduced funding post-COVID). | map | |
C31 | New Malden – Raynes Park | Kingston upon Thames, Merton | First section between New Malden and Raynes Park opened on 13 July 2019. There are proposals to extend this to Wimbledon. | 1.6 miles (2.7 km) [22] | map |
C32 | (Kingston Town Centre) – New Malden | Kingston upon Thames | Partly signed at the New Malden end of the route | map | |
C33 | Queen Elizabeth Hospital – Woolwich Town Centre | Greenwich, Lewisham | Will be a link off a future 'Woolwich to Lee Green' Cycleway route. Was previously signed as an unnumbered 'Q' route | map | |
C34 | North Acton – East Acton – White City – Hammersmith - Fulham | Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham | Construction started in March 2019. First section opened in May 2020. This route was formerly planned to be Cycleway 10. [23] | map | |
C35 | Bermondsey Spa – Peckham | Southwark | Opened in summer 2020. Connects directly to C10 at Bermondsey Spa and mostly follows the routes of the old LCN 22 and part of NCN 425 . | 1.3 miles (2.1 km) [24] | map |
C36 | Kennington Park – Burgess Park – C35 | Southwark | Only signed at one modal filter (beside Chandler Way)! | map | |
C37 | Hackney – Mile End – Westferry (– Island Gardens) | Hackney, Tower Hamlets | Planned route. At Mile End, some of the route has had temporary 'Streetspace for London' infrastructure installed. | map | |
C38 | Finsbury Park – {→Highbury & Islington } – Angel (– Pentonville) | Hackney, Islington | Formerly planned as the Q10 route. | map | |
C39 | Shepherd's Bush – Kensington Olympia | Kensington & Chelsea | Opened in spring 2020. | 1300 yards (1.2 km) [25] | map |
C40 | Greenford Broadway – Ealing Broadway ... Ealing – {→South Ealing} – Brentford ... Syon Park – Twickenham | Ealing, Hounslow | Current route is not continuous. First section opened in Hounslow in 2021. [26] More sections opened in Ealing in 2024. | map | |
C41 | Euston – Holborn | Camden | Shares much of the route with C6 | map | |
C42 | Ilford – Barking Town Centre – Barking Riverside | Redbridge, Barking and Dagenham | Mostly completed route with a notable gap on Wakering Road, just north of Barking station. | map | |
C43 | Hyde Park – Marylebone – Fitzrovia | Westminster | Planned route that will have links connecting to C27 at Norfolk Crescent. | ||
C44 | (Queen's Park) – Grand Union Canal – North Kensington – Notting Hill | Kensington & Chelsea, Westminster | Opened in August 2020. Follows the old LCN 45 route for almost all of its length. | 1.5 miles (2.4 km) [27] | map |
C48 | (Clapham Old Town) – Brixton – Herne Hill | Lambeth | Opened in December 2022, although a safe crossing of Brixton Road has yet to be delivered by Transport for London. | map | |
C49 | East Acton – Chiswick | Hammersmith and Fulham, Ealing, Hounslow | Launched in March 2023. At its southern end, a safe crossing to C9 is yet to be installed. | map | |
C50 | Camden Town ... Holloway – Finsbury Park (– Tottenham Hale) | Camden, Islington,( Haringey) | The initial section of C50 is from C6 at Camden Town to York Way. An interim route has opened between Holloway and Finsbury Park, but is not yet signed as being C50. | map | |
C51 | Burnt Oak – Colindale (– Kilburn – Marylebone) | Barnet, (Camden, Westminster) | First section opened in Barnet in March 2024. | map | |
C52 / Q1 | Euston – Bloomsbury – Covent Garden | Camden, Westminster | Passes by the British Museum. A short section is yet to be fully rebranded from Q1 to C52. | map | |
C55 | Lancaster Gate – Marble Arch – Hyde Park Corner | Westminster | The section on Park Lane was introduced as one of the first Streetspace for London schemes. | map | |
C56 | Westminster Bridge – {→Waterloo} – C5 | Lambeth | Opened in 2022. | map | |
C57 | Hammersmith – Hammersmith Bridge (– Barnes) | Hammersmith & Fulham | Northern end of the route is shared with C34 | map | |
C58 | Southgate – Palmers Green (– Meridian Water) | Enfield | Launched in 2023. | map | |
C59 | New Southgate – Edmonton | Enfield | Partly built but unsigned, apart from being included on C58 signs at one junction. | ||
C60 | North Chingford – Chingford Mount – Walthamstow | Waltham Forest | Launched in 2024. | map | |
C61 | North Chingford – Highams Park – Walthamstow | Waltham Forest | Launched in 2024. | map | |
West Drayton – Stockley Park – North Circular Road – Old Oak Lane – Regent's Canal | Canal & River Trust | Unsigned route that was previously planned to be Q16. Majority of route is along the upgraded Grand Union Canal towpath. [28] | map | ||
Link routes ( C ) | Central London Grid (various) | Camden, City of London, Lambeth, Kensington & Chelsea | Cycleway link routes are usually way-marked with an un-numbered C :
| ||
Greenwich – Charlton | Greenwich | A pop-up Streetspace route as an intermediate version of Cycleway 4. This route is signed as C . | map1 map2 | ||
Stratford – Forest Gate – Manor Park | Newham | Largely runs parallel to a future extension of Cycleway 2 along Romford Road. | 4.2 km | map | |
Surbiton | Kingston upon Thames | A link between C29 and Surbiton, running along St. Mark's Hill. | map |
London's Cycle Superhighways were a set of Bike freeways, that were aimed principally at commuters and more experienced cyclists, providing faster and more direct radial routes between outer and central London. [1] In addition to route signage with a pink logo, other distinctive features included blue cycle lanes on some of the routes (the brand colour of the scheme's original sponsor, Barclays) and 'totem' style signage pillars.
London's Cycle Superhighways were first announced in 2008 by Mayor Ken Livingstone. [29] The original proposal consisted of 12 radial routes, with routes numbered in 'clock face' fashion. [30] However, several of these proposed routes were never built, due to opposition from the respective London boroughs. [31] Initial implementation of the cycle superhighways also drew criticism on safety grounds, with poor design at some junctions, insufficient segregation of cyclists from motor traffic and slippery surfaces all contributing to numerous fatalities. [32] [33] [34] [35]
In 2018 TfL dropped the 'cycle superhighway' name from use on any further projects. All the existing Cycle Superhighways are now part of the Cycleways network and will be rebranded as a numbered 'Cycleway'.[ citation needed ]
First announced in 2015, TfL's Quietways [36] targeted less confident cyclists who want to use routes with less traffic, whilst also providing for existing cyclists who want to travel at a more gentle pace. The route numbers were shown in purple on signs.
The scheme lasted only three years before TfL decided to drop the Quietways brand, using 'Cycleways' for further new routes. All Quietways are now formally part of the Cycleways network and the delivered Quietways are being gradually rebranded as 'Cycleways' (and renumbered in most cases).
Name | Route | Boroughs | Comments | Map |
---|---|---|---|---|
Q3 | Gladstone Park (Dollis Hill) – Kilburn) | Brent | Originally planned to link Gladstone Park with Regent's Park, but Camden and Westminster boroughs have not yet implement their sections of the route. Approximately half of the implemented section is an upgrade to the old LCN 48 . | map |
Q4 | Clapham Common to Wimbledon | Lambeth, Wandsworth, Merton | Although most of the route has been built, the only part to be signed is a single crossing. | |
Q7 | Dulwich Village | Southwark | Only a single junction in Dulwich remains with Q7 signage. With the Q7 section north of Burgess Park becoming C17 during summer 2019, this was the first existing Quietway to get partly renumbered and rebranded as a 'Cycleway'. Only LCN 23 road markings remain between C17 and Camberwell for now, as all previous Q7 road markings and signage have been removed. | map |
Q14 | East section: Charlton Riverside – Woolwich – Thamesmead [37] | Southwark, Greenwich | Originally proposed as a continuous route from Waterloo to Erith. However, only two sections were implemented as Q14: one in Southwark (rebranded as C14 in 2021), and a riverfront section from the Thames Barrier to Woolwich opened in June 2018 (largely along NCN 1 ). [38] In March 2020 newer sections of the proposed route began to get signed as C14. | map |
Q15 | Brompton Cemetery – Earl's Court – South Kensington – Chelsea | Kensington & Chelsea | A proposed extension to Belgravia has yet to be implemented by Westminster council. | map |
Link routes ( Q ) | Central London Grid (various) | Lambeth, Kensington & Chelsea, Westminster, City of London, Islington, Hackney | Routes are way-marked with an un-numbered Q . Notable link routes include: |
In May 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting need to maintain social distancing, TfL announced a programme of measures that includes additional cycling provision. [39] Some of these measures are described as 'temporary', although others appear to include fast-tracking of permanent cycle routes. TfL implemented routes delivered under this programme have so far included:
Name | Route | Boroughs | Comments | Map |
---|---|---|---|---|
C | Hampstead Road | Camden | With flow lightly segregated cycle lanes from Euston Road to Mornington Crescent can be intermittent. Approximately 1.1 km long. [40] | map |
Bishopsgate | City of London | 5 Bus Gates have been installed to create a bus and cycle only street from Shoreditch High Street to Monument Junction, 0700-1900 Monday to Friday. [41] | map | |
London Bridge | City of London | Closure to private motor traffic from 0700 to 1900 Monday to Friday, plus creation of with-flow semi-segregated lanes. [42] | map | |
CS7 | Clapham South - Balham - Tooting Bec - Tooting Broadway - Colliers Wood | Wandsworth, Merton | Upgrade of existing with flow cycle lanes to be mostly light segregated lanes, plus the creation of bus stop bypasses, on the section from Alderbrook Road to Colliers Wood. [43] [44] | overview map 1 |
C8 | Lambeth Bridge- Vauxhall Bridge- Chelsea Bridge | Westminster | Upgrade of existing with flow cycle lanes to be mostly light segregated lanes, plus the creation of bus stop bypasses along Millbank from Lambeth Bridge to Chelsea Bridge. [45] |
Additionally, numerous pop up cycle routes have been funded by TfL or the Department for Transport as part of Streetspace, but implemented by boroughs. Funding has also been provided for Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, which have filtered roads to prevent through traffic through residential areas, having a knock on effect on cycling by improving links through these areas. As of January 2021, TfL's website [46] listed over 30 different Streetspace schemes. Sustrans published a map of streetspace interventions. [47]
The London Cycle Network Plus (LCN+) aimed to provide a 900 kilometre network of cycle routes throughout Greater London. It was funded by Transport for London and managed by the LCN+ Project Team at the London Borough of Camden. It was launched in 2001, replacing the earlier London Cycle Network (LCN) project (which had begun rollout in 1981, originally planning 3000 miles of signposted routes [48] ), and wound up in 2010.
Although some LCN routes have been upgraded to TfL's new Quietways and Cycle Superhighways, the majority throughout Greater London still exist and are signposted and/or indicated by carriageway markings (although not all the signage uses route numbers). Where route numbers are used in signs, this is usually the LCN route number, but on some route sections the 'LCN+ link' number has been used on signs. (LCN+ link numbers were usually internal reference numbers used for project management.) [49]
The LCN route numbering used a radial and orbital scheme, as shown by the groupings in the table below. Some routes were also part of the Sustrans National Cycle Network – these are signposted with route numbers on a red background. [50] There were also a comparable number of un-numbered routes in the scheme. These are not listed in the table below.
The last edition of the LCN route map to be published was the 5th edition (2004). [51]
Orbital routes in Central zone: | |||
---|---|---|---|
Route Number | Route | Notes | Map |
0 (Seven Stations Circular) | City (→ Liverpool St.) – (Waterloo) – Westminster – Marylebone (→ Paddington) – Bloomsbury (→ Euston) – (→ King's Cross) – Finsbury – The City | A number of route sections are now part of new TfL routes: • the north end of Southwark bridge to Elephant and Castle: CS7 • outside St Thomas' Hospital: C56 • south side of Green Park: C3 • some of the Westminster section and all of the Camden section: C27 • Lever Street to Southwark Bridge: C11 and C | map |
Radial routes in Central zone: | |||
Route Number | Route | Notes | Map |
1 | Waltham Abbey – (Lea Valley) – Mile End – Greenwich – Greenwich Peninsula – Charlton Riverside – Woolwich – Thamesmead – Erith – (Dartford) | For the most part this is the Greater London portion of Sustrans NCN 1 but also includes additional sections, e.g. a route through Millwall Park. | map |
2 (A2) | Elephant & Castle – Old Kent Road – Deptford – Greenwich – Blackheath – Kidbrooke – Eltham – Falconwood – Blackfen | Some sections are now Sustrans NCN 425 and C10 (see above) | map |
⌊ 2a | Eltham station – Falconwood | Spur route off LCN 2 parallel to the A2 road, passing via Eltham station. | map |
3 (old A3) | (Esher – Ditton) – Kingston – Wandsworth – Battersea – Clapham Common – Stockwell – Oval – Waterloo | Some sections were to become TfL Quietways Q4 . A section in Kingston is now C28 (see above) and another in Lambeth is now C5 . | map |
4 | Hampton Court Bridge – Kingston – Ham – Richmond Park – Barnes – Putney Bridge – Sands End – West Chelsea – Pimlico – Lambeth Bridge – Waterloo – London Bridge – Rotherhithe – Canada Water – Deptford – Greenwich | For the most part this is the Greater London portion of Sustrans NCN 4 | map |
5 (old A5) | (Elstree) – Edgware – Kilburn – Maida Vale – Marylebone – Hyde Park – Knightsbridge – Chelsea Bridge – Battersea – Clapham – Streatham – Norbury – Croydon | Portions in South London will become C5 . Section across Chelsea Bridge/alongside Battersea Park is now CS8 | map |
6 | Barnet – Alexandra Palace – Holloway – Tufnell Park – Camden Town – West End – Waterloo | map | |
⌊ 6a | Highgate – Gospel Oak – Camden Town – Westminster | map | |
7 | (Southgate) – Wood Green – (Finsbury Park) – City – Elephant & Castle | Section past Finsbury Park is NCN 162 . Section from St George's Circus, across Blackfriars Bridge along Farringdon Road is now C6 | map |
8 | Hammersmith – (Paddington) – Angel – London Fields – Hackney – Leyton – Leytonstone – (Woodford) | Includes Market Porters & 7 Stations. The portion between King's Cross Road and London Fields is now C27 | map |
9 | City – Broadway Market – London Fields – Hackney – Walthamstow – Chingford – Epping | The portion between London Fields and Millfields Park South is now C27 ; the section between Virginia Road and Hackney Town Hall is now C13 . | map |
Radial routes in North East London: | |||
Route Number | Route | Notes | Map |
10 (A10) | Waltham Cross – Enfield – Tottenham – Seven Sisters – Stoke Newington – The City | The majority of this route between the City and Tottenham has been upgraded to form C1 | map |
11 (A11) | City – Stratford – Leytonstone – (Woodford) – Epping | This route has been upgraded to C2 between Aldgate and Stratford | map |
12 (A12) | City – Stratford – Ilford – Romford | map | |
13 (A13) | City – (Canning Town) – Rainham – Tilbury | Part of this route has now been upgraded to form part of C3 . | map |
14 (A104) | Clapton – Lea Bridge – Whipps Cross – Woodford | A portion of the route has been upgraded to C23 . | map |
15 | City – Canning Town – Plaistow – Barking – (Upminster) | The section between Tower Bridge and Canning Town has been upgraded to form C3 | map |
16 | Cambridge Heath – Victoria Park – Stratford – West Ham – Newham Greenway, Beckton | The section along The Greenway is now Quietway Q22 | map |
Radial routes in South East London: | |||
Route Number | Route | Notes | Map |
17 | Greenwich Park – Lewisham – Catford – Beckenham, West Wickham | Shares route of Sustrans NCN 21 (Waterlink Way) between Elverson Road DLR station and Loampit Vale, Lewisham | map |
18 | Greenwich – Woolwich – Erith – Dartford | map | |
19 | Charlton – Greenwich – Plumstead – Bexleyheath – Dartford | map | |
20 | Deptford – Lewisham – Mottingham – New Eltham – Crittall's Corner | map | |
21 | Greenwich – Lewisham – Ladywell – Catford – Lower Sydenham – Kent House – (Elmers End) – Addington – New Addington | Greater London portion of Sustrans NCN 21 along Waterlink Way | map |
22 | Central London – Peckham Rye – Catford – Bromley – Orpington | One section in Bermondsey (Willow Walk/Lynton Road) is now part of C10 . In summer 2020, the section between Peckham and Burgess Park was upgraded to C35 . | map |
23 (A23) | Central London – Camberwell – Crystal Palace – Croydon – Purley | Northern section (Elephant and Castle to Southwark Bridge) is now TfL Cycle Superhighway CS7 and C17 follows some of LCN 23 also. | map |
24 | (Wandsworth) – Carshalton | map | |
25 South Circular | Woolwich – Catford – Dulwich Village – Herne Hill – Clapham Common – (Barnes) | map | |
⌊ 25a | Spur route off LCN 25 . | map | |
26 | (Willesden) – Hammersmith – (Wandsworth) – Streatham – Crystal Palace – Eltham | This route is an 'orbital' one in south London from Shepherd's Bush in the west, to Eltham in the south east, but it is non-continuous with several gaps. | map |
27 (Part A21) | Battersea – Crystal Palace – Bromley – Sevenoaks | map | |
28 | Greenwich – Lee – Bromley | map | |
Radial routes in South West London: | |||
Route Number | Route | Notes | Map |
29 | Wandsworth – Wimbledon – Sutton | map | |
30 | A30, Staines – (Osterley) | map | |
31 | A3 Kingston by-pass parallel, Leatherhead – (Hook) – (New Malden) – Hammersmith | map | |
32 | Hayes – Hounslow – (Whitton)? – Kingston – (Ewell) | map | |
33 | Richmond – Kingston – (Chessington) – Leatherhead | map | |
Radial routes in North West London: | |||
Route Number | Route | Notes | Map |
34 | (Sunbury) – Hounslow – (Southall) | map | |
35 | A315 – Staines – Hounslow – (Chiswick) – Hammersmith | map | |
36 | A316 – (Sunbury) – Twickenham – Hammersmith | The section between Woodberry Wetlands and Walthamstow Wetlands was branded the 'Wetlands to Wetlands Greenway' in 2016. | map |
37 | A316 parallel, (Feltham) – Twickenham – Richmond – (Wandsworth) – Central London | map | |
38 | Wimbledon – Putney – Westminster | Short section past Victoria will be part of Quietway Q15 | map |
39 | A4020 Uxbridge Road – Uxbridge – Southall – Hanwell – Ealing – (Shepherd's Bush) – Hyde Park – Mayfair – West End | map | |
40 | A40 (Hillingdon) – (Greenford) – (Hanger Lane) – Bayswater – Paddington – Central London | map | |
41 | (Hayes) – Ealing – Uxbridge Road parallel, (Acton) | map | |
42 | (Hayes) – Westminster | Along Grand Union Canal | |
43 | (West Drayton) – (Hayes) – (Brentford) | Along Grand Union Canal | |
44 | A4 – Slough – (Osterley) – Hammersmith – (Hyde Park Corner) | map | |
45 | Harrow – Wembley – Kensington – Battersea | In summer 2020, the section between Notting Hill and North Kensington was upgraded to C44 . | map |
46 | (Willesden) – (Fulham) | map | |
47 | (Kenton) – Wembley – (Queen's Park) | map | |
48 | (Stanmore) – (Kingsbury) – Wembley – Kilburn | The eastern half of this route is now Quietway Q3 . | map |
49 | (Northwood) – (Pinner) – Harrow – (Hendon) | map | |
50 | Potters Bar – (Hendon) – Regent's Park – Marylebone – St James's Park | map | |
51 | (Friern Barnet) – (Golders Green) | map | |
Orbital routes in North East London: | |||
Route Number | Route | Notes | Map |
54 | Muswell Hill – Wood Green – Tottenham Hale – Walthamstow | map | |
55 | (Wanstead) – Ilford – Barking | map | |
56 | Wood Green – Northumberland Park | The section between Bruce Castle Park and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is now C1 | map |
57 | Epping – Chigwell Row – Dagenham | map | |
58 | Epping – Romford – (Rainham) | map | |
59 | (Rainham) – (Harold Hill) | Proposed route, never implemented (?) | OSM map |
60 | Collier Row | map | |
61 | (Bedfords Park) – Romford | map | |
Orbital routes in South East London: | |||
Route Number | Route | Notes | Map |
62 | Greenwich – (Forest Hill) – Sydenham – Penge | Route signage does not use the route number | map |
63 | Greenwich – Bromley | map | |
64 | The O2 – (Mottingham) | map | |
65 | Westminster – Vauxhall – Kennington – Peckham Rye – Nunhead – Brockley – Hilly Fields – Ladywell – Ladywell Fields – Lee Green – Eltham – Avery Hill – Blackfen – Bexleyheath | Shares route through Ladywell Fields with NCN 21 | map |
66 | Thamesmead – Plumstead Common – Falconwood – New Eltham – Chislehurst – Petts Wood | map, map (66a) & map (66b) | |
⌊ 66a | Spur route off LCN 66 to the Thames Path. | map | |
⌊ 66b | Spur route off LCN 66 to the Thames Path | map | |
67 | Woolwich – Bromley (Chislehurst) | map | |
68 | (Abbey Wood) – Bexley | map & map (68a) | |
69 | Orpington – (Bexley) – Dartford | map | |
Orbital routes in South West London: | |||
Route Number | Route | Notes | Map |
71 | East Sheen Common – Roehampton – Wimbledon Park | map | |
73 | Kingston Vale – Wimbledon – Croydon | map | |
74 | Hampton Hill – Kingston – Wimbledon – Mitcham/Colliers Wood | map | |
75 | Ealing – Twickenham – Kingston – Sutton – Croydon – Bromley – Eltham – Woolwich | A section of the route in Hounslow is now C42 . | map |
76 | (Ewell) – Sutton – Croydon – Orpington | map | |
77 | (Ewell) – (South Croydon) – (New Beckenham) | map | |
78 | Forestdale – Sanderstead | map | |
Orbital routes in North West London: | |||
Route Number | Route | Notes | Map |
84 | (Park Royal) – (Hendon) | ||
85 | Ealing – (Hanger Lane) – Hendon – Barnet | map | |
86 | (Sudbury) – (Perivale) – Ealing – (Brentford) | map | |
87 | (Rayners Lane) – Greenford Broadway – Hanwell – (Brentford) | map | |
88 | West section: A312, Feltham – (Hayes by pass), – (South Ruislip) – (Rayners Lane) – Edgware; East section: Chipping Barnet - Enfield Chase - Chingford | map | |
⌊ 88a | Northolt Park – Yeading – Hayes – Harlington | Alternative route alignment for LCN 88 . | map |
89 | (Heathrow) – (West Drayton) – Uxbridge – (Hatch End) – (Stanmore) – Barnet | map | |
Other routes: | |||
Route Number | Route | Notes | Map |
99 | Hatton – Feltham | Signposted as 99, but is really a completed section of Hounslow's LCN link +99 | map |
162 | Finsbury Park – Highbury Fields | Shares most of its route with the old LCN 7 . The route was never way-marked on the ground and appears to have been de-designated as a National Cycle Network route by Sustrans in 2020. | map |
212 | Wandle Park – central Croydon – Ashburton Park | Croydon Parks Link, sections opened 2016, 2017. [52] Previously referred to as a National Cycle Network route, but appears to have been de-designated by Sustrans in 2020 (the situation being unclear as the route had already been omitted from their mapping prior to that). | map map |
213 | Selhurst – South Norwood | Croydon route along A213 that ends at borough border. | map |
222 | Broad Green – (Elmers End) | Croydon route along A222 that ends at borough border. | map |
232 | Wandle Park – central Croydon – Lloyd Park | Croydon Parks Link, sections opened 2016, 2017. [52] Part of route is along A232. Previously referred to as a National Cycle Network route, but appears to have been de-designated by Sustrans in 2020 (the situation being unclear as the route had already been omitted from their mapping prior to that). | map |
755 | (Mitcham Eastfields) – Norbury – Thornton Heath | Croydon route that ends at borough border. | map |
777 | (Mitcham Common) – Thornton Heath | Croydon route that ends at borough border. | map |
The sustainable transport charity Sustrans describe their National Cycle Network (NCN) as "a network of safe traffic-free paths and quiet on-road cycling" that "criss-cross the country, linking up villages, towns and cities". [53] Eleven of these pass through London. NCN routes are signed with white lettering on a blue background, save for the route number, set on a small red rectangle. [54] In July 2020 Sustrans de-designated nearly a quarter of its National Cycle Network on safety grounds, [55] including some in London. Alternative text
Route Number | National Route Description | Route through London | Notes | Maps |
1 | Shetland to Dover | Waltham Abbey along the River Lea via Tottenham to the Isle of Dogs, through Greenwich Foot Tunnel, Thames Path from Greenwich to Dartford | Also serves as part of international routes EuroVelo 2 and EuroVelo 12 (see below), and was London Cycle Network route LCN1. In 2019, a section in Greenwich was co-designated Q14. | map |
⌊ 12 | Enfield Lock to Spalding [56] | Enfield Lock to Hadley Wood | Development as the "Enfield Island Village to Hadley Wood Greenway" [57] | map |
⌊ 13 | London to Norwich | Tower Bridge – Barking (Royal Docks) – Rainham – Purfleet | shares part of its route with TfL's C3 | map |
⌊ 136 | — | Rainham to Noak Hill via Upminster | map | |
20 | London to Brighton | Wandle Trail from Wandsworth – Carshalton, then on to Coulsdon | The international Avenue Verte from London to Paris follows NCN20; TfL's unsigned Quietway 4 shares the route of NCN20 between Earlsfield and the Wandle Meadow Nature Park | map |
⌊ 208 | — | Wimbledon to Rosehill | map | |
21 | London to Eastbourne | Waterlink Way from Greenwich – Lewisham – Catford – (Elmers End) – (New Addington) – Crawley | map | |
4 | Fishguard to London | Thames Path between Greenwich and Hampton Court Bridge | Also serves as part of international route EuroVelo 2 (see below), and was London Cycle Network route LCN4. In March 2020, a section in Bermondsey was co-designated as TfL's C14 . | map |
⌊ 425 | — | Burgess Park in Camberwell to Durand's Wharf in Rotherhithe | 8.1 km route built with a grant from the National Lottery. Some of the central section also became C10 (formerly Q1). In summer 2020, a section between Burgess Park and Q1 was co-designated C35 . | map |
Per the notes column above, sections of the National Cycle Network are co-opted by the European Cyclists' Federation as forming part of their international EuroVelo network, which is largely aimed at promoting cycling tourism in Europe. Additionally the Avenue Verte international route between London and Paris begins in central London.
Neither EV2 nor EV12 are signed as EuroVelo routes, so cyclists would instead need to rely on the relevant national route (NCN) signage.
Route number | Route name | Comment | via these UK cities/towns | Through these countries |
---|---|---|---|---|
EuroVelo 2 – The Capitals Route | Follows the course of NCN 4 along the River Thames from west London to Greenwich, and then follows NCN 1 northwards towards Colchester. | Holyhead - Bristol - Bath - Reading - London - Harwich | Ireland, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Belarus, Russia | |
EuroVelo 12 – North Sea Cycle Route | Within London this follows the course of NCN 1 , passing along the River Thames from Dartford to Greenwich and then continuing northwards towards Colchester. | Dover - Canterbury - London - Norwich - Hull - Newcastle - Edinburgh - Aberdeen - Inverness | Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, France, United Kingdom | |
AV | Avenue Verte | Beginning at the London Eye, this mainly follows NCN 4 , NCN 20 , NCN 21 and NCN 2 as it passes through south London, Surrey, West Sussex and East Sussex. | London - Redhill - Crawley - Forest Row - Heathfield - Hailsham - Newhaven | United Kingdom, France |
London's "Greenways" are a loosely defined collection of mostly traffic-free shared cycling and walking routes, predominantly within (or connecting to) various parks and open spaces within Greater London. TfL and Sustrans claimed that "Greenways should be suitable for use by a novice adult cyclist, a family with young children or a sensible, unaccompanied 12-year-old". [58] [59]
Greenways in London have been developed by numerous different bodies, including Sustrans (who began the Greenways initiative in 1994 [60] ), Transport for London, the Canal and River Trust, the London Boroughs, the Royal Parks, the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority and the 2012 Olympic Delivery Authority, under various different funding programmes (including the 2009–2014 London Greenways scheme, the 2012 Games Walking and Cycling Routes programme, [61] 'Connect2', the National Cycle Network, and others).
The routes tend to have names rather than numbers, and many of them use waymarking signs or markers in the carriageway, but there is no consistent scheme covering all of them. Some of the Greenways have been co-opted into the other TfL or Sustrans schemes listed earlier in this article.
The table below lists the most notable Greenways in London.
Name | Description | Map |
---|---|---|
Routes in or connecting to parks, green spaces and nature reserves: | ||
Tamsin Trail. [62] | Circular route around Richmond Park | map |
Avery Hill Park | New and improved cycling and walking routes through this park in Greenwich. | map |
Ravensbourne Greenway | Route alongside the River Ravensbourne through Beckenham Place Park in Lewisham. | map |
‡ Hackney Parks | Connects Finsbury Park, Clissold Park, Hackney Downs, Victoria Park and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park at Stratford. Some of the section between Hackney Downs and Victoria Park is now C27 . | map |
Redbridge Greenway. [63] | map | |
River Beam Bridge | Shared-use foot/cycle bridge over the River Beam, linking the Beam Valley Country Park with Bretons Outdoor Centre. | map |
Feltham Park, Longford River | New bridge and improved shared use paths. | |
Jubilee Greenway, Woolwich Foot Tunnel | Various infrastructure improvements on the Jubilee Greenway and associated routes between C3 and the Woolwich Foot Tunnel. | |
Greendale Extension | New link from the Greendale (LCN23) to Ruskin Park. | |
‡ Epping Forest Greenway | Route from Stratford to Epping Forest. Skirts the boundaries of West Ham cemetery, Wanstead Flats, Harrow Road playing fields, Bush Wood and Leyton Flats. | map |
Wetlands to Wetlands Greenway | Cycling route between Woodberry Wetlands and Walthamstow Wetlands. Much of the on-road section between the two wetlands follows the route of LCN36. | map |
Stanmore to River Thames Greenway | Proposed Greenway with some completed sections, included Proyer's Path through Northwick Park, Harrow. | |
Enfield Chase to Arnos Park Greenway | Route in Enfield linking several green spaces Enfield Golf Club and Grovelands Park. | |
Durant's Park to Brimsdown Greenway | Route in Enfield | |
River corridors: | ||
Roding Valley Way. [64] | Follows the green corridor of the River Roding. | map |
The Wandle Trail | Follows the green corridor of the River Wandle. Cycle and walking sections sometimes diverge; the cycle sections are mostly part of NCN20. | map |
Hogsmill River Greenway | Greenway linking Tolworth and Old Malden | map |
‡ Lower Lea Valley | Runs from the Olympic Park via the Greenway in Newham to the Greenwich Foot Tunnel on the Isle of Dogs. | map |
Sewer corridors: | ||
‡ Newham Greenway | Also known as the 'Elevated Greenway'. Route from Stratford to Beckton built on top of the Northern Outfall Sewer. Most of the route is now designated Q22 (formerly LCN16)–see above. | |
The Ridgeway | Route from Plumstead to Crossness built on top of the Southern Outfall Sewer. | |
Canal towpaths: | ||
‡ Lee Valley North | Sections of the River Lee towpath, upgraded for the 2012 Olympics | map |
Regent's Canal towpath. | Towpath of a portions of the Regent's Canal | |
‡ Limehouse Cut | Towpath of the Limehouse Cut waterway. | map |
‡ These routes were developed for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games
The National Cycle Network (NCN) was established to encourage cycling and walking throughout the United Kingdom, as well as for the purposes of bicycle touring. It was created by the charity Sustrans who were aided by a £42.5 million National Lottery grant. However Sustrans themselves only own around 2% of the paths on the network, the rest being made of existing public highways and rights of way, and permissive paths negotiated by Sustrans with private landowners.
Sustrans is a United Kingdom-based walking, wheeling and cycling charity, and the custodian of the National Cycle Network.
Bicycle transportation planning and engineering are the disciplines related to transportation engineering and transportation planning concerning bicycles as a mode of transport and the concomitant study, design and implementation of cycling infrastructure. It includes the study and design of dedicated transport facilities for cyclists as well as mixed-mode environments and how both of these examples can be made to work safely. In jurisdictions such as the United States it is often practiced in conjunction with planning for pedestrians as a part of active transportation planning.
The Pennine Cycleway is a Sustrans-sponsored route in the Pennines range in northern England, an area often called the "backbone of England". The route passes through the counties of Derbyshire, West Yorkshire, Lancashire, North Yorkshire, Cumbria and Northumberland. It is part of the National Cycle Network (NCN). Sustrans founder John Grimshaw calls it 'the best National Cycle Network route of the lot'.
A greenway is usually a shared-use path along a strip of undeveloped land, in an urban or rural area, set aside for recreational use or environmental protection. Greenways are frequently created out of disused railways, canal towpaths, utility company rights of way, or derelict industrial land. Greenways can also be linear parks, and can serve as wildlife corridors. The path's surface may be paved and often serves multiple users: walkers, runners, bicyclists, skaters and hikers. A characteristic of greenways, as defined by the European Greenways Association, is "ease of passage": that is that they have "either low or zero gradient", so that they can be used by all "types of users, including mobility impaired people".
Cycling is a popular mode of transport and leisure activity within London, the capital city of the United Kingdom. Following a national decline in the 1960s of levels of utility cycling, cycling as a mode of everyday transport within London began a slow regrowth in the 1970s. This continued until the beginning of the 21st century, when levels began to increase significantly—during the period from 2000 to 2012, the number of daily journeys made by bicycle in Greater London doubled to 580,000. The growth in cycling can partly be attributed to the launch in 2010 by Transport for London (TfL) of a cycle hire system throughout the city's centre. By 2013, the scheme was attracting a monthly ridership of approximately 500,000, peaking at a million rides in July of that year. Health impact analyses have shown that London would benefit more from increased cycling and cycling infrastructure than other European cities.
Cycling in Cardiff, capital of Wales, is facilitated by its easy gradients and large parks. In the mid-2000s between 2.7% and 4.3% of people commuted to work by cycling in the city. In 2017 12.4% of workers cycled to work at least 5 days a week. However, cyclists in the city are deterred from cycling by poor facilities and aggressive traffic, according to research by Cardiff University.
Cycling for transport and leisure enjoys popularity in Greater Manchester and the city also plays a major role in British cycle racing. The Bee Network was launched in 2018. The University of Manchester is home to the Manchester Cycling Lab.
Cycleway 3 (C3) is a cycle route in London, England. It is part of the Cycleway network coordinated by TfL. It runs from Barking in the east to Lancaster Gate in central London. It is a popular route with both commuter and leisure cyclists, passing a number of major destinations in London along its route. For almost the entire route, cyclists are separated from other traffic in segregated cycle lanes, and cycling infrastructure has been provided at major interchanges. The cycleway, originally called Cycle Superhighway 3, was renamed to Cycleway 3 in January 2023.
National Cycle Network (NCN) Route 62 is a Sustrans National Route that runs from Fleetwood to Selby. As of 2018 the route has a missing section between Preston and Southport but is otherwise open and signed.
National Cycle Network (NCN) Route 658 is a Sustrans Regional Route. It is two miles (3.2 km) long, and provides a connection between Route 65 and Route 66 through York city centre. The full length of the route is part of the Way of the Roses. It is fully signed and open.
Ireland's greenways are off-road routes for walkers, cyclists and other non-motorised transport in Ireland, which are often created as rail trails on abandoned sections of the Irish rail network. In the Republic of Ireland, several greenway initiatives have been centrally funded by the Irish government. In Northern Ireland, greenways are typically part of the collective British National Cycle Network (NCN).
A bicycle highway, also known as a cycling superhighway, fast cycle route or bike freeway, is an informal name for a bicycle path that is meant for long-distance traffic. There is no official definition of a bicycle highway. The characteristics of a cycling highway mentioned by authorities and traffic experts include an absence of single-level intersections with motorized traffic, a better road surface and the absence of traffic lights. Bicycle highways are mentioned in connection with traffic jam. Owing to higher average speeds than normal cycling infrastructure, they provide an alternative to the car in commuter traffic. Often a cycling highway follows the route of a railway or other linear infrastructure.
National Cycle Network (NCN) Route 10 is a Sustrans National Route that runs from Cockermouth to North Shields in the United Kingdom. The route is 217 km long and is fully open and signed in both directions.
The National Cycle Route 725, also known as the Great North Cycleway is a partially-complete regional cycling route that forms part of the National Cycle Network (NCN) in the United Kingdom.
National Cycle Network (NCN) Route 636 is a Sustrans Route that runs from Harrogate to Knaresborough. The route is 4 miles (6.4 km) in length and is fully open and signed in both directions.
The Bay Cycle Way is an 80-mile (130 km) cycling route around Morecambe Bay in Lancashire and Cumbria in north west England. Most of it forms National Cycle Route 700, while other sections are waymarked as NCN 6, NCN 69 and NCN 70.
National Cycle Network (NCN) Route 67 is a Sustrans National Route that runs from Long Whatton to Northallerton. The route is 124 miles (200 km) in length and is open but with sections missing.
Cycleway 4 is a fully segregated cycle path in London originally planned to run from Tower Bridge to Woolwich and coordinated by Transport for London. First proposed in 2008 but first consulted on as Cycle Superhighway 4 between Tower Bridge and Greenwich in 2017, the cycle lane has been in lengthy development. The section from Tower Bridge to Rotherhithe Roundabout, and the section on Evelyn Street and Creek Road, has been built as a permanent scheme.
(Not