Best Bike Rides
Midnight Thames Ride
After a late night chicken and chips, I was feel a little stuffed, but fully re-fuelled. I don’t know what happened next; when I got back on my Brompton (bike), it ‘decided’ to go exploring. I headed down the Goldhawk road away from Shepherds Bush Green and took at left past Ravenscourt Park. I literally followed the road (Paddenswick) until I came across the Great west road, which eventually becomes the M4. But there was a rather convenient underpass, which you can gently cycle down (or wheel your bike if there are pedestrians) and to my utter surprise on the other side, there was the Thames and a wonderful small riverside park called Furnivall Gardens. I subsequently learnt that the area had been a thriving fishing industry until being developed in Victorian times.
If you proceed toward the Thames (please do not cycle/wheel your bike through the Gardens) and take a left, head down what is grandly called the Lower Mall. I felt I was in Italy as the grand houses with beautiful balconies created a wonderful European aspect. Then I literally went under Hammersmith Bridge to find a wonderful little viewing spot called Riverside Walk. You can sit here in peace day and night admiring the splendid views down the Thames (quite a romantic spot).
Moving swiftly on!, I crossed the Thames via Hammersmith Bridge, a rather splendid Victorian suspension bridge (incidentally, it was designed by Joseph Bazalgette, a talented civil engineer whose greatest achievement was the London sewers (modern engineers are in sheer awe how he maintained something like a 30 foot gradient underground over 10 miles in victorian times). Immediately on the other side, I took a left (by the river) and joined the Thames Cycle path. Now once you go past Harrods Village (a very desirable residential conversion of the old Harrods warehouses/£6.5 million for a riverside view!), you literally feel you are in the countryside.
I must have cycled for 15 minutes without seeing a soul or even hearing a car! This was like cycling on my home turf in rural Oxfordshire. Be warned; you need good lights and should be in a pair as it was very isolated, but completely invigorating! I only passed a single cyclist and did a brief stop at the Signs. The signpost ½ mile to the Red Lion at Barnes was tempting but fortunately it was too late! I continued past Barnes boat clubs to reach civilisation again on the outskirts of Putney.
Here, opposite a chandlery (boat shop!) is one of the most challenging car parks in England. You park on a steep gradient that is designed to launch boats directly in the Thames. IF your brakes fail or you misjudge the tide, the Thames will claim another car! Moving swiftly on! you reach Putney bridge. Crossing over on the far right on the other side is a wonderful private members club called the Hurlingham Club (do not ever decline an invite if you are fortunate to get one; it takes decades of waiting to get membership).
If you follow the ample signs for Hammersmith, you soon get onto Fulham Palace Bridge Road. On your left, there are the very tempting gardens of Fulham Palace (over 1,300 years of history and free entry so a must when I next do this ride at lunchtime and its open). You go past Charring Cross hospital and before you know it, you are at Hammersmith Flyover. After braving crossing this urban monstrosity, I took a left up Kings road and disembarked to find my way onto Hammersmith Grove. Initially it is one way (only 50 metres), but soon I was on this delightful straight road, which is an absolute must for cycling from Hammersmith to Shepherds Bush) as it is traffic free. I reached the Gold Hawk road and took a right to return back to my start point.
You should allow between 1 .30 to 2 hours for this ride, more if you want to stop. Please respect pedestrians and do not try and beat the clock! This is a ride to enjoy some of hidden London and to find the peace and sanctuary that the Thames affords, but which we often overlook or are simply unaware of. I have lived in Shepherds Bush for 3 years and only just realised that the river is on my door step!
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