If you're new to cycling [1] — or London — then biking around the city can be a bit overwhelming. But once you've gotten the hang of it, you'll find that cycling around London is not only a huge confidence boost but it's also a cost-effective way to get around — plus it's great for your fitness and a fast track way towards being a real Londoner [2].

Thanks to London's many cycle hire schemes, you don't even need to buy a bicycle to enjoy a two-wheel cruise around the city. From Uber's Jump and Santander's Boris Bikes, to Lime, Mobike, and Freebike, all you need is to download the specific biking app and have a few pounds on your connected debit card. We'd recommend Uber's red Jump bikes, or Lime's green bikes, as they are the easiest to get started with a quick scan of a QR code on your mobile phone.

Ready to start your cycling journey? Ahead, we've handpicked five popular and scenic London bike routes that are perfect for beginners, family days, and dates: including hip rides to east London's parks, scenic cruising from Holland Park to Hyde Park, family-friendly cycling along the River Thames, and the much-loved Wandle and Tamsin Trails.

West London: Holland Park to Hyde Park Corner

A perfect route for west Londoners from one gorgeous park to another, while taking in the lush architecture of the city's west end. We'd recommend taking a picnic and having a relaxing lunch in the park after dismounting at Hyde Park Corner.

Route Map: Holland Park to Hyde Park Corner [3]

East London: Islington Green to London Fields

A fun and peaceful cruise through east London's hip boroughs. Islington Green to London Fields is a quiet and relaxing bike ride that only takes 15 minutes at most for beginners. If you fancy taking it further, then you can ride all the way up to Victoria Park and Hackney Marshes.

Route Map: Islington Green to London Fields [4]

South West London: the Tamsin Trail Around Richmond Park

Richmond Park's Tamsin Trail is the ideal path for a family day out or less confident cyclists. A simple and almost entirely car-free circuit around this beautiful park takes you from Roehampton Gate to Robin Hood Gate, then Kingston Gate, Ham Gate, and Richmond Gate, ending at East Sheen Gate.

Route Map: The Tamsin Trail around Richmond Park [5]

South East London: Tower Bridge to Greenwich

If you're in central London or the south east, we'd definitely check out Tower Bridge to Greenwich Park. It's a hefty 50 minutes for cyclists that are a bit more familiar with central and south east, but you can also take the scenic route along the River Thames for a more chilled alternative.

Route Map: Tower Bridge to Greenwich [6]

South West London: the Wandle Trail

The Wandle Trail is a popular route that can be as long or short as you'd like. The full experience is a 45-minute bike ride along the River Wandle, which takes you nine miles through south west London's many buzzy boroughs.

Route Map: The Wandle Trail [7]