Croydon to the City, Beckenham Place Park, Burgess Park, Rye Lane

Sunday Feb 15, the first ride of 2026 is from Croydon into the City and up to a roof garden. We’re going to either take the Waterlink Way or the road beside it depending on whether or not the pedestrian and cycle bridge is still there (it’s being replaced). We have an early meeting with the River Ravensbourne in Beckenham Place Park, where we will ride the Ravensbourne Greenway for the first time. Before we would reach Ladywell we are heading off to Peckham and up the precious, historic Rye Lane to Burgess Park where we lunch in the park’s nice cafe. After lunch we join cycleway C7 to cross Southwark Bridge and on to 120 Fenchurch Street’s 15th floor roof garden. The views are great. We can’t actually cycle up there so we will park on Mincing Lane’s provision. There’s a coffee shop beside the garden’s building and you can take drinks and food in. There’s also a restaurant on the floor below which serves drinks and snacks.

This ride is weather permitting and the roof garden is open to the sky. If it is raining we have the option of the Sky Garden instead, as that also accepts walk-ins and the Sky Garden is partly covered. I chose 120 Fenchurch Street because it’s not busy and the Sky Garden is old hat.

London Bridge is around the corner from Fenchurch Street and I will be
returning to Croydon from that station. I’ll ride there with anyone who is ready to leave.

The only muddy track on the ride is in South Norwood Country Park. I advise 32mm wide tyres or wider because of that. Please bring your lights as the daylight is not strong and the route is not short of tarmac.

We will leave from Queens Gardens CR0 1GY at 10am. Lunching from 1 to 2pm and arriving at the roof garden around 2:45. The ride is 18 miles long.

https://www.komoot.com/tour/2771896288?share_token=aSas863CbxPArNC7IE5548DwTq0XOgkhbLwE3JPucbNKaU044q&ref=wtd