Hills & Parks of the North: Alexandra Palace via Hampstead Heath

Please note: In order to take into account shorter daylight hours and to avoid the busy Friday afternoon traffic, this ride will finish at Paddington, where we will take the train back to Ealing Broadway. You could also leave the ride earlier, at Highbury & Islington, and take the Overground via Willesden Junction. At the time of posting, train strikes are scheduled for 3 and 5 Nov, so we hope that our return journey will not be affected.

This ride follows the route of our previous ride to Hampstead Heath, heading out from Ealing via Neasden and Cricklewood to reach the bottom of the Heath. We have a lovely ride over the Heath and a challenging climb up to Highgate. We continue to climb through Muswell Hill, to reach the peaceful traffic-free track of the Parkland Walk, a former railway line and now a pedestrian & cycling route. This gives us great views over the rooftops of Crouch End, before bringing us to our refreshment stop, the Grove Café in Alexandra Park, https://www.alexandrapalace.com/food-drink/grove-cafe/.

After refreshments, we will ride on for a short distance up to the terrace of the Alexandra Palace, where we can admire more stunning views across London. Then we ride down via Hornsey to Finsbury Park, with the option of a second café stop, and then to Highbury Corner and Islington. We take quieter roads and cycle routes through Clerkenwell, Fitzrovia, Bloomsbury and Marylebone, to finish our ride at Paddington Station where we will take the train back to Ealing.

A challenging ride over the hills of North London, via Hampstead Heath & Highgate, to Alexandra Palace. Returning to Paddington to take the train back to Ealing.

Quieter roads where possible. Off road tracks, shared paths through parks

Refreshment stop at the Grove Cafe by Alexandra Palace. Possible later stop in Finsbury Park.

Money/card for cafe and train fare. Lock for bike.

First-timers welcome!