Shadwell Station loop with Mile End Park, Victoria Park, Hackney, Islington, Bloomsbury, Thames Embankment

Sunday 3rd November. Another ride out of and back to Shadwell Station on the Overground. It overlaps with the previous day's ride but goes to the West End. First we use the C3 to reach Regents Canal at Limehouse Basin. We cycle along the towpath to Victoria Park and ride through there to the River Lea and its towpath. We leave the Lea to take side streets and bike paths through Hackney - safe and lightly trafficked streets - to our lunch spot in trendy Haggerston, a very nice cafe called Bread and Butter. After lunch there are more side streets to Canonbury and the beautiful New River Walk, pictured above. I rode that today (a Wednesday) but Sunday it might be too busy. It is worth checking out but we might have to leave it at one of the exits before its end. We ride on to Granary Square and past St Pancras station and through Bloomsbury and Covent Garden to the Thames Embankment and the fast cycleway C3 to Shadwell Station.

It is 17 miles of cycling; I estimate 140 minutes on saddle. With refreshment stops the ride should take around 4 hours back to Shadwell station, starting at 10:56, ending at 3:00. Return trains are every 15 minutes.

Meet at West Croydon station platform 1 at 10:08 to take the 10:18 Overground to Shadwell (the Highbury and Islington train). Tickets cost £2 contactless. Use the ramp from the car park and touch in on the platform.

Or join the ride at Shadwell Station. The train arrives at 10:52.

Suitable for a road bike. Bring a water bottle and please bring a spare inner tube and a lock. Our lunch spot has many bike parking hoops right outside and outdoor seating wrapped in railing that bikes can be locked to. Lots of indoor seating too, big tables.

Safe towpath riding takes the ability to ride accurately on a narrow path with walkers. We will ride as slowly as safety dictates. Come with us if you are able to cycle this kind of stretch. Check your brakes before setting out.

https://www.komoot.com/tour/1923921717?share_token=aOtIocRnEhp3NbURFtjMxL7IupiNwLtpW3imPPZnlIJ4PbpAWU&ref=wtd