Newham's Gold Medal Loop

This route is a leisurely circuit of Newham and neighbouring Tower Hamlets, using almost entirely traffic free off-road paths including towpaths and Thames riverside shared use walking / cycling routes. Starting in the Greenway at the View Tube Cafe (toilets and bike hire available) you'll enjoy spectacular views of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park from the siteseeing platform from which you will see the 2012 Games Stadium, the Acceleror Orbital Tower, the London Aquatics centre and in the distance the Lee Valley VeloPark with its iconic Velodrome. Leaving the Greenway you take the Lee Valley Navigation Sytem via the famous floating towpaths to Bow Locks. These floating concrete blocks provide a unique solution to the previous interruption to the canal system whereby cyclists and walkers had to leave the towpath to cross the busy Bow roundabout. The Limehouse Cut is a perfectly Navigated direct towpath route to Limehouse Basin, with beautiful maritime tradition and an excellent photo opportunity. On leaving the basin you can cross the road and enjoy your first glimpse of the River Thames and Europe's tallest building, The Shard. Continuing on National Cycle Route 13 to the Thames Path riverside, and Canary Wharf there are many more photo opportunities. The return on the ride is via the Excel Centre, Newham Dockside, where aviation enthusiasts can admire London City Airport with direct views of the runway. The final leg of the return is via the Greenway to the View Tube Cafe.

Please note that any type of bike can be used for this route but we recommend using a mountain bike or hybrid with wide tyres.