This route is mostly paved and uses parts of a few busy roads, so please be mindful of the traffic and pedestrians. However, most of the route is along quieter streets and through parks. This route can be ridden twice for a half-marathon distance or extended by riding through more of Kensington Gardens (there are lots to see). You can use Parkopedia to find parking spots near you before and after your journey. Also, see this website for more information on bicycles on public transport and this website for bike hire at major stations.
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Route overview
Piccadilly Circus reminds us of London’s history, culture, and architecture. Built in 1819, it connected Regent Street with Piccadilly. Contrary to what one might think, circus in this context means circle in Latin, thus a round space at a junction. Although smaller than New York’s Times Square and Shibuya crossing in Japan, Piccadilly Circus still offers the hustle, bustle, and bright lights from giant TV screens.
Piccadilly Road, running west towards Green Park, received its name from Piccadilly Hall, built in the early 1600s by a local tailor who used to sell the famous “Pickadills,” stiff lace collars worn during the Elizabethan era. Piccadilly Circus is also a hub for entertainment, drawing people in with its neon signs. The iconic Shaftesbury Memorial fountain in the middle of the circle has a Greek god atop it. It is often believed to represent Eros, the “Greek Cupid.” However, the artist Alfred Gilbert meant it to be Anteros, the God of requited love, to represent the 7th Earl of Shaftesbury’s selflessness.
Piccadilly Circus. Credit: Thrillophilia
Leaving Piccadilly, zig-zag your way down Piccadilly Street (beware of pedestrians), turn left onto Eagle Place, right onto Jermyn Street, left onto Duke Street, then right onto King Street.
Part 1 of the 11km Piccadilly to Westfield Cycle
Turn left onto Crown Passage. At the main road, curve with the road to the right to turn left onto Marlborough Road. Turn right onto The Mall. When you reach the roundabout, keep right, passing the Victoria Monument and Buckingham Palace on your left. Continue along Constitution Hill until you reach the next roundabout.
Part 2 of the 11km Piccadilly to Westfield Cycle
Cross the road and cut through the roundabout to pass Wellington Arch on your right (you can ride directly through it if you’d like and if it isn’t too busy). Follow the curve of the road to the right, passing the Royal Artillery Memorial on your left. Cross over the intersection towards the arched, columned entrance to Hyde Park. Cross over the two roads to turn left onto the South Carriage Drive pathway that runs along the park on your right.
Part 3 of the 11km Piccadilly to Westfield Cycle
When the road ends, turn left, then immediately left again onto Kensington Road. Turn right onto Rutland Gate. Continue until you reach The Hole in the Wall.
Part 4 of the 11km Piccadilly to Westfield Cycle
The Hole in the Wall was once the separation point between Hyde Park and Knightsbridge and was part of the Rutland Estate. During WWII, part of the wall was destroyed, making it easier for residents of the Rutland Estate to pass through to the shops instead of taking a long way around through Hyde Park. Since then, residents have petitioned for the “hole in the wall” to remain for easy access to the shops. A plaque was placed here in 1998, explaining a bit of its history.
Hole in the wall.
Retrace your way back onto Kensington Road, turn right onto West Carriage Drive, and then left onto Mt. Walk through Kensington Gardens past the pond.
Part 5 of the 11km Piccadilly to Westfield Cycle
At the end of the path, turn right onto Broad Walk, passing the Queen Victoria Statue and Kensington Palace on your left. The Diana Memorial Playground will be on your left. To leave the park, pass the playground on your left, then turn left onto Bayswater Road, then right onto Palace Court.
Part 6 of the 11km Piccadilly to Westfield Cycle
As the name suggests, the Diana Memorial Playground is in honour of the late Princess Diana. It is specifically an ode to her love for and work with children and children’s charities. The ship is inspired by the story of Peter Pan, Princess Diana’s favourite children’s story character. The playground is enjoyed by over 1 million children every year. The playground also caters to children with physical, mental, and sensory disabilities, ensuring as many children as possible can enjoy themselves.
Diana Memorial Playground. Credit: Mummy Travels
Turn left onto Moscow Road, passing Pembridge Square Gardens on your right. At the end of the road, curve to the right. Pass the Nottinghill Gate Library on your left, turn right, then immediately left onto Pembridge Crescent. At the roundabout, turn left onto Chepstow Villas. When you reach Kensington Park Road, turn left, then immediately right onto Kensington Hill Gardens. When you reach Ladbroke Grove, turn right, then immediately left onto Landsdowne Crescent. After passing the church, turn left onto Lansdowne Rise.
Part 7 of the 11km Piccadilly to Westfield Cycle
At the end of the road, turn left, then immediately right onto Clarendon Cross, which becomes Hippodrome Place. At the end of the road, turn left onto Pottery Lane, passing St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church on your left. At the intersection, keep right onto Penzance Place, which becomes St. James’s Garden, then Darnley Road. Turn left onto St. Ann’s Villas, right onto Queensdale Road, and continue onto Norland Road. Just before the road curves, turn left, passing the brick building on your right to ride on the paved area.
Part 8 of the 11km Piccadilly to Westfield Cycle
When you reach the paved circle, turn right down the shared pathway, following the sign for Shepherd’s Bush. Exiting the tunnel, turn right, then left up the ramp to reach the main road. Turn right at the top of the ramp and follow the pathway and its curve to the right. Cross the intersection towards Shepherd’s Bush station. Just after the station, walk your bicycle over the intersection, turning right to walk through Shepherd’s Bush Green. At the playground, turn right over the intersection into Wood Lane to find the Westfield Shopping Mall on your right.
Part 9 of the 11km Piccadilly to Westfield Cycle
Westfield Shopping Mall is the largest shopping and leisure destination in Europe, covering an area of 242,000 square metres and housing over 500 retail stores. This mega-store cost the Westfield Group roughly £1.6 billion to build. Although it has been criticised for its local environmental impact and traffic, it is still the shopping destination of choice for millions of locals and tourists every year.
Interior of Westfield Shopping Mall. Credit: JLL
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Resources:
If you enjoyed this route, see our Hoxton and Regent’s Park cycle route.
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Download the GPX File for this route here.
Information from various sources including wikipedia.org.