Kensington High Street

[Nicky B]

OK, so I'm a commuter and it has always intrigued me that High St Ken is recommended as my route by cycling apps (although I live and work south of the river - yeah OK, not posh). It is even marked on cycle maps in lilac as if it is a cycle route. So I tried it... It doesn't even have cycle lanes marked out, and the buses and crossings are a 'mare - am I missing something? Admitedly the finish is nice and touristy via the parks and lovely cycle lanes around Buck House to Westminster Bridge, but High St. Ken - really?! Anyone got any ideas, otherwise I'll stick with Battersea and Nine Elms.

 

[slowmotion]

I live less than a mile from the west end of it and go down it all the time. I've never found it anything like a nightmare. The only thing you have to careful of is traffic trying to nose out from the side roads, but that's the same all over London. You also need to know which lane to be in at the major junctions, but you can learn that really quickly. They are all well marked.

BTW, where are trying to go from and to? I may be able to suggest a route.

 

[ozboz]

That. is one of my preferred routes from Richmond into Central London depending where I'm off to , I do not think it is any worse than any other high st in London , as @slowmotion says , there is possibly a better route for you ,

 

[jefmcg]

According to strava I've cycled it 92 times heading east. I think it's a fine route, and definitely far superior to the A4. Depending on my destination I might head north just before Hammersmith gyratory and wiggle through the backstreets around Shepherds Bush before emerging near Holland Park tube. Or through Barnes, crossing the river at Putney or Wandsworth, via Chelsea Harbour eventually joining whichever CS that run along the embankment.

I can share these routes if you like.

 

[mjr]

I tend to flip between the back streets around Holland Park or the quietway (15 possibly) parallel to the south that includes Harrington Gardens. I'd only use High Street Ken if in a hurry. It's not fun to me.

 

[Blue Hills]

I must admit I find it a drag on my forays that way. Not as bad as the Strand though.

 

[Pete Owens]

It doesn't even have cycle lanes marked out,

Well that is at least one thing in its favour then - given how cycle lanes reduce cyclists road space:
http://www.warringtoncyclecampaign.co.uk/report/cycle-lanes.pdf

 

[jefmcg]

Well that is at least one thing in its favour then - given how cycle lanes reduce cyclists road space:
http://www.warringtoncyclecampaign.co.uk/report/cycle-lanes.pdf

They are building a different sort of cycle path in London:

 

[SuperHans123]

The quietest road in London is probably 3 times as busy for cyclists as the busiest road in Swansea.
So so glad I don't live there.
Ok for day trips and that is about it.
One bedroom flat for 499K in Kensington:-
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-61083017.html
gets you this 5 bedroom house in Killay (Nice part of Swansea) and leaves you with 90K for a nice Aston Martin if that's your fancy.
https://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/d...h_identifier=7832dca2e542cf180dcd9b0e41fcd227
Will never understand the suffocation and attraction.

 

[The Jogger]

I use to cycle through High St Ken most days on my commute, busy with traffic and could be quite dodgy, things improved when i got the Brompton.

 

[Blue Hills]

The quietest road in London is probably 3 times as busy for cyclists as the busiest road in Swansea.
So so glad I don't live there.
Ok for day trips and that is about it.
One bedroom flat for 499K in Kensington:-
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-61083017.html
gets you this 5 bedroom house in Killay (Nice part of Swansea) and leaves you with 90K for a nice Aston Martin if that's your fancy.
https://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/d...h_identifier=7832dca2e542cf180dcd9b0e41fcd227
Will never understand the suffocation and attraction.

A tad off topic snertos. Why don't you start a separate thread in the appropriate place? It might be interesting/enlightening. Honest. Am not being sarcastic. Am not originally a londoner by the way.