London to Brighton? Boring...give me other ideas!

[jahlive905]

So the London-Brighton route is getting old. Are there any other destination towns/cities a similar distance from London?

 

[martint235]

Take your pick. Southend, Whitstable (one of my favourites), Bognor Regis, Margate. There's a group on here from SE London/NW Kent who go out most weekends (although injury has kept me out for weeks).

Edit: almost forgot Maldon for good fish and chips, Tiptree for the jam factory. Rye is nice but a bit hilly (or at least the route I did was)

 

[Dogtrousers]

You could try the list of Fridays destinations: Southend, Bognor, Whitstable. All of which have good train connections if that's how you plan to get back.

Hastings? Can be lumpier to get there.

 

[Sittingduck]

London to Cambridge is quite nice, just have to get out of NE London first...

 

[martint235]

London to Edinburgh is quite nice in summer. Some people even ride back.







IGMC

 

[jefmcg]

The Ride London loop from Kingston is about the same length L2B

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4337470

Ditchling Devil route adds interest to L2B

http://www.mapmyride.com/gb/new-malden-eng/ditchling-devil-route-100380371

Edit: And lots of nice cycling in Berkshire, eg

http://www.strava.com/activities/110197166

(and +1 to Cambridge, or indeed Oxford. Or Chepstow - it's great telling the neighbours, "I cycled to Wales yesterday")

 

[TheJDog]

London Brighton London gives a new perspective to the route. Some of the hills on the way back seem far bigger than on the way there.

Cambridge, Oxford, loops around the Surrey Hills, loops around the Chilterns all can be 80-120km (or more)

 

[martint235]

London Brighton London gives a new perspective to the route. Some of the hills on the way back seem far bigger than on the way there.

Cambridge, Oxford, loops around the Surrey Hills, loops around the Chilterns all can be 80-120km (or more)

I've done the Olympic Road Race route a few times. It's not bad, has the usual dodgy London traffic at the start and finish but hey ho

 

[Dogtrousers]

The Isle of Grain is maybe worth a visit. It's very flat, there's not much there until you get to the big industrial bit, site of former oil refinery. It's a bit weird I think. If you're lucky there will be a caravan thingy open selling cake. https://www.facebook.com/The-Beach-Hut-712299475477901/?ref=profile

 

[martint235]

Hoo Peninsular is also quite nice. There's a nice pub in Cooling and you get to wave at Jools Holland

 

[Dogtrousers]

Hoo Peninsular is also quite nice. There's a nice pub in Cooling and you get to wave at Jools Holland

That's kind of where I meant when I said Isle of Grain. My mate was nearly knocked off his bike by a 4x4 there. We caught up and he had (firm but polite) words with the driver at the entrance to a big place, which we later found was Jools Holland's gaff. We refer to that as the "Jools' mum incident". Although I very much doubt it was his mum.

 

[martint235]

That's kind of where I meant when I said Isle of Grain. My mate was nearly knocked off his bike by a 4x4 there. We caught up and he had (firm but polite) words with the driver at the entrance to a big place, which we later found was Jools Holland's gaff. We refer to that as the "Jools' mum incident". Although I very much doubt it was his mum.

Ah. I wouldn't go much past Cooling myself. The Isle of Grain is I think the industrialised bit at the end of Hoo and the traffic (even to me who isn't normally fazed by such things) is unpleasant.

EDIT: i've looked it up now, pub is called the Horseshoe and Castle. When I was last there (about 3 years ago) they did the best steak and stilton sandwich I've had outside of New York.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

...There's a nice pub in Cooling and you get to wave at Jools Holland

Two fingers?

 

[Dec66]

Milton Keynes.

Go on. You know you want to.

 

[martint235]

Milton Keynes.

Go on. You know you want to.

I went through it in the early hours of a summer's morning on my own a couple of years ago. Just being able to glide around the roundabouts was great. Bit weird seeing all the horses tethered on them though.