London to Brussels charity bike ride

[howlett365]

Hi everyone, I'm helping to plan a London to Brussels charity bike ride to be completed during June 2025. The intended route is to take a ferry to Harwich & then ride via Brede & Antwerp. Any tips about a route, accommodation, etc, will be very much appreciated. Thanks, Paul

 

[mjr]

Here's a fun route I rode with friends from Breda to the ferry: https://cycle.travel/map/journey/88427

Here's a second one that we were going to ride until covid got in the way: https://cycle.travel/map/journey/193983

We stayed in the Apollo hotel in Breda by the station but I think it has become a Leonardo since then. It had a bike shed that reception buzzed you into.

Why are you using the Harwich crossing? Wouldn't Dover- Dunkerque be shorter and cheaper?

 

[Ajax Bay]

OP never came back to even see / take advantage of your generous advice.

 

[mjr]

OP never came back to even see / take advantage of your generous advice.

Do you know that or are you assuming they didn't check without logging in?

 

[Ajax Bay]

I am assuming they didn't check based on when they were last logged in (which was after this OP, on 9 Jan). Once set up CycleChat will open up logged in. I assume this is the case for you, or do you lurk in various fora not logged in?
Feel free to DM the OP to verify my assumption.
My bumping this thread may also send a notification to them and they may then see your useful, info filled reply.
I agree the London-Dover-Dunkirk-Brussels ferry option seems best.

 

[Spartak]

I regularly visit Brussels for work.

I agree with the above comments Dover - Dunkerque then you could go to Brugge - Ghent - Brussels or Ypres - Kortrijk - Brussels.

Belgium has fantastic bike lanes with very courteous car drivers ... 👍

Pic from a visit last year ...

 

[Spartak]

General information for anyone interested ...
I've ridden Dunkerque to Brugge route, it's very nice.
Leave Dunkerque and follow the coastal road passing Zudycoote & Bray-Dunes in France before crossing the border into Belgium then continuing to De Panne, Koksijde and Nieuwpoort. All very pleasant coastal resorts with lots of accommodation & restaurant possibilities. Then from Nieuwpoort there is a nice canal path route all the way to Brugge ... 👍

 

[arranandy]

I lived in Breda for 2.5 years. Lovely town with a lot of fantastic cycling in the area