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Tours
Is a bike tour the best way to see London?
We think a bike tour wins by far. And we've been doing them for 19 years. We're London's longest serving and most experienced bike tour company. Don't get stuck in traffic on buses. Get closer to the sights, explore the back streets, get some exercise and meet other travellers. What could be better?
What sights do your tours cover?
We have three different tours, and between them we cover all the major sights of London:
Central Tour:
Buckingham Palace, Admiralty Arch, Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, The London Eye, The Millennium bridge, Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Chinatown, Trafalgar Square, The Mall, Westminster Abbey and School yard, Lambeth Palace, Tate Modern Gallery, St Pauls Cathedral, Smithfield Meat Market, Lincoln’s Inn, Temple Bar Gate. St James’ Park and a Fish'n'chip lunch (optional).
Royal West Tour
Buckingham Palace, Admiralty Arch, Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, The London Eye, Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Trafalgar Square, The Mall, Westminster Abbey and School yard, Lambeth Palace, Wellington Arch and War Memorials, St James’ Park, Hyde Park, The Serpentine, Royal Albert Hall and Albert Memorial, Speakers Corner (Sundays only).
East Tour
Tate Modern Gallery, Shakespeare’s Globe, Borough Market, London Bridge, Greater London Authority Buildings, Tower Bridge, St Katherine’s Dock, Wapping, Tobacco Dock, Cable Street, Mitre Square (Jack the Ripper), 30 St Mary Axe (The Gherkin), Lloyds of London Building, Ledenhall Market, The Royal Exchange, Bank of England, Mansion House. St Pauls Cathedral, The Millennium bridge.
We reserve the right to change the routes depending on Traffic/weather/special events.
Will I keep up?
We go at a leisurely pace, if you can ride a bike, you won’t get left behind.
What will my guide be like?
We have great guides who are Londoners and know the city like the back of their hands. We have a very friendly atmosphere at this company, so only the coolest people work for us. Check out photos and profiles of our guides here.
Can I book a certain guide for my tour?
No, because the better looking ones would get all the shifts.
Do the guides talk about the sights? Is there time for photographs?
Yes, that's the whole idea. They will stop at major sights and tell you what you’re looking at and interesting stories about it, plus giving you info about the city life today.
Do you take breaks?
On the East tour, we stop at the Captain Kidd riverside pub for a drink. On the Royal West Tour we stop at the Serpentine or Speakers Corner for a drink. On the Central tour, which is only 2 and a half hours, we generally don’t stop for a break, but new in 2010 we are offering a Fish and Chip lunch! Read on for more info. Breaks are at your own expense.
Fish'n'chips?
New in 2010 is the option to be taken to a traditional Fish'n'Chip shop for a sit down lunch, as part of the Central Tour. This makes it a 3.5 hour tour, and costs an extra £3 for adults and £2 for kids (Fish and chips at your own expense). For those who want to keep it to a 2.5 hour tour and make their own lunch arrangements, that's fine.
Do you offer tours in different languages?
Yes. As well as English, we offer guided tours in Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch and German. click here for more information.
What if I have a problem with my bike on the tour?
This rarely happens, but the guides are equipped with repair kits and helpful attitudes.
Can I bring my own bike on the tour?
Yes but the cost is the same, and if you bring a bike that breaks down all the time the guide and the rest of the group may not wait for you.
Is there a tour happening today/tomorrow/next month??
Yes. Tours run every day of the year except Christmas and New Years day.
We have 2 different schedules:
Summer season: During British Daylight Savings time Winter Season: Non Daylight Savings time
Central Tour
2.5 Hours, 6 Miles
Cost: 15.95GBP
Starts 10.30am
Every day during Summer season
Weekdays only during Winter season - and strictly by advanced booking only.
Central Tour with Fish and Chip lunch
3.5 Hours, 6 Miles
Cost: 18.95GBP
Starts 10.30am
Every day during Summer season
Weekdays only during Winter season - and strictly by advanced booking only.
Fish'n'chips at own expense
Royal West Tour
3.5 hours, 9 Miles
Cost: 18.95GBP
Starts 12.00pm
Saturdays and Sundays during Summer
Sundays only during Winter season - and strictly by advanced booking only.
East Tour:
3.5 Hrs, 9 Miles
Cost: 18.95GBP
Saturdays and Sundays during Summer at 2.00pm
12.00pm Saturdays only during Winter season - and strictly by advanced booking only.
Tours in Dutch, French, German, Italian and Spanish:
Cost 18.95GBP
Various times. Click here for Language tour times.
Do I need to reserve?
Bookings are recommended in Summer
Bookings are REQUIRED in winter
Bookings are REQUIRED for all foreign language Tours
Can I just turn up and hope there is a spot available on a tour?
In the summer season yes. We’ll try and get you on a tour if we can. Sunny days in Summer are very popular though so you might want to get there a bit earlier.
How do I book?
You can book any tour by using our online booking form here
How do I book if I have a London pass?
call/email us. Central tour available at 10.30 monday to sunday. East, West and Language tours need to pay £3 more per person when using the londonpass.
What is your Cancellation policy?
We need 24 hours notice. See our full terms and conditions here
What if it's bad weather on the day?
Tours run in all weather. If it's raining continuously for 15 mins at the time the tour is set to start, we allow you to re-book for another day (or if there is no other suitable time we can refund you. All refunds are subject to a small administration fee to cover e-commerce charges).
Can I do a foreign language tour, with a Fish'n'chip lunch?
Yes. Just book the Central Tour in your preferred language, and when you arrive on the day, you can request the Fish'n'Chip lunch (extra cost).
Do tour prices include bicycle hire?
Yes
Do the tours go on the road?
Most of the time we stay off the road, or in quiet back streets. Occasionally we have to cycle alongside traffic. 90% of the tours are on quiet streets, bicycle paths or parks.
What sort of bicycles do you have?
We provide good quality hybrid cycles for the tours. Great for on road and through the parks. Occasionally we run out of hybrids, so we use mountain bikes for the tours, which are also very suitable.
Can I reserve a certain type of bike for the Tour?
No. We’ll sort you out with a bike most suitable for the tour when you arrive.
Do I have to wear a helmet on the tour?
No. It's not the law in the UK, but we can provide one for you if you wish.
Is the tour suitable for children?
If they are competent cyclists, and comfortable with some riding alongside traffic, then yes. Generally children younger than 10 would not be suitable, unless you book a private tour for your family, in which case you can go at whatever pace you like. Adults are responsible for children and their safety at all times
How do I book a private tour?
Contact us. We can tailor a tour to suit your needs. Private tours start at £65 for up to 4 people, which will last 2.5 hours. Considerable discounts are given for large groups. We can tailor a tour to suit your needs.
Can you provide child seats/buggies/helmets?
Yes, please contact us for more information.
Where do tours start from?
Gabriel's Wharf, on the South bank of the Thames in Central London. Nearest Tube is Waterloo but we are also close to Embankment and Southwark tube stations. See www.londonbicycle.com/directions
What do I need to bring?
Clothing suitable for the weather, enclosed footwear, money to pay for the tour (cash or card) and money for drink/food stops.
What time should I arrive?
Ideally about 10-15 mins before a tour starts. We try and get away on time so if you’re late, you could miss out.
But I don’t want to miss out!!
Use the Journey planner on our directions page to plan your route to the tour starting place, which will give you approximate travel times.. and allow a bit more as London is unpredictable with traffic/congestion.
Are there public toilet facilities at Gabriel’s Wharf?
Yes
Can I leave bags or jackets behind while I take the tour?
Yes. If you leave items with us, all care but no responsibility will be taken for them.
Bike Hire
What do you charge for bike hire?
See our hire rates here
Do I need to book or can I just turn up to hire a bike?
It’s a good idea to book if you want something specific, or if there is a special bike event that is happening. We can’t guarantee a bike’s availability without a booking, but most of the time we have something at the wharf for hire on the spot.
What sort of bikes do you have?
See our hire section for a full list.
Can I reserve a certain type of bike?
Yes
How do I book?
Click here to go to our booking form.
What sort of security do you require?
We require you to sign a hire agreement, and pay the first hours hire on Credit or Debit card (Maestro not accepted).
If you don't have a Credit or Debit card, you may leave us the value of the equipment hired in cash as a security deposit (£180 per standard bicycle)
Do I pay upfront for the hire?
Only the first hour. We calculate the balance when you return the bike.
How long can I take the bike for?
As long as you like
Where can I take the bike?
We don’t mind, just as long as it doesn’t come back damaged.
Can you provide maps for cycling routes in London?
Yes. You can pick them up when you hire the bike. They’re free.
What if the bike gets stolen while I have it?
You have to pay for the bike, £180 (more for tandems/city sport bikes), plus any accessories stolen.
Can I take out insurance against theft?
No. We used to offer this but too many bikes were being "stolen".
What about locks?
We provide bike locks free of charge.
What about helmets?
Helmets are not required by law in the UK. You can however hire a helmet for £1 per day or £5 per week.
What if I get a puncture?
This happens occasionally, and you would be unlucky. You have to walk the bike back to us or bring it on a train or in a taxi. We repair the puncture free of charge. You must not ride on a flat tire- this damages the wheel. If you ride on a flat tire, you may have to pay for a wheel repair or a new wheel.
Can I return a bike outside your shop opening hours?
Yes. We provide locks and you can lock the bike up at our shop and leave the key.
Can I hire a bike outside your shop opening hours?
No.
Can I hire your bikes in or near Hyde Park?
We only have one hire centre, Gabriel's Wharf. Our Location is a nice 20min cycle to/from Hyde park. If you want to cycle in Hyde park, we can provide you with a map, showing you the safest route to get there. It's a nice ride, and you'll pass some of London's best sights on the way!
Where else can I ride that's nice?
If you have a few hours, you can ride to Greenwich, or take your bicycle on the train to Richmond or Hampton Court. Or Paris if you have a few days.
Can I ride along the Thames from Central London to Kew Gardens/Richmond or Greenwich?
We wish. A lot of the thamesfront has been bought out by private developers. There are some long sections further west though that you can cycle along, such as Putney to Hammersmith, and Richmond to Hampton Court.
Can I drop the bikes at another location?
We do have one other shop, but it's out of London. It's the Downs Bicycle Hire Company in Surrey, south of London. This shop specialises in Mountain biking. Check opening times and details at www.downsbicycle.com
Can you deliver bikes to my location/pick them up?
Possibly. Email us with your requirements and we will provide you with a quote if we have the capacity to deliver your order. We only deliver to Hotels and businesses in Central London, unless it's an order of 10 or more. Contact us to discuss.
Do your bikes have racks/ panniers?
Some bikes have racks. Just ask if you need one. Panniers can be hired. Check accessories prices here.
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FAQ General
What are your opening hours?
10am-6pm, every day of the week. We are closed Christmas day and New Years day
How do I find your shop?
Click here for directions.
What are your contact details?
Click here for contact details.
What if my question is not answered here?
