Wimbledon to Tate Gallery and Parliament Square

LCN maps 14/10 (obtainable free from bike shops, libraries, or via our webpage here)

Time: approx 35 – 45 minutes.

Recommended by: David Vine

From the Public Library or Alexandra public house on Wimbledon Hill Road take Compton Road (next to the library) turning left at the end into Worcester Road, then right into Woodside (take care for speeding traffic on Woodside).

Along Woodside to the T-junction with Leopold Road, where turn left and immediately right into Kenilworth Avenue (Signpost - Wimbledon Park and Earlsfield).

Along Kenilworth Avenue to the T-junction, where turn left into Home Park Road and after 400 metres turn right into Arthur Road.

Go through the width restriction barriers outside Wimbledon Park Station, then left into Melrose Avenue (signposted – Cycle Route 29 Earlsfield and Roehampton). There is a dedicated cycle track, but beware pedestrians, especially coming from the right who are not aware of the track.

Take the 3^rd turning right into Stuart Road. At the T-junction at the end of Stuart Road, turn left into Durnsford Road, then quickly right into Havana Road (beside a branch of City Plumbing).

At the end of Havana Road turn left into Lucien Road, then right to Mount Road. Go through the width restriction barriers and turn left into Acuba Road.

Carry on straight across Ravensbury Road (signposted Cycle Route 29 Wandsworth, Putney & Hammersmith) and then straight across Penwith Road (take care of fast-moving traffic undeterred by the minimal speed bumps on Penwith Road).

Continue along Acuba Road until straight ahead you see the gates of King George’s Park. The route through King George’s park is 1 peaceful mile mostly along the Wandle, where I saw a kingfisher last year. There is no traffic, and the path is well lit at night. Follow the path, crossing Kimber Road at the cycle/pedestrian lights. 200 metres beyond the crossing the path bears right (signposted – Town Centre).

Eventually the path emerges in Mapleton Road close by the Wandsworth Recreation Centre and multi-story car park. Turn right into Mapleton Road (signposted – Wandle Route – Wandsworth & Fulham) then left at the traffic lights into Garratt Lane.

Continue along Garratt Lane (road marked London Cycle Network Route 24) until the traffic lights facing the old Ram Brewery. At this point you need to manoeuvre yourself into the outside lane, which is normally easy, since you will be continuing straight across Wandsworth High Street into Ram Street, alongside the brewery. This is a one way street, but cycles and buses are permitted to go against the flow (signposted – Fulham & Battersea).

At the end of Ram Street there are traffic lights, where you turn right into Armoury Way. Stay in the second lane from the right, since at the next traffic lights you will go straight ahead into Old York Road (Signposted – LCN 37 – Wandsworth Town, Battersea & The City). Although Armoury Way is busy, at peak hours the traffic is slow. Alternatively you can complete the section from Ram Street to Old York Road on the pavement, using the dedicated cycle/pedestrian traffic light controlled crossings.

Continue along Old York Road to Wandsworth Town Station, and just past the Alma pub turn right into a short cycle path and immediately left into Podmore Street.

At the end of Podmore Street a cycle path leads down to a cycle/pedestrian crossing over Trinity Road avoiding the Wandsworth Bridge roundabout (alternatively, if you feel confident you can take the Wandsworth Bridge roundabout from the end of Old York Road; there is a dedicated cycle/pedestrian route round it).

After crossing Trinity Road cycle up the slope on the dedicated cycle path into Nantes Road. After 200 metres turn left under the railway bridge, then immediately right along the cycle path into Wynter Street (signposted – LCN 37 – Clapham Junction, Battersea & The City). Take care on the corrugated surface at the end of this path; it can be very slippery when wet. Almost immediately turn right into Maysoule Road.

At the end of Maysoule Road turn left into Plough Road and continue to the traffic lights at the T-junction with York Road. Turn right into York Road and at the next traffic lights fork left into Lombard Road past Battersea Heliport on the left.

Lombard Road becomes Vicarage Crescent after passing under the railway bridge.

At the next traffic lights the road forks; bear right past the Raven Pub on the left into Westbridge Road (signposted - Battersea Police Station).

Follow Westbridge Road to traffic lights at crossroads with Battersea Bridge Road. Carry straight on to Parkgate Road (signposted – Battersea Park).

At traffic lights at end of Parkgate Road carry straight on into Battersea Park (Albert Gate).

(As a traffic free alternative you may complete the section from Lombard Road to Battersea Park on the Thames Embankment by turning left under the railway bridge where Lombard Road becomes Vicarage Crescent - signposted Thames Path Riverside Walk. The riverside route continues across Battersea Bridge Road, and emerges on Albert Bridge Road near the Albert Gate entrance to Battersea Park. If you take this picturesque route take special care; numerous pedestrians also enjoy this route; the surface of the path can also be slippery when wet).

Follow the Carriage Drive straight across Battersea Park. At T-junction on exiting the park turn left into Queenstown Road and immediately over Chelsea Bridge.

(You may cross the bridge either on the road or on the footpath on the downstream (right hand) side which can be accessed from the pedestrian crossing close to the park exit).

Immediately after crossing Chelsea Bridge turn right into Grosvenor Road at the traffic lights (signposted Victoria). If you are crossing the bridge on road make sure you get into the right hand lane of the bridge early, normally around the bridge apex – this is quite easy since the traffic is slow here, at least at rush hour!

After turning into Grosvenor Road go under the railway bridge, and at the next traffic lights turn left into Lupus Street (signposted – National Cycleway 4 – Vauxhall & Lambeth Bridge). Follow Lupus Street, which eventually becomes Bessborough Street and eventually Drummond Street.

At the T-junction at the end of Drummond Street turn right into Vauxhall Bridge Road and then immediately left at the traffic lights into John Islip Street.

The rear of the Tate Gallery is on the right after passing the junction with Atterbury Street, where cycles may be parked.

Follow John Islip Street, which becomes Dean Ryle Street. Cross Horseferry Road into Dean Bradley Street, round Smith Square, exiting the square at Lord North Street, then right and immediately left into Little College Street. Finally turn right into Great College Street, and immediately left into Old Palace Yard.

Cycling along Old Palace Yard the Houses of Parliament are immediately to your right and Parliament Square is straight ahead. Westminster Abbey and Victoria Street are to your left.

(If you are confident in traffic, and wish to save time, you may omit the left turn from Grosvenor Road into Lupus Street. Instead continue along Grosvenor Road, cross Vauxhall Bridge Road at the traffic lights and continue along Millbank, crossing Horseferry Road at the roundabout, and continue along Millbank which brings you out in Old Palace Yard.)

The return trip is almost an exact reverse of the outward route. However it is probably safer to take the footpath route south over Chelsea Bridge, using the pedestrian crossing to turn right into Battersea Park.

The route through the Wandsworth one-way system is slightly different. When you reach Old York Road in Wandsworth, turn left at the traffic lights into Fairfield Street, and immediately right into Barchard Street, rejoining the outward route by turning left into Ram Street. (It is not clear to me whether Barchard Street is one-way in the opposite direction. However, it is very quiet, and avoids a fragmented route over various pedestrian/cycle crossings and use of unmarked footpaths, or braving the traffic on the Wandsworth one-way system. Hence it seems the most pragmatic route).

At the end of Ram Street go straight across Wandsworth High Street into Garratt Lane. After passing Sainsbury’s on the left, take the first turning on the right into Mapleton Crescent and then right into King George’s Park.

Finally when crossing Durnsford Road from Havana Road, it is probably safer to cross directly to Ashen Grove, and thence to Melrose Avenue.