Croydon to Richmond leafy ride through parks, along rivers.

We start in Queens Gardens, central Croydon and after Wandle Park we pick up the Wandle Trail at Waddon Ponds and ride through Beddington Park, Watermeads Nature Reserve, Ravensbury Park, Morden Hall Park before leaving it at Merton Abbey Mills to take side streets and cycle paths to Wimbledon Common. We ride the lovely (and flat) woodland track beside Beverly Brook and cross the road to Richmond Park and ride through that, exiting at Kingston Gate for the Thames at Canbury Gardens, Kingston. We lunch at the Boaters Inn, a pub in a park beside the Thames. After lunch we will continue alongside the Thames on a beautiful stretch of the Thames Path into Richmond and finish at Richmond Station. Those returning to Croydon can change at Clapham Common.

A park and river themed ride, nearly all flat, mostly off-road, but also with some quiet side streets.

Some of the route is on bumpy park trail and a road bike with thin tires is not recommended. It is suitable for hybrid and mountain bikes, or road bikes with 32mm tyres or wider. There are two upward inclines on the route. In Richmond Park there is a hill to surmount and we will wait for everyone to join us at the top and take a breather and see the scenery. In Richmond there is a steep but very short cobbled street to go up. Just walk the bike up if you like.